Jake Arrieta was acquired by the Chicago Cubs from the Baltimore Orioles during the 2013 season and he went on to play a very key role for the Cubs over the next four years.
During his four and a half seasons with the Cubs, Arrieta put together a 68-31 record to go with a 2.73 ERA and 793 strikeouts over 803 innings of work, won the NL Cy Young Award in 2016 and helped them win their first World Series title since 1908. However, nothing lasts forever as the Farmington, Missouri native joined the Philadelphia Phillies on a three-year, $75 million contract ahead of the 2018 campaign.
On Monday evening the Cubs opened a four-game series with the Phillies at Wrigley Field and Arrieta got the start for the visitors. Not only was it his first time pitching at Wrigley Field as a visitor, but it was also his first time pitching against the Cubs and he was welcomed back with an awesome standing ovation when he stepped up to the plate for the first time in the top of the third inning.
There’s still plenty of love for Arrieta among the Cubs faithful and it’s awesome to see them show him love in his first at-bat of the game.
The 33-year-old went 10-11 with a 3.96 ERA and 138 strikeouts over 172.2 innings of work in his first season with the Phillies and enters Monday’s game 4-4 with a 4.02 ERA and 47 strikeouts over 56 innings of work.
(H/T Twitter/Phillies)
