In a season full of surprising trends and breakout stars, the Chicago Cubs have quietly — and dangerously — carved out a niche of their own. As of July 2025, the Cubs have become the only team in Major League Baseball to eclipse both 100 home runs and 100 stolen bases this season.
Yes, you read that right: they’re the only team combining slugging power with elite speed, making them the most balanced offensive threat in the league — and potentially the most dangerous team come October.
The Rare Blend: Strength Meets Speed
In the modern era of baseball, teams typically fall into one of two categories:
Power teams, who live and die by the long ball
Speed teams, who pressure defenses with aggressive base running
But the 2025 Cubs? They’re both.
Through just over three months of play, the Cubs have launched over 100 home runs, placing them among the league’s top-5 power hitters. Yet at the same time, they’ve stolen 100+ bases, putting them in elite company among the league’s most dynamic runners.
No other MLB team has reached both benchmarks. That alone is astonishing in today’s hyper-specialized game.
What Makes the Cubs Lineup So Dangerous?
The Cubs’ lineup has no soft spots. Each night, opposing pitchers must face:
Power hitters like Christopher Morel and Michael Busch, who can change the scoreboard with one swing
Base-stealing threats like Nico Hoerner, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Dansby Swanson, who keep pitchers distracted and infielders on edge
This multidimensional offense makes it nearly impossible for teams to plan against them. You throw a fastball, and someone takes you deep. You hesitate on a pickoff, and someone’s already standing on second.
As manager Craig Counsell put it earlier this month:
“We don’t just want to win with one weapon. We want to make you uncomfortable every single inning.”
Mission accomplished.
A Shift in Cubs Philosophy
The Cubs’ current identity is the product of a clear front-office vision. President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer and his staff have targeted athleticism, plate discipline, and versatility in their player acquisitions and development over the past few seasons.
This isn’t a fluke. It’s the result of design.
The Cubs’ farm system has quietly produced players who can do more than one thing well — and now, that strategy is paying off in a big way.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
100+ Home Runs: Among top-tier MLB offenses
100+ Stolen Bases: Top 3 in the league
Team OPS: Top 10
Extra-base hits: Among NL leaders
Stolen base %: Above 82%, among the most efficient in baseball
PCA = All-Star
Tucker = All-Star
Suzuki = Future All-Star?
In short: they hit hard, run smart, and never stop pressuring defenses.
The postseason is a different beast — home runs are harder to come by, and pitching becomes king. But teams that can manufacture runs in multiple ways tend to survive deep into October.
The 2025 Cubs are built for just that. If the power goes cold? They run. If the bases are empty? They stretch singles into doubles. They’ve created a formula that doesn’t rely on just one player, or one type of offense.
That’s what makes them so scary.
In a league where most teams chase one-dimensional dominance, the Chicago Cubs have cracked the code by doing both.
They’ve built a roster that doesn’t wait for home runs, but can still hit them with ease. A roster that steals bases for fun, but also drives balls into the bleachers.