MESA, Ariz. (CBS) — The dead of winter it may be, but an early spring has already started for the Cubs in Arizona.
Cubs pitchers and catchers reported to Spring Training in Mesa on Sunday, two days before any other Major League team. White Sox pitchers and catchers report to Glendale, Arizona on Wednesday.
The Cubs are not exactly upstaging Super Bowl Sunday, but they did get back to work on this American sports holiday with the pitchers and catchers going through an official workout.
After making a splash by adding Kyle Tucker and Ryan Pressly, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer played it close to the vest about his pursuit of another former star Houston Astro — free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman.
“We’re going to focus on the guys that are in camp, and that’s the plan, so you know, I think off-seasons have drifted later — whether it’s waiver claims, trades, free agent signings — things happen a little bit later now,” Hoyer said. “But I think given that it’s February 9, I think we’re focused on the guys that are here. I think we’re in a competitive window. I think we’ve gotten better each year. I think we’re in a place where we have a chance to be really good.
The Cubs are getting an extra early start to Spring Training this year due to their Far East trip to Japan to begin the season in just five weeks.
“We did a little bit of more work, maybe more work, before we got here, and now it’s just, we’re going do the same thing, and we have so many days — and you’ve just got to do your thing and on your schedule. Guys will be ready to pitch,” said Cubs Manager Craig Counsell.
Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga is sure to receive a hero’s welcome when the Japanese superstar returns to Tokyo for the Cubs’ season-opening series against the World champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The Cubs-Dodgers Tokyo series is set for March 18 and 19.
The first full-squad workout for the Cubs is on Friday, Valentine’s Day. What’s not to love with baseball back?
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