3 Chicago Cubs hitters who dominated throughout Spring Training

#3: Garrett Cooper

When the Cubs brought in Garrett Cooper as a non-roster invitee, it was a curious addition. On the one hand, it was somewhat surprising he even accepted a minor league deal considering his steady contribution in Miami and a down year that wasn't all that bad between the Marlins and Padres (.251/.304/.419/96 wRC+). He also seemed a little redundant between the Cody Bellinger re-signing and Patrick Wisdom's presence on the roster as the lefty-killing power bat. Yet, despite those obstacles, he managed to land a spot on the Opening Day roster as a bench bat.

While some of that is down to Wisdom getting injured, Cooper's bat played a part in earning that spot over other depth options like Alexander Canario or Dom Smith. With only 34 plate appearances, he clubbed three home runs and slashed .267/.353/.633/154 wRC+. It was further proof that the oft-underrated slugger still has value, especially when picking the right match-ups. He figures to slot into the DH spot or spell Busch at first base against left-handed pitchers where he can add some extra pop to the lineup.

It's possible that Cooper ends up as just extra depth in the Cubs organization and winds up back in the minors. However, his Spring Training performance has earned him a chance to prove that he deserves to be a part of this team for the long haul as it aims to finally return to the playoffs. Even if he provides a similar skillset to Wisdom, it's never a bad thing to have more players like Cooper around and he demonstrated that he can mix in well as part of Craig Counsell's game plan.

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