Cubs Spring Training Update: Shota Imanaga struggles, Alex Bregman homers, Pete Crow-Armstrong

After much was made of his uptick in velocity during his 2026 spring training debut last week, Shota Imanaga had familiar struggles in his Cactus League start against the Chicago White Sox on Sunday. Imanaga didn't make it out of the second inning, giving up three runs on four hits. Most concerning, Imanaga gave up three home runs.

Spring training struggles for veteran pitchers can often be chalked up to the idea that now is the time when they are experimenting with different things, so the Cubs may not be raising any red flags after Imanaga's outing on Sunday. That being said, a proneness to giving up home runs is what was at the center of his struggles at the end of last season.

Imanaga's velocity remained similar to his outing last week, and it's worth mentioning that he was experimenting with PitchCom in Sunday's start. That will do little to silence the doubt that Cubs fans already have, believing Imanaga is incapable of returning to being the top-of-the-rotation pitcher he once was.

Cubs Spring Training Update: Alex Bregman's first home run underscores scorching hot spring training start

Alex Bregman hit his first home run in a Cubs uniform on Sunday, and it highlighted his hot start to spring training.

Bregman has collected 5 hits in his first 14 plate appearances and is clearly ready for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. If anything, spring training has been a reminder that for all the talk about what Bregman brings to the Cubs behind the scenes, the Cubs were willing to hand him $175 million because of the value he brings on the field.

Cubs Spring Training Update: Pete Crow-Armstrong searching for consistency

One of the biggest storylines for the Cubs to start the season will be following how Pete Crow-Armstrong responds after he struggles to close out the 2025 season. Crow-Armstrong has revealed an altered batting stance in spring training and an effort to keep his approach simple.

If the Cubs' offense is going to prove that Kyle Tucker's absence doesn't set them back, Crow-Armstrong will need to find more consistency. Looking beyond his approach, it is also tied to Crow-Armstrong's chase rate. It could come down to finding a balance, allowing Crow-Armstrong to be the free swinger he was during the first half of last year, but harnessing it in a notch. Speaking of Bregman's impact behind the scenes, Crow-Armstrong could be the player who benefits the most from that.