During the course of three rehabilitation assignment starts with the Iowa Cubs this season, Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd has gotten a good look at some of the up-and-coming talent on the organization’s Triple-A team.
One player in particular stood out to him.
The big-league veteran left-handed pitcher for Chicago raved about Iowa utilityman James Triantos after the southpaw completed his latest start in Des Moines on June 6.
“He’s a great person,” Boyd said in an interview with the Des Moines Register. “He’s a great ballplayer and I know he’s going to help us win ballgames at some point. He’s doing a great job.”
Boyd certainly knows what he’s talking about. The 35-year-old has played parts of 12 seasons in the big leagues with the Tigers, Mariners, Guardians and Cubs.
The pitcher is coming off his best season yet, winning a career-high 14 games and earning an All-Star Game selection. But two trips to the injured list for a left biceps strain and a torn meniscus have forced Boyd to make three rehab starts with Iowa.
During the most recent rehab start on June 6, he tossed five innings and got another close-up look at Triantos. During the game, Triantos went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. It was another nice game for the 23-year-old, who hit .444 (8-for-18) with three doubles during the series.
Triantos was one of the few members of Iowa’s lineup to have success during future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander’s rehab start with the visiting Toledo Mud Hens earlier in the week. Triantos tallied two hits off the veteran, who tossed five shutout innings.
“When he swings at strikes, he’s as good a hitter as we have on the team,” said Iowa manager Marty Pevey.
Triantos has been one of the most consistent hitters in Iowa’s lineup this season, hitting .292/.321/.420 with 13 doubles, a triple and four homers in his first 53 games. It’s a bounce-back season for him after missing time with injuries for parts of 2025, which limited his production.
Now that he’s healthy, he’s regained the form that made him one of the organization’s top young positional players after the Cubs selected him in the second round of the 2021 draft. Triantos gives the team speed and some defensive flexibility.
He’s swiped 14 bags this season and bounced around the field playing second and third base, along with left and center field. While Pevey said there’s still work to be done defensively, he’s happy with the strides Triantos has made at third.
“He’s still young, but he’s a freaking gamer,” Pevey said. “He plays so hard and I love that about him.”
Pevey is far from the only fan Triantos has in the organization. Just ask Boyd, who went out of his way to bring up the play of the versatile youngster.
“Triantos keeps playing great wherever he’s (at) and hitting,” Boyd said.
Tommy Birch, the Register’s sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He’s the 2018, 2020, 2023 and 2025 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: James Triantos caught the attention of Matthew Boyd during rehab stint
Reporting by Tommy Birch, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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By Tommy Birch, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
