As winter lingers, the Chicago Cubs have unofficially kicked off spring in Arizona.
On Sunday, the team’s pitchers and catchers arrived in Mesa for Spring Training, making them the first Major League club to report—two days ahead of the rest. Meanwhile, the White Sox will begin their training in Glendale, Arizona, on Wednesday.
Though their return didn’t steal the spotlight from Super Bowl Sunday, the Cubs wasted no time getting back to work with their first official workout.
Following key offseason additions of Kyle Tucker and Ryan Pressly, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer remained tight-lipped on potential interest in free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman, another former Houston Astro.
“We’re focused on the players in camp right now,” Hoyer said. “Offseasons have been shifting later, whether it’s waiver claims, trades, or free agent signings. But as of February 9, our priority is the guys here. We believe we’re in a competitive window and improving each year, putting us in a position to be really good.”
The Cubs’ early spring training start is due to their upcoming trip to Japan, where they will open the season in five weeks.
“We put in some extra work before arriving, and now it’s about staying on schedule and making sure everyone is ready to pitch,” said Cubs Manager Craig Counsell.
One player especially excited for the trip is pitcher Shota Imanaga, who will return to his home country as the Cubs take on the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in Tokyo on March 18 and 19.
The team’s first full-squad workout is scheduled for Friday, Valentine’s Day—an appropriate date for baseball’s return.
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