3 Cubs players it's way too soon to freak out about amidst early season struggles

After his second start, I said it was way too soon to hit the panic button when it came to Kyle Hendricks. Now, after a third straight rocky outing to open the season, I still feel that way but have much less certainty than I did a week ago after the Padres knocked him around this week in San Diego.

That being said, there are several guys off to slow starts I still have a very high level of confidence in for a variety of reasons. As the Cubs head to Arizona to open a three-game set against the Diamondbacks on Monday, let's look at 3 players who are likely to start getting it together sooner rather than later.

Cody Bellinger has been particularly cold at the plate in the early going

On the heels of re-signing with the Cubs on a three-year, $85 million deal, Cody Bellinger has, for the most part, been quiet at the plate. Sure, he's answered the Wrigley faithful's 'Cody' chants with a home run on not one, but two separate occasions, but that's been about it.

Entering Sunday's finale in Seattle, Bellinger is batting just .167/.270/.296 and has been even worse over the last seven days (.053/.136/.053). He's drawn walks well (7 BB to 11 K on the season) and has been hitting the ball in the air a lot. I'm sure we'll see him get back to his short-to-the-ball approach when down in the count, which usually results in him finding plenty of holes around the diamond.

It's worth remembering the finer details of Bellinger's contract: there are opt-outs after this season and next, meaning no one is more motivated to back up the success he had in 2023 than the reigning NL Comeback Player of the Year - and I'm confident he'll do just that, despite his slow start.

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Nico Hoerner has suffered from a lack of hard contact at the dish

Nico Hoerner, when right, is probably the Cubs player I'd bet reaching 200 hits in a single season before he hangs up his spikes. Not one to take aim at the bleachers, Hoerner has showcased some elite bat-to-ball skills in his career and has all the tools of an eventual All-Star second baseman.

No one will ever question his glove work or baserunning, but an icy start at the plate is raising some eyebrows. The former first-rounder ranks in the bottom 1% of the league in barrel % and, to this point, he hasn't been able to drop balls in or take what the defense gives him the same way he has in the past.

A top-tier walk rate has salvaged Hoerner's slash line to this point (.171/.352/.195) but he hasn't been able to do anything against fastballs and it's hurt him. Over the last few years, he's always been near the bottom of the league in barrel rate and has overcome that obstacle, but that hasn't been the case here in April. A .200 BABIP suggests he's due for some positive regression and the Cubs will gladly welcome that when it comes.