With Kris Bryant’s immediate future unknown, David Bote has suddenly emerged as one of the most important members of the 2020 Cubs.

Bryant is now feeling oblique tightness in his right side and he will be on the shelf for a little while (though the Cubs remain optimistic it won’t end his season). That makes Bote the next man up at third base.

David Ross acknowledged Nico Hoerner is also an option at third and may get some time at the hot corner, but Bote is the main guy in Bryant’s absence.

Bote has been a valuable role player for the Cubs over his first three seasons in the big leagues, filling in all over the infield and coming up with some big hits. In 2020, he ranks second on the team with 27 RBI.

“David’s been that guy as long as I’ve known him,” Ross said. “He’s a guy that has filled in when asked and done a really good job. Defensively, [he’s] made some big plays for us, big hits. Real power.

“You feel good about David. He gives you a quality at-bat. He’s smart, he digs through things. I do feel good about him. Very.”

If this were a typical 162-game season, Bote would be on pace for 81 RBI in just 327 at-bats.

He currently ranks 5th in Major League Baseball with an RBI every 4.70 plate appearances this season, behind only Luke Voit, Eric Hosmer, Jose Abreu and Dominic Smith.

Bote is hitting .211 on the season, but he’s been one of the most clutch players in the game. He’s hitting .393 with runners in scoring position and that number jumps all the way up to .471 (8-for-17) with 2 outs and runners in scoring position.

Everybody remembers Bote for that epic walk-off grand slam from August 2018, but he’s been a clutch player day in and day out ever since stepping foot in the big leagues.

Over his three-year career, Bote is hitting .277 with a .909 OPS with runners in scoring position compared to a .221 average and .682 OPS with the bases empty.

How has he been able to find success in the big moment — or, as Jim Deshaies says, been so “clutchy”?

Bote took us through his pre-at-bat routine and mental process in spring training and said the key for him is to keep everything the same in every plate appearance. He also reminds himself that the pressure is actually on the pitcher, who is trying to get out of a jam with runners on.

His manager believes that mental approach is a huge reason for Bote’s success.

“I think he’s smart,” Ross said. “He knows his swing. He knows where his zone is and he sizes up the pitchers well. He studies more like a new-age player with percentages and knowing how a pitcher might attack him and how that sets up for his at-bat.

“He does that off the bench. He does that in-game if they change pitchers. He’s very thought-out in his process. I think that sets him up for a lot of success and I think he handles the moment well.”