3 insane Chicago Cubs spring training breakouts fans will never forget

Every spring, a few performances jump off the back fields in Arizona and make Cubs fans start circling names in pen. Spring training numbers don’t always mean everything — but sometimes, a breakout is so loud you can’t ignore it.

3 Cubs spring training performances that won't soon fade from memory

Gage Workman - 2025

A year ago, Gage Workman had Cubs fans thinking he could be a real difference maker at the big league level. At the time, the team's third base situation was not nearly as settled.

Matt Shaw had yet to make his big-league debut, let alone prove that he could handle third base as a starter. And Alex Bregman had already signed with the Boston Red Sox. So the Cubs took Workman from the Detroit Tigers in the Rule 5 Draft, and he certainly made the most of the opportunity. At least initially.

Workman smacked six extra-base hits, drove in 15 runs, and posted a .364/.420/.705 slash line in 20 Cactus League games. Unfortunately, this performance didn't translate to the regular season, and Workman didn't even last with the team through April. But that spring training performance had fans (myself included) thinking the Cubs just found a diamond in the rough.

Kris Bryant - 2015

Unlike Workman, Kris Bryant's first spring training breakout was the real deal. This was when Bryant had just come off a season as the Minor League Baseball Player of the Year and he was one of the highest-ranked prospects in baseball.

That spring, Bryant mashed nine home runs with a 1.652 OPS in 40 at-bats. This production was a sign of things to come as the slugging infielder became the team's most productive hitter over the next two seasons, where he won the National League Rookie of the Year Award (2015), NL MVP (2016) and helped the team capture its first World Series championship in 108 years.

And it all started with that historic spring training performance.

Pete Crow-Armstrong - 2025

After the Cubs traded for Pete Crow-Armstrong in 2021, everyone knew about his speed and defense being elite. But his bat was always the big question.

But last year, Crow-Armstrong flipped the script and showed that he has the ability to hit. In 34 spring training at-bats, PCA slashed .500/.486/.882 and three home runs. Little did anyone know, this was the precursor to a breakout season at the plate, where the star center fielder garnered MVP buzz in the first half of the season.

Although his production slowed down, Crow-Armstrong still finished the season with 72 extra-base hits and 95 RBI, giving fans hope that he can be a true five-tool player and a perennial All-Star.