Chicago Cubs coach makes startling Daniel Palencia revelation

The Chicago Cubs need Daniel Palencia to be Daniel Palencia. They need the hard-throwing right-hander to be the same guy who was brought up from Iowa in mid-April last season and proceeded to earn his way into being the team’s full-time closer by the end of May.

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In 2025, Palencia posted 22 saves and an ERA of 2.91 through 54 appearances. Excluding a bit of a late-season fade and an IL stint, he was an elite-level late-inning arm from the moment he was brought up.

This year, however, has been a way different story.

There was hope after his dominant performance at the World Baseball Classic representing Team Venezuela that he had secured his position as a world class closer. Instead, he’s struggled with injury throughout the season and, upon his return from a second IL placement, he’s been getting rocked.

In five outings since his Chicago return, he has a 14.55 ERA, giving up 7 hits—including 2 home runs—in 4.1 innings pitched.

Obviously, this Palencia stumble is a serious cause for concern on a Cubs team dealing with multiple pitching issues all at once, including what appears to be an almost full-scale collapse of the bullpen.

Palencia rushed back?

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Now, there appears to be a hint of a confession that maybe the Cubs, feeling the burning need to get some impact arms back onto the major league roster, possibly rushed Palencia back to active duty before he was absolutely ready.

In a recent interview with 104.3 The Score, Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy made the startling revelation that all was not right with Palencia during his most recent rehab assignment:

“I think right now, honestly, it’s a little bit more of a confidence thing. He wasn’t feeling great mechanically, I think, as he was getting back during his rehab and trying to kind of get things in sync. And some of that does translate into not having the confidence of driving the ball where you want it or you expect it to be in the past.

I do think, for him, when he’s right mechanically, he’s driving the fastball through the top of the strike zone and getting the slider down…He’s a guy that needs more consistent reps and we’re going to continue to give him opportunities to work through those things He’s shown that he can be a dominant reliever in this game.”

No other options?

Although Hottovy did say that he saw some flashes of Palencia’s old self in his latest outing, there’s still the underlying reality that we’re just not seeing the 26-year-old in optimal form, even as he’s being tossed into important games in the midst of a push to make the playoffs.

To be fair to the Cubs, though, it has to be pointed out that healthy, viable major league-ready arms are in very short supply for the team right now after waves upon waves of injury have repeatedly leveled their pitching plans.

At the moment, even an “off” Daniel Palencia is probably a better option than much of what’s currently available to them.

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Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chicago-cubs-daniel-palencia-revelation-tommy-hottovy/