When ranking superlatives that define Jon Lester, “Vocal leader” would probably end up somewhere between “Best dressed” and “Most likely to open a Bikram Yoga studio in Temecula.” Terse and pragmatic, the veteran lefty is the epitome of shutting up and setting an example with actions rather than words.
By so doing, Lester has become the face of a pitching staff that has led the Cubs to an average of nearly 100 wins per season since he arrived in 2015. And he’s done it with a stoicism that stands in stark relief to his eccentric manager and several of his more boisterous teammates.