Erin Hooley/AP Photos
Third baseman Isaac Paredes slowly raised his mitt along with the pitcher’s leg kick and stepped into his ready position — left, right. It was the same move every time Friday night, a foundation for his natural ability.
Much of the attention on Paredes since the Cubs acquired him from the Rays at the trade deadline has been on his bat, and for good reason: He has found a way to maintain an elite walk-to-strikeout ratio while consistently putting the ball in the air — including in a 7-6 win over the White Sox on Friday night in which he went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer, a strikeout and no walks.