Split-squad video games present ample alternatives for gamers attempting to make an impression.
The Chicago Cubs obtained a take a look at 5 non-roster relievers and two of the pitchers vying for a spot within the opening-day bullpen throughout their 12-4 loss to the Cleveland Guardians in Mesa and a 3-0 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks in Scottsdale.
Here are three takeaways from the video games.
1. Caleb Kilian was locked in throughout his spring debut.
At one level final yr, right-hander Caleb Kilian was the Cubs’ high pitching prospect, a part of a hopeful future for a company that endured one other shedding season.
Three begins in June, Kilian’s first within the majors, had been rocky. His shaky command led to 12 walks and 11 hits in 11⅓ innings whereas placing out 9. He returned to Triple-A Iowa, the place he posted a 5.37 ERA and walked 78 in 63⅔ innings over his ultimate 16 begins.
Pitching in a recreation for the primary time because the finish of the season, Kilian threw two excellent innings Monday in opposition to the Diamondbacks. He threw 20 of his 29 pitches for strikes, tallying each of his strikeouts on swings: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. on a 96 mph fastball up and out of the zone and Evan Longoria on a 95 mph sinker.
“My goal was to fill up the zone, draw some weak contact and let the players make some plays behind me, and that’s what happened,” Kilian mentioned. “Try to build from it. Stay healthy, improve, fill up the zone and get stretched out a little more.”
Kilian’s four-seam fastball sat between 95.2 and 96.4 mph, and his two-seam fastball ranged between 93.1 and 97.1 mph. When he integrated his curveball, Arizona hitters had been constantly off with early swings that led to foul balls and a weak flyout to middle.
“That’s huge,” Kilian mentioned. “Being able to command the fastball well, especially up, makes the curveball look a lot better. I can balance it at times. And then landing the curveball as well early helps them respect it so they can swing at it later in the dirt.”
The Cubs confirmed how prepared they had been in 2022 to present alternatives to youthful pitchers, one thing that didn’t go unnoticed by Kilian. Although he initiatives to start the season at Triple A, it will not be a shock to see Kilian, 25, begin for the Cubs sooner or later this season.
“It’s huge. I mean, that’s all of our goals,” Kilian mentioned. “We want to pitch in the big leagues and they’re not afraid to call you up. So you’ve got to be ready for that moment when it happens.”
2. David Bote is taking advantage of early enjoying time.
When the Cubs outrighted Bote off the 40-man roster in November, he turned the odd man out amongst their infielders. And that was earlier than they signed shortstop Dansby Swanson to a seven-year contract.
Bote, who turns 30 in April, is owed $4 million this yr even when he spends the entire season at Iowa. He additionally is about to obtain $5.5 million subsequent season, the final of his assured five-year, $15 million extension he signed in April 2019. The deal consists of membership choices for 2025 and 2026 with a $1 million buyout for annually.
Bote is 4-for-6 by way of three video games with a stroll, a double, a house run and 4 RBIs.
“It’s my goal every year, continue to be a better version of myself, know myself a little more and go out there and play,” Bote mentioned Monday.
His greatest path to the majors this yr seemingly would are available in one other group if the Cubs discover a method to transfer him. Bote appeared in solely 41 video games for the Cubs in 2022, hitting .259 with a .315 on-base proportion and 109 OPS+ in 127 plate appearances.
He missed the primary 70 video games as he recovered from offseason left shoulder surgical procedure and by August was optioned to Iowa earlier than getting recalled in the course of the ultimate month. As he mirrored on the final yr, Bote mentioned every season is difficult in its personal method.
“Honestly, it kind of brought me back to my faith a little bit,” Bote mentioned. “We’re working by way of lots simply in life, greater than baseball itself, however that sort of bleeds over into baseball.
“I guess that’s just my approach mentally of being like, hey, at the end of the day, whether I do well or do poorly, to emulate Jesus … regardless of my faults, my sins and all those things. But that’s just where I’m at mentally, being able to play in freedom in that whether I have success or don’t.”
3. Justin Steele isn’t frightened about arm fatigue.
Steele’s arm fatigue isn’t preserving him down lengthy. The left-hander was scratched from Sunday’s begin however is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday and stays on observe for his subsequent outing.
He has handled this earlier than in the course of the offseason and is ok after taking a few days off. His arm felt just a little drained whereas throwing a brief bullpen Friday.
Steele is already constructed as much as three innings and isn’t frightened about lacking his first spring coaching begin.
“I definitely worked hard this offseason to get to where I am today,” Steele mentioned. “Made sense for us to not press the gas pedal because I’m already in a really good spot. … It just made sense not to send me out there and then make something worse and then you sit back even longer injured.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com