Star Notre Dame wide receiver Jeff Samardzija was expected to be a first-round choice in the 2007 NFL draft. Samardzija, a two-sport star in college, had previously been drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the fifth round in June 2006, raising speculation that he might try to play two sports as a professional.
But Samardzija decided to stick to one sport – and to the surprise of many, went with baseball, signing a five-year, $10 million contract with the Cubs. Until now, however, it looked like he might have been better off choosing football.
Samardzija made his major-league debut in 2008, but did not stick with the Cubs for good until 2011, when he won eight games as a relief pitcher with a 2.97 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 88 innings pitched. But Samardzija had a very high 5.1 BB/9 that resulted in a 1.30 WHIP.
When Samardzija’s five-year contract expired at the end of 2011, the Cubs declined a $3 million option, eventually re-signing him at $2.64 million. In January 2012, Samardzija turned 27. His days of being a phenom were long gone.
Chance to start
In spring training this year, Samardzija was given a chance to compete for a spot in the rotation by the Cubs’ new regime and he impressed manager Dale Sveum enough that he was named a starter.
In his first start in 2012, Samardzija took a shutout into the ninth inning against the Nationals and ended up pitching 8 2/3 innings, allowing one run on four hits and striking out eight without walking a single batter.
But just as he was getting on the fantasy radar, Samardzija allowed five runs in each of his next two starts, going a total of just 8 2/3 innings. He struck out 8 but allowed 6 walks. After three starts, Samardzija’s ERA was 5.71.
From unwanted to untouchable
But Samardzija ended April by shutting out the Cardinals over 6 2/3 while striking out 9 and walking 2. And he was great in May, with a 2.48 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 40 strikeouts in 40 innings with just 11 walks. So great, in fact, that when a story broke May 31 that the struggling Cubs were making every one of their players except one available in trade, that player was Samardzija. (The Cubs later issued denials that rising star shortstop Starlin Castro was available.)
While the Cubs are off to an awful start, Samardzija still had managed five wins by the end of May.
So far this season, Samardzija has shown that he is worth owning in mixed leagues, and he can get rid of any regrets over picking strikeouts and ERA over receptions and touchdowns.
Ben Hargrove is a fantasy baseball expert for sites like DraftStreet, a popular fantasy sports website.
