Watch Chicago Cubs prospect Hayden Wesneski make easy work of Julio Rodriguez

Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Hayden Wesneski made his Spring Training debut on Wednesday as he got the start for the team in their Spring Training game against the Seattle Mariners.

Wesneski immediately picked up where he left off from the 2022 Major League Baseball regular season as he struck out the first batter that he faced on Wednesday. Who was the first batter that Wesneski faced on Wednesday? None other than Seattle Mariners superstar Julio Rodriguez.

Wesneski wasn't done there as he struck out the very next batter he faced as well. This time, the victim was former Mariners' top prospect Jarred Kelenic.

Wesneski was nearly perfect in his start on Wednesday as he allowed only 1 hit in 2 innings of work. In those two innings, Wesneski struck out a total of 4 batters.

During the first week of Cubs' Spring Training, Cubs' manager David Ross told reporters that the fifth starter's spot in the team's rotation will be between Wesneski, Javier Assad, and Adrian Sampson. While there is no question that Assad and Sampson deserve to be in consideration for the spot, the clear answer is Wesneski.

Wesneski offers the Cubs' rotation a trait that they have lacked in recent seasons--the ability to miss bats at a high frequency. While the Cubs have compiled a rotation that should generate weak contact on a consistent basis, Wesneski provides the team with a change of pace as he has the ability to wipe hitter's out with his sweeping slider. Wesneski's slider is a weapon that the Cubs can not afford to not have as a part of the starting rotation.