Through his first seven games as a Cub, Isaac Paredes is 3-for-27 (.111). His OPS+ is 1. Yipes.
Is this one of the worst starts with the Cubs ever? Not really. Since 1901, there have been 96 players who had three or fewer hits in his first 7 games with the Cubs. (With a minimum of 21 plate appearances on this list, because we don’t want guys who pinch hit for their first 7 games to appear here.)
Some of the familiar names among this list of 96 players:
| Damon Berryhill | 1 for 18 |
| Ryne Sandberg | 1 for 23 |
| Todd Hundley | 1 for 18 |
| Miguel Montero | 2 for 19 |
| Rey Ordóñez | 2 for 19 |
| Shawon Dunston | 2 for 24 |
| Jacque Jones | 2 for 22 |
| Joc Pederson | 2 for 21 |
| Jeimer Candelario | 2 for 23 |
| Jim Edmonds | 3 for 20 |
| Leon Durham | 3 for 22 |
| Moisés Alou | 3 for 22 |
| Matt Stairs | 3 for 22 |
| Isaac Paredes | 3 for 27 |
Which players had the best 7-game start with the Cubs?
| 2014 | Emilio Bonifácio | 17 for 33 (5 SB) |
| 2013 | Junior Lake | 15 for 31 (2 HR) |
| 1930 | George Kelly | 15 for 32 |
| 1948 | Emil Verban | 14 for 30 |
| 1943 | Andy Pafko | 14 for 30 |
| 2003 | Mark Grudzielanek | 13 for 31 |
| 1901 | Jack Doyle | 13 for 29 |
| 2023 | Jeimer Candelario | 12 for 25 |
| 2023 | Dansby Swanson | 12 for 28 |
| 2014 | Jorge Soler | 12 for 26 (3 HR) |
| 2004 | Neifi Pérez | 12 for 25 (2 HR) |
| 2002 | Alex Gonzalez | 12 for 26 |
| 1960 | Richie Ashburn | 12 for 30 |
| 1958 | Al Dark | 12 for 31 |
| 1935 | Freddie Lindstrom | 12 for 30 |
| 1925 | Joe Munson | 12 for 29 |
| 1916 | Larry Doyle | 12 for 29 |
| 1901 | Charlie Dexter | 12 for 28 |
Take a closer look, and you’ll see that Jeimer Candelario is on BOTH lists. How is this possible? These lists take into account the player’s first 7 games as a Cub. Candelario had two stints with the Cubs.
In 2016, he started 2 for 23 in his first seven games. Then he played for the Tigers and Nationals. He reunited with the Cubs in 2023, going 12 for 25.