The Tennessee Smokies begin their 13th season as a Chicago Cubs affiliate in 2019, and they will be trying to produce better results after missing out on the playoff fun just a season ago. They just missed out on playing .500 baseball in 2018, finishing the season at 67-71. Across the board, the team fell victim to a top-heavy roster that saw guys like Jason Vosler, Ian Rice, Zack Short, and Trent Giambrone leading the offensive unit while Michael Rucker and Duncan Robinson had to carry the team on the bump.
There will be a good share of returning players on the roster in 2019 and that experience will be important to the Smokies getting off to a quick start in the first half.