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.

2. Hayden Wesneski is pitching like an ace

Currently listed as the Cubs' number 5 prospect, Hayden Wesneski is vying for the Cubs' fifth starter job and he is taking his opportunity and running with it. The 25-year-old has not yielded a run in 8.2 innings pitched and he has set down 11 batters via strikeout. The sample size is admittedly small, but with a starter job up for grabs, every pitch counts and Wesneski is picking up right where he left off last year. In 33 big league innings, Wesneski sported a 2.18 ERA last year and he averaged a strikeout per inning pitched. The young right-hander is making it very difficult to not include in the starting rotation as he is flashing top-of-the-rotation stuff and frankly making hitters look foolish. Hopefully, his success continues and we see him starting games in April.

4. The bullpen is shoving

Speaking of the bullpen, there have been many standout performances so far. Perhaps most notable is under-the-radar prospect Cam Sanders, who hasn't given up a run in 5.1 innings and collected himself 2 saves and 7 strikeouts. Michael Fulmer also has a 0.00 ERA in 5 innings and he is currently the most logical option to be the Cubs' closer in April. Other standouts include Michael Rucker (0.00), Rowan Wick (1.93), Brad Boxberger (0.00), and Anthony Kay (2.25). There are only so many spots available when opening day comes around, so these innings are important with just a little over two weeks until the final roster cuts. I think the Cubs bullpen could surprise a lot of people with a wealth of quality young arms making their way through the system.

5. Dansby Swanson is struggling

The big free agent acquisition this offseason was former Atlanta Braves star shortstop Dansby Swanson. But Swanson has yet to show off his hitting ability as the 29-year-old is hitting .059 in 17 at-bats. Spring Training performances do not necessarily carry over to the regular season, and unlike the pitchers mentioned earlier, Swanson's job is very much secure. Swanson is also the type of player to go through weeks-long ruts like this, only to turn things around at the drop of a dime. I'd expect him to have high peaks and low valleys at the plate during the regular season.