David Bote is standing taller than his listed 6-foot-1 frame.
But his heightened stature has nothing to do with his knack for clutch hits and versatility as a rookie on a seasoned Cubs team last year.
Shortly after last season, Bote received postural therapy through Tyler Skovron, a Dallas-based specialist recommended by teammate Cole Hamels.
The treatment loosened the tightness in Bote’s upper body, which once caused him to walk with a slight hunch and limited his range. Bote’s increased flexibility — and range — should make him a more attractive option around the infield and perhaps the outfield for manager Joe Maddon as shortstop Addison Russell serves the final 28 games of a 40-game suspension.
“People said I now look bigger and say how much weight I’ve put on,” Bote said. “I really haven’t put on extra weight. I’m better stacked. I’m more open in the chest area and not so rounded, more vertical. I can move easier and have better range of motion.
“When you’re hunched, things are going to be a problem.”
Hamels said the Cubs and Rangers were extremely receptive in allowing Skovron to speak to and treat interested players.
“When you feel instantly a little bit better, your curiosity is there,” Hamels said. “And guys are saying, ‘try it for a week,’ and guys love it.
Considering that Bote, 25, was an 18th-round pick in the 2012 draft who didn’t reach the majors until the third week of the 2018 season, he is the least of the Cubs’ concerns entering the season.
As a rookie, Bote showed an ability to play multiple positions and a knack for performing in key moments. He delivered a two-run, pinch-hit double in his fourth major-league game to lead the Cubs to a 4-3 comeback win over the Marlins on May 8, and he hit a grand slam off Ryan Madison with two outs in the ninth inning for a 4-3 win over the Nationals on Aug. 12.
But Bote isn’t taking anything for granted. Bote returned to the Cubs’ spring complex in the middle of October to recondition his body.
The first part of Bote’s offseason was devoted to lifting and training, while the latter part shifted to baseball work and tweaking his swing in an effort to cut down on his strikeout rate.
Bote played 74 games in six stints with the Cubs and 61 games at Triple-A Iowa. He admitted he felt fatigued toward the end of the season.
“Until you go through it, it’s hard to feel it,” he said. “But we’ve got unbelievable things in place to help us recover.”
After spending 6½ seasons in the minors, Bote understands that major-league service time is precious. But playing time might be hard to come by, especially since Ian Happ wants to be considered for more playing time at second base — Bote’s best position — and Russell’s potential return likely would shift Javier Baez to second.
And the playing time Bote received at third base last year will be diminished by the return of a healthy Kris Bryant.
“Tony Clark says every day you’re paying rent to this game,” Bote said, referring to the players union chief. “The game owes you nothing. So it’s that same mindset as I’ve had in the minor leagues of getting to the field and almost embracing the fact that this could be my last day and taking that approach of I need to be ready for my teammates.”
Maddon admits he has a soft spot for guys like Bote who have persevered through the minors and have a relentless desire to improve.
“He does have adjustments to make, and he knows that,” Maddon said. “He’s very self-aware.”
Twitter @MDGonzales
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