1000 Words: Baez joins the coaching staff
(Photo by Stephen Green)
Top prospect Javier Baez gets a little extra coaching in Wednesday’s game against the Dodgers in Mesa, Ariz. In four spring games, the exciting, young shortstop is hitting .400 with one stolen base in 10 at-bats.
1000 Words: Rizzo flashes the leather
(Photo by Stephen Green)
First baseman Anthony Rizzo shows off his glove to fellow slugging first baseman Adrian Gonzalez during Wednesday’s game with the Dodgers. Entering his first full major league season, the 23-year-old Rizzo will try to join Gonzalez as one of the top first basemen in the game. Rizzo hit .285/.342/.463 (AVG/OBP/SLG) with 15 home runs and 48 RBI in 87 games in 2012. Gonzalez, a four-time All-Star, hit .299/.344/.463 with 18 home runs and 108 RBI in 159 games.
1000 Words: Behind the scenes with David DeJesus
(Photo by Stephen Green)
David DeJesus works on his approach with hitting coach James Rowson in the HoHoKam clubhouse video room. The 33-year-old outfielder, who hit .263 with a .350 on-base percentage in 2012, will likely play center field this season with the additions of Nate Schierholtz and Scott Hairston.
1000 Words: Is this the future?
(Photo by Stephen Green)
Second baseman Darwin Barney gets to know (from left) Jorge Soler, Javier Baez and Christian Villanueva. Soler, a Cuban defector who turns 21 years old today, has impressed with his all-around game early in camp. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound outfielder has shown patience at the plate, ridiculous bat speed, strong defense and solid baserunning.
Shortstop Baez has been named by many publications as the No. 1 prospect in the system, and third baseman Villanueva was a key piece of the Ryan Dempster deal last season.
1000 Words: It’s game time for Len Kasper
Cubs television broadcaster Len Kasper readies for the home opener at HoHoKam Stadium Sunday. Kasper will be calling the game on MLB.com with Tennessee Smokies broadcaster Mick Gillespie at 2 p.m. CST. The Cubs play 38 more Cactus League games this season, and Spring Training broadcasts on MLB.com are free.
1000 Words: B-Jax is locked in early
(Photo by Stephen Green)
After struggling with contact at the major league level last year, outfield prospect Brett Jackson spent most of the offseason working to refine his swing. Though it’s still early, his hard work has paid dividends so far. In the first Cactus League game of the season Saturday, B-Jax went 2-for-2 with two triples. That followed a 3-for-3 performance, with two doubles and a stolen base, in an intrasquad game Friday.
“[The new swing] is second nature at this point,” Jackson said. “I still have to stay on some things, as every hitter does. There are some things you’re going to work on your whole career, and it’s never going to just stay. I think most hitters work their whole career to stay back or stay behind the baseball. You always have to be on top of that kind of stuff.”
1000 Words: The Cubs new spring home is taking shape
The Cubs will play their home opener tomorrow afternoon at HoHoKam Stadium, their spring home of the last 17 years. One year from now, they’ll be playing their home opener here.
Vine Line toured the Cubs new Spring Training facility being built in the Riverview area of Mesa, Ariz., earlier this morning. You can see the third base dugout on the left of the photo and the beginnings of the seating bowl behind it. It’s going to be an impressive new home, and it will be ready for the first pitch of the 2014 spring slate.
1000 Words: Castro and Soriano are ready
(Photo by Stephen Green)
Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro and left-fielder Alfonso Soriano have their bats ready for the Cactus League season. The Cubs open Saturday against the Angels in Tempe (Castro and Soriano are not in the lineup) and play their home opener Sunday against the Giants.
1000 Words: Soler caps off a productive day
(Photo by Stephen Green)
Top Cubs outfield prospect Jorge Soler announced himself in a big way Thursday at HoHoKam Stadium in Mesa, Ariz. In his first at-bat in the first Cubs intrasquad game of the spring, the 20-year-old Cuban expat blasted a home run to deep left off minor league pitcher of the year Nick Struck. He also walked and made an impressive play coming in on a ball in left field.
1000 Words: First steps of the 2013 season
(Photo by Stephen Green)
The 2013 Cubs take the field for the first time today at HoHoKam Stadium in Mesa, Ariz. In an intrasquad matchup, the white team, laden with veterans like David DeJesus and new right-fielder Nate Schierholtz, took down the prospect-heavy blue team 7-3.
