First 7 games as a Cub: the best and worst

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.