Gloves are popping BP home runs
are flying spring training
workouts are underway here in
Mesa Arizona for the cubs, let's
get into some of the early
storylines for the latest report
, I'm Jordan bastion, no secret
that Kyle Hendricks will be
delayed to start the season.
Veteran pitcher, the last
remaining player from the 2016
World Series team is coming back
from a shoulder injury and it's
about a month behind the rest of
the arms in camp.
One of the reasons for the
delays.
Hendricks is working on the more
efficient arm path in his
delivery that should ease some
of that strain on the shoulder,
potentially losing Hendricks for
a chunk of april or even longer
is not ideal.
But the cubs are hoping that
their depth this year can better
absorb such a blow.
Therefore, other starters locked
in between Marcus Stroman.
Jamison Tyrone Drew Smyly and
Justin steal without Hendricks,
there's only won job up for
grabs in spring, barring some
unforeseen development cubs,
Manager David ross has provided
some clarity on who will be
competing for that loan rotation
vacancy.
The main three contenders are
Hayden Wisniewski, Adrian
Sampson and Javier assad some
nonroster invitees.
We get a look to two names you
didn't hear Adbert Alzolay and
keegan Thompson.
That's because the cubs are
viewing them as multi inning
relief weapon's to start the
season.
Both alkali and Thompson have
been dominant instances,
relievers in the past and the
cubs really value having those
multi inning 11 jars in the
relief corps.
The cubs have already started
having pitchers face batters, an
live BP sessions this spring,
arguably the most notable such
workout this week involved
Jamison who joined the foaled on
a four years $68 million
contract over the off season.
This was taken a chance to
review his new sweeper slider
with hitters in the batter's box
since the moment he signed today
and has been getting to work
with cubs pitching group on
developing this pitch which get
more horizontal movement than
his previous slider before they
all convene in Arizona.
Taillon was going over grips and
zum calls and testing out the
pitch and bullpen sessions So
far, Tiaan has been encouraged
that the feel of that pitch has
been lining up with some of the
metrics that he's been
monitoring the end goal for the
big riding is to have this new
slider replaced the old one
which you can still use if
needed.
He also has a wide arsenal
including a cutter that he plans
to better manipulate in terms of
shape and speed.
This is all very much an ongoing
project.
It will be something to keep
watching the spring as looks to
unlock an even better version of
himself in the season ahead.
The cubs have more than a dozen
players in the announced rosters
for the upcoming World Baseball
Classic and that list includes
some top prospects like matt
Murphy's suiting up for team
Israel and Oh and Casey heading
to play for team Canada two most
notable cubs heading to the
classic will be Soria Suzuki for
Japan and Marcus Stroman for
Puerto rico.
Both Suzuki and Stroman are in
camp cubs right now building up
before they travel to Japan and
Miami respectively.
In early March for the
tournament, Suzuki remembers
watching Japan winning the first
two, the World Baseball classics
when he was a kid and said he
hopes to bring the gold medal
back to his home country for
those kids who now look to him
is one of the heroes.
As for Stroman you may remember
him winning the tournament.
MvP after helping Team Usa beat
Puerto rico in 2017.
Well he's switching sides this
time around to honor his mom is
Puerto rico Stroman said, quote
, my mother's my heart, she is
my rock, she is my best friend,
she's my blood.
Any time I can represent that
woman, I love her more than
anything and quote keep breeding
MLB dot com and watching MLB
network for all the latest from
around baseball this spring and
in the weeks leading up to
opening day I'm cubs beat
reporter Jordan best