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5 Cubs players who are putting up eye-catching numbers this spring
The early returns from key relievers have been impressive and a pair of potential bench bats are duking it out for a potential spot on the Opening Day roster.
Spring training is winding down and teams' Opening Day rosters are starting to come into focus. That's certainly the case for the Chicago Cubs who, at this point are just figuring out the finer details, such as bench pieces and the finishing touches on the bullpen.
Several of the players who could go either way in terms of cracking the Opening Day roster are leaving it all on the field, giving Jed Hoyer, Craig Counsell and Cubs brass a tough decision to make over the next week-and-a-half. Here are 5 guys who have turned heads this spring with their performance.
Garrett Cooper is doing everything the Cubs hoped for - and more
Early this month when the Cubs added former All-Star infielder Garrett Cooper on a minor league deal with an invite to big league spring training, the hope was he could play his way into the infield picture, adding an insurance policy for Michael Busch at first.
It was the same logic employed when Chicago signed former first-rounder Dominic Smith, as well. The lack of production at first base last season has Hoyer hedging his bets heading into 2024 and both Smith and Cooper have looked good this spring, although it's virtually impossible both make the Opening Day roster.
Cubs' slugger Patrick Wisdom is what he is - but he does it well
At this point, you're kidding yourself if you think Patrick Wisdom is, all of a sudden, going to become a bat-to-ball guy. It's just not going to happen and we've seen his feast-or-famine production continue this spring.
High-level, he's done his job. He narrowly trails Cooper with a 1.188 OPS, also sending half of his hits for extra bases this spring. But the difference is how he's achieving that OPS. With Wisdom, it's all power - and no on-base prowess. He's struck out 5 times (31% K rate) and hasn't drawn a walk this spring.
Again, Wisdom has been impressive because we know what he can do when he barrels a ball up. He's especially dangerous when he gets locked in at the plate and has shown the ability to go on some impressive heaters at the dish. But the problem is when he's not locked in, there's a lot of swing-and-miss in his game. Too much, probably. If the decision had to be made today, despite his impressive overall performance, Wisdom feels like he could be left on the outside looking in.
Jose Cuas is ready to play a key role in the Cubs bullpen in 2024
Acquired at the trade deadline last summer in exchange for outfielder Nelson Velazquez (who subsequently went on to be a force at the plate for the Royals, hitting 14 home runs in 40 games), Jose Cuas was serviceable, but hardly dominant down the stretch for the Cubs.
The side-arming right-hander finished with a 3.04 ERA in 27 appearances for Chicago, but his near-5.00 FIP suggests a decent amount of good fortune. Now gearing up for his first full season with the Cubs, Cuas has looked locked in during his spring training appearances, giving hope he could be a key middle-reliever for Counsell this year.
In a half-dozen Cactus League appearances, the 28-year-old is yet to allow a run, with 8 strikeouts to just 2 walks in six innings of work. Still pre-arb eligible, Cuas is controllable for four seasons after 2024, so if he can settle in and cut down on the free passes, he could be a cost-controlled arm for Chicago for the next half-decade. He's given us a lot to like this spring and the hope is that carries into the regular season.
Adbert Alzolay wants to make sure the ninth inning belongs to him
Last season, former highly-regarded Cubs starting pitching prospect Adbert Alzolay emerged as the team's ninth-inning answer, quietly turning in the best season of his big league career.
He made 58 appearances, working to a 2.67 ERA and 3.02 FIP, while consistently avoiding any self-inflicted damage, evidenced by a 5.15 K/BB ratio and 1.016 WHIP. Although Counsell hasn't made anything official as far as the closer's role goes yet, the right-hander is doing everything in his power to make sure it belongs to him.
Alzolay boasts a 0.600 WHIP in five spring appearances and is yet to allow a run. Again, all of these numbers can be taken with a grain of salt because no sure thing that a good spring performance translates directly to a good regular season, but at least he hasn't done anything to cost himself the chance to close again for the Cubs in 2024.
Big lefty Luke Little is ready to be the team's go-to southpaw in the pen
Despite his name, Luke Little is anything but small, standing an imposing 6-foot, 8-inches tall on the mound. We got our first look at him as a Cub last summer, when he made seven scoreless appearances and put up a jaw-dropping 16.2 K/9. The big knock on him is, as is the case with a lot of young relievers, control. He also walked 5.4 batters per nine, so honing in on that will be a big focus.
Given the Cubs' complete lack of impactful lefties in the pen (unlike the potentially lefty-heavy rotation), Little headed into the spring with the inside track on a spot on the Opening Day roster and he hasn't squandered it.
In six appearances, he's been about as reliable as they come, not allowing a run, striking out six and walking just two in those half-dozen innings. It's been awhile since the Cubs had a big shutdown lefty coming out of the bullpen, but I'd be surprised if Little isn't given a chance to be just that to open the season.
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