Cubs catching coach wants Kyle Schwarber behind the plate in 2016

If Mike Borzello has his way, Kyle Schwarber will be behind the plate – not in left field – next season.

Borzello, Chicago’s catching coach, knows what a good catcher looks like. His godfather is Hall-of-Famer Joe Torre.

“Everyone has a different opinion on where they think he should be, for whatever reason,” Borzello told MLB.com. “I know I’m a catcher, but I feel this is the best position for the leader to be,” Borzello said. “That’s why I think him being behind the plate would be the best thing. But we’ll see how it all plays out.”

Schwarber, Chicago’s first-round pick in 2014, made 15 starts at catcher last season and 36 in left field, where he was often a defensive liability. Schwarber’s struggles came to a head in the NLCS, when he misplayed a handful of balls.

Borzello said Schwarber will spend spring training working as a catcher in the morning and an outfielder in the afternoon.

“He’s going to be a left fielder/catcher,” Borzello said, via MLB.com. “I still need him to continue to work as if he’s going to be an everyday catcher, because when you sporadically play behind the plate, you kind of lose that rhythm unless you continue to work.”

[nicelink url=”http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/7/71/1030778/kyle-schwarbers-football-career-ended-hands-braxton-miller”]

Stats via Baseball-Reference