The Iowa Cubs' Micah Hoffpauir prepares for an at-bat during Friday's game. Hoffpauir is back with Iowa despite hitting well during two short stints with the Chicago Cubs. by MATT STRASEN, THE OKLAHOMAN
In two stints for the Chicago Cubs, Hoffpauir hit .400 in 35 at-bats.
"I had a lot of fun up there,” Hoffpauir said. "It was definitely a learning experience.”
This weekend, though, Hoffpauir is back with the Iowa Cubs, biding his time until he's needed again in Chicago.
Saturday night at Bricktown Ballpark, Hoffpauir was 2-for-4 in the RedHawks' 7-3 win over the Cubs.
Hoffpauir is a first baseman and, barring injury to Derek Lee, doesn't figure to get a regular job with the Cubs anytime soon.
But he consistently hit during spring training and did the same in two stints in Chicago.
He didn't get off to a great start in Chicago, though.
On May 18, Hoffpauir was sent in to pinch hit for Jason Marquis against Pittsburgh reliever Marino Salas.
He took the first pitch for a ball.
Three straight swinging strikes later, Hoffpauir was on his way to the bench with his first Major League strikeout.
"I knew it was just a matter of time,” he said.
"When I got back to the bench, a couple of the guys just said, ‘Welcome to the big leagues.' It got the nerves out, though.”
Three days later in Houston, Hoffpauir picked his his first Major League hit and finished his first stint in Chicago 7-for-15.
Coming back to Iowa hasn't been a letdown for the 28-year-old Fort Worth native.
Much like current Iowa teammate Eric Patterson, who has also had a couple of stints in Chicago this season, Hoffpauir is working in the outfield to get more of a chance at contributing at the Major League level.
"Versatility is what I'm looking for right now,” Hoffpauir said. "Obviously Derek Lee's got first base sewn up there so I've got to do what I can to make myself valuable.”
In Chicago, Hoffpauir also tried to get used to sitting on the bench and preparing for a chance to pinch hit late in the game.
"That's definitely an adjustment,” he said. "Luckily, Daryl (Ward) was around most of the time while I was up there and he helped me understand how you have to approach that.”
Since returning to Iowa, Hoffpauir certainly isn't slacking off.
Saturday, he extended his hitting streak to seven games. He's had multiple hits in all but one of those games.
In the 12 games he's played in since his return, Hoffpauir is hitting .400 (20-for-50) with 23 RBIs and 12 runs.
"It's super,” Hoffpauir said late Friday night, sitting in a chair outside the Cubs' dugout, taking in the Fourth of July fireworks show. "We've been playing great ball and that's the No. 1 thing.
"You always want to be successful wherever you are.”
