In parts of three seasons with the Iowa Cubs, Mark Zagunis has shown he can be a productive hitter in the minors.
Now, he just needs another shot to show he can do it at the big-league level.
The 25-year-old Zagunis is just waiting to show it. Zagunis, a third-round pick by the Cubs in 2014, has spent most of his career in the minor leagues. During his first four minor league seasons, Zagunis hit .277 with 86 doubles and 33 home runs.
His only big-league service time came in 2017, when he was briefly brought up to Chicago after the organization placed Jason Heyward on the disabled list and sent Kyle Schwarber to the minors to rediscover his swing.
But after 14 at-bats without a hit in seven games, Zagunis was sent back to the minors, where he's been ever since. Now, he's just waiting for another shot to show what he can do while he's in Triple-A with the Iowa Cubs.
"I know I belong up there, and when I get my shot, hopefully, I can do well up there," Zagunis said.
Another shot in Chicago may be hard to come by, though. Chicago already has a wealth of outfield options in Schwarber, Heyward, Ian Happ and Albert Almora Jr., along with some versatile infielders who can also help out in a pinch.
So where does Zagunis fit in?
While Chicago may not have a spot for him in the lineup right now, someone else might. Zagunis is ranked the 13th-best prospect in the organization, according to MLB.com, and could command some value on the trading block. In fact, Zagunis thought he might have been traded last season, when he was held out of the lineup before the trade deadline, along with third baseman Jeimer Candelario.
Candelerio did, with the Cubs sending him to the Detroit Tigers. Zagunism, meanwhile, ended up staying with the Cubs. And as questions continue to swirl about his future with the organization, Zagunis said he's trying to tune it all out.
One of the things Zagunis is trying to control is avoiding the disabled list after injuries have hampered him the last two seasons. In 2016, he was hit by a pitch and suffered a broken toe on his right foot that caused him to miss the end of the season. The injury lingered in the offseason, limited him in spring training in 2017 and contributed to a slow start to the season. To make matters worse, he suffered a bone injury in his hand that forced him to miss the remainder of that season.
Zagunis said he's now 100 percent healthy and trying to stay that way.
Now that he's healthy, Zagunis is showing why he's still one of the top outfield prospects in the organization. Through his first 15 games this season, he's compiled a .341 batting average with two doubles, a home run and a .474 on-base percentage.
While Zagunis has shown plenty of potential, Wilson said he has even more to offer.
"I think it's untapped," Wilson said of his potential.
Wilson is trying to tap into it, making Zagunis a more aggressive hitter. Zagunis has always been a patient at the plate and even hit in the leadoff spot for Iowa at times last season. But with his power at the plate, Wilson said there are times in games where that patience should take a back seat.
While his career seems like it may be in limbo, Zagunis said he's happy with how his swing is.