The Bears opened their development lab with seven players attempting a long-term training program and three players performing a short program. By the end of our second offseason with the dev lab I've concluded I should put even more players on a long track to start. The beginning of the offseason is the only opportunity to get a longer program in and after those complete you still have 10 slots for a short program during the spring.
The log below captures players who completed a program in December or January. That's not late enough to see any of the long programs so this summarizes two cycles of short programs across three dev lab slots.
- 3B Awdia Iman - Improve Defense
Unsuccessful: the third base prospect is average at best defensively and this did not change.
- 1B Pedro Carmona - Improve Defense
Detrimental: Carmona's ratings didn't change and he remains a poor defender better suited at DH.
- 2B Frank Jardine - Improve Defense
Successful: a true utility player, Jardine didn't immediately show any benefit in the dev report but by the end of the offseason he saw his infield error and TDP rating both increase by 1. It solidifies Jardine as an above average second baseman, passable at shortstop, third, and center field while excellent in the corner outfield.
- 2B Takeichi Suzuki - Improve Defense
Unsuccessful: Suzuki is fine at second base and that didn't change.
- LF Steve Morris - Improve Defense
Detrimental: no changes for Morris who still needs his bat to carry his game.
- LF Keith Tims - Improve Defense
Unsuccessful: no changes for Tims this year after he successfully improved his defense last year in the lab.
