5 Chicago Cubs' surprises of Spring Training so far

The Chicago Cubs are off to a good start in Cactus League play with a 10-6 record that was highlighted by an 8-game winning streak. The first two weeks of Spring Training gave us a look at top prospects like Pete Crow-Armstrong, Brennan Davis, and Ben Brown before they were reassigned to the minor leagues after the first round of roster cuts. With more cuts on the way, we will be seeing how guys vying for opening-day roster spots perform as the calendar gets ever closer to March 30th. Some of these guys have been playing well, while others are struggling to make their case. With opening day about two weeks away, here are 5 surprises of the Cubs' Spring Training so far.

1. Edwin Rios looks good

Former Los Angeles infielder Edwin Rios came to the Cubs last month on a one-year deal after the Dodgers let him walk in free agency in November. Although he has not had consistent playing time in MLB, that is mostly due to the Dodgers always having a stacked infield and not a testament to Rios' ability. In almost 500 minor league games played, Rios has a career .291 batting average with 104 home runs. The majority of those at-bats (1,060) were at the triple-A level.

Rios is making a good case for the opening day roster as he is a lefty bat with pop that can play multiple infield positions. In 21 at-bats this Spring, Rios has an .891 OPS with 2 long home runs. This team needs all the power it can find, and Rios has proven he can be productive if given consistent playing time. A platoon situation at third base alongside Patrick Wisdom seems to be the logical way for Rios to get into the lineup. Since Wisdom performs better against left-handed pitching, Rios could start when the Cubs face a right-handed pitcher.