Chris Kachmar spent less than three weeks in Arizona preparing for the start of 2020 season before he was told to go home. The East Greenville resident was preparing

Chris Kachmar, a 2015 graduate of \ Upper Perkiomen High School, has yet  to face a live hitter this spring.

to face live hitters when the Chicago Cubs closed their Mesa, Ari. facility due to concerns over COVID-19.

            Kachmar, a minor league pitcher in the Cubs' organization, awaits word from club officials to resume his season. Meanwhile, the 2015 Upper Perkiomen High School graduate is doing his best to stay in shape and maintain arm strength. He's determined to make the best of a challenging situation.

            "I'm trying to remain optimistic," he said. "I'll be ready when the season starts."

            Looking to get a jump on his first full season of professional baseball, Kachmar participated in the final two weeks of the Cubs winter instructional program in February at the team's Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa.

            "I really enjoyed it," he said.

           On March 12 – a few days into minor league spring training, right before Kachmar was scheduled to face live hitters for the first time – the Cubs closed all their complexes due to threats created by the novel coronavirus.

            "All my pitches felt good," he said.

            Kachmar, selected in the 28^th round of the 2019 MLB First-Year Player Draft, out of Lipscomb University, is eager to build on a solid professional debut. Last summer, he allowed just five earned runs and registered more than a strikeout an inning. Opposing hitters posted a .176 average.

            In the Arizona Rookie League, Kachmar appeared in only four games and completed eight innings. He allowed four hits and only two earned runs while striking out 12, finished with a 1-0 record and a 2.25 ERA. After fanning six hitters in three shutouts on July 7, the Cubs promoted him to their short-season affiliate in the Northwest League.

            He was even more dominant for the Class A Eugene Emeralds, posting a 4-0 record and a 1.56 ERA in 10 appearances.  In 17 1/3 innings, he allowed just 11 hits while registering 24 strikeouts.

            This season, he expected an initial assignment to one of the organization's full-season Class A affiliates, either Myrtle Beach (Advanced) or South Bend. The pitcher said he doesn't expect the indefinite delay to deter his development. According to Kachmar, the Cubs view the first couple of years as developmental.

            "I'm just trying to improve," he said. "Now I have to do it remotely."

            Since returning to East Greenville, Kachmar continues to throw bullpens to a local catcher who is home from college. Staying in shape has been a challenge. The pitcher is forced to work out in his basement while completing mostly sprints and the occasional distance runs outside.

            Though all games have been suspended, all minor league players in the Cubs farm system are getting paid for the next couple of months, according to Kachmar. He described the organization as "high class". Players in Rookie ball through all Class A levels will earn between $467-607 per week, according to information posted on the Cubs website.