5 feel-good Cubs stories heading into Opening Day

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With Spring Training coming to a close, the good vibes are kicking in as the Chicago Cubs enter the regular season. This team may not be the surefire contender we'd hope for in their third year of a rebuild, but it is radically better than what was put together last year. Between the new additions to the team and the budding prospects that make up the strongest Cubs farm system we've seen in years, it's hard not to get a little excited.

In a more positive year, it's no surprise then that the pre-season gave more feel-good stories to take into Opening Day. With the flurry of moves ahead of the season, good news came for many players and fans alike as the roster came together and everyone rounded out their Spring performances.

Before we dive into the season on Thursday at 1:20 p.m., let's take a look at the positive storylines to kick off 2023 on a high note.

Luis Torrens makes the Opening Day roster

Coming into Spring Training, it was definitely the understanding that the Cubs had brought in Dom Núñez and Luis Torrens as catching depth to help in case of injury to either of Yan Gomes or Tucker Barnhart. Neither of these guys was expected to make the big league roster out of camp, even if it was fair to assume they'd appear at some point. They were merely intriguing guys to have in the organization.

Color me pleasantly surprised, then, when Torrens tore the cover off the ball throughout the pre-season. He's never hit particularly well in the majors, posting a dismal 79 wRC+ in nearly 800 plate appearances. Between Seattle and San Diego, he's only had one above-average offensive season - his 2021 campaign where he managed a 101 wRC+. In Spring, however, the power came alive as he hit .273/.385/.636 with a pair of dingers in 24 plate appearances. That's a small sample, but it's intriguing nonetheless, and clearly, the Cubs thought so too, giving him a spot on the roster to start the year.

I'm a sucker for unexpected guys playing their way to an Opening Day job, so it's heartening to see Torrens get his shot. Kudos to Miles Mastrobuoni as well for also making it to Wrigley.

Cody Bellinger gave hope for a bounceback in 2023

As a big Cody Bellinger fan, I, like many Cubs fans, was eager to see if the former NL MVP could return to form now that he's fully healthy. Although signed to vastly improve the team's dismal center field defense, he's an x-factor for this team if he ends up performing even a fraction as well as his 2019 season. Say what you will about Spring Training games, but his performance helped keep hopes of a Bellinger bounceback alive.

The numbers are a bit of a mixed bag with a .200/.296/.467 slash line, but his swing definitely looked better than in previous years and it was good to see the power return. He showed a consistent ability to drive the ball, even if the results weren't always optimal. It was the kind of performance that suggested with more time, and better luck, he could make that slash line a lot better. Add in three home runs on top of it all and it's enough to be a bit optimistic about what he can offer throughout the season. It also helps that he's reunited with former Dodgers organization members Dustin Kelly and Johnny Washington to aid with any adjustments.

Cody Bellinger - Chicago Cubs (3)* pic.twitter.com/Z2u3sM8Kfq
— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) March 26, 2023

If he keeps showing he can hammer the ball as that and more of those outs turn to hits, that power will be highly valued in a Cubs lineup that is lacking in offensive juggernauts. Bellinger hardly has to be an MVP, but if he can be above average and establish himself as a solid regular, that would be golden.

Cubs pitching wowed throughout Spring Training

Early in Spring Training, it became clear that the pitchers throughout the Cubs organizations came to play. Compared to years past, pitchers in camp were sporting a lot more velocity, showing how the team's conscious efforts to add some firepower to the organization were already bearing fruit. Cam Sanders, Caleb Killian, Jordan Holloway, and Julian Merryweather were among many arms sporting nasty stuff throughout the month with the latter even earning a spot in the bullpen thanks to a strong performance that saw him strikeout 12 batters across 7 innings of relief. There were some struggles for Keegan Thompson and Brandon Hughes, but it became evidently clear how much depth the Cubs are rocking.

Beyond the prospects and relievers, the guys in the rotation looked sharp throughout Spring Training. Marcus Stroman, the de facto ace of the club and Opening Day starter, looked stellar between the pre-season and the World Baseball Classic and new addition Jameson Taillon recorded a 0.764 WHIP while becoming a strikeout monster with 11.3 punchouts per nine innings. That's to say nothing of Hayden Wesneski and Javier Assad, both of whom won spots on the Opening Day roster due to some monster performances. Assad, for his part, got to shine on the world stage too, eviscerating a dream USA lineup for three innings for Team Mexico.

Unless you're keeping up with minor league games, it's hard to fully grasp the potential the Cubs organization possesses with regard to pitching. Spring Training gave a glimpse at the talented arms that could reach Wrigley very soon. Speaking of Wesneski...

Hayden Wesneski earned the fifth spot in the starting rotation

For all the hype of the improved farm system and the wealth of pitching, fans are still itching to see more results at the big league level. Justin Steele has looked great so far, but the Cubs are building a pitching factory, and seeing a homegrown ace is the dream right now. Wesneski has looked like he could be that ace one day. He started turning heads when the Cubs called him up after trading Scott Effross to acquire him from the Yankees. A 2.18 ERA with a 0.939 WHIP in 33 innings in the majors coupled with an immaculate inning showed the promise he had.

Well, he just kept doing it in Spring. His ERA stayed at 2.12 with a 1.118 WHIP and 22 strikeouts in 17 innings. Aside from one start against the Dodgers, which itself still had plenty of positives, he was nearly perfect in pre-season play. With that performance and Adrian Sampson's struggles, he forced the Cubs' hand to name him the fifth starter. There's so much more to love about Wesneski than just numbers though. His individual pitches are among the best the organization has including his elite 60-grade slider. Despite being only 25, he carries himself on the mound with a veteran ace-like mentality, never shaking even at the slightest sign of trouble.

49 Seconds of Hayden Wesneski Sliders/Sweepers. 🤢 pic.twitter.com/X1pdRwiHlM
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 24, 2023

Between the hype of seeing Wesneski start in the majors and the emotional reaction he had when finding out he made the team, it's a seriously great moment for the organization and the fans wanting to see him blossom into a stud over a season.

Nico Hoerner FINALLY got his extension!

No story prompted a sigh of relief for Cubs fans more than hearing the franchise's star second baseman, Nico Hoerner, finally, mercifully, earned his extension. It may only add one extra year beyond his remaining arbitration years, but it's more than this team has been able to show for itself since 2019 with Kyle Hendricks and David Bote. The Cubs have been downright allergic to extensions for years now, seeing all of their former core go by the wayside from 2021 onward. To finally break that trend in ANY way is a small victory and a crucial message to both fans and homegrown players alike.

Even if it's not lengthy, the deal also makes a lot of sense for both team and the player. The Cubs get that extra bit of control to keep Hoerner and Dansby Swanson together up the middle through 2026 at least. Hoerner, meanwhile, gets to hit the open market at 29 in his prime meaning he can still secure a significant deal should he walk in free agency. Who's to say the team won't just offer another healthier extension once he gets close either? It's a deal that gives everyone more time and more cost certainty while the Cubs almost certainly got a discount on one of Hoerner's free-agent years.

Next. 5 Cubs players that helped their cases in Spring Training. dark

I would be even happier if an Ian Happ extension is still to come, especially now since he's expressed a willingness to take a team-friendly extension, but the Cubs finally locking down a core player early is a huge deal. Let's hope this is the first of many to come as more young players come up and establish themselves.

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