CHICAGO CUBS NEWS

Kyle Hendricks - Throws bullpen Friday Hendricks (shoulder) completed a 30-pitch bullpen Friday at Sloan Park, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports reports.

Impact "It was just a regular pen, they just let me throw," Hendricks said. "Got my work in; finally got some pitches out of the stretch. Got that aspect going." The next step for Hendricks will be more bullpens, as it's been reported that the right-hander will not make a Cactus League start, meaning he'll assuredly open the season on the injured list due to his right shoulder troubles. How long that stay on the IL will be might be decided in part by how he looks during these bullpen sessions in Arizona.

MARCH 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Zach McKinstry - Gets look in left field McKinstry will get looks in the outfield for the rest of the Cactus League season, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports reports.

Impact McKinstry got a look in left field on Saturday, and it's something the Cubs will have him do again during the exhibition season. The former Dodgers prospect is out of options, so Chicago would risk losing him on waivers if he doesn't make the Opening Day roster. Showing the versatility to handle the outfield would go a long way towards McKinstry being a part of the opening group.

MARCH 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Wesneski making strong case for rotation: 'He knows that he belongs' Consider the depth of the mental inventory Cubs manager David Ross can draw upon from his days as a catcher when he discusses pitchers. If R...

MARCH 11, 2023 • MLB.COM

Tucker Barnhart - Struggles continue Friday Barnhart, who went 0-for-2 with a strikeout in Friday's Cactus League game against the White Sox, is now batting just .071 this spring.

Impact Barnhart has one hit in 14 Cactus League at-bats and has struck out three times. The catcher only batted .221 over 94 games with the Tigers last season, so the Cubs weren't expecting a ton of offense from the offseason addition, though a slight uptick in production would be welcome. Barnhart figures to split time behind the plate with Yan Gomes, though the latter could emerge as the primary option if he hits better.

MARCH 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Drew Smyly - Looks better Friday Smyly tossed four scoreless innings in Friday's Cactus League game against the White Sox. He allowed four hits and struck out two.

Impact Smyly entered the contest with an 11.25 ERA across his first four innings this spring, so this was a welcome rebound. The lefty had allowed three home runs over his first two Cactus League starts, but he managed to avoid any long balls Friday. Smyly had a strong 3.47 ERA across 106.1 innings for the Cubs in 2022, and he should be able to post similar results this year if he can limit the damage from homers.

MARCH 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

What we're hearing at Cubs camp: Seiya Suzuki, Brennen Davis, Pete Crow-Armstrong and more The Cubs made another round of cuts — here's a rundown of the young players who will ply their trades away from the Cactus League.

MARCH 11, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Chicago Cubs camp report: Seiya Suzuki to start the season on IL, while prospect Brennen Davis is sent to Iowa Chicago Cubs right field Seiya Suzuki will start the season on the injured list because of a strained left oblique.

MARCH 11, 2023 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM

Patrick Mooney: Cubs roster moves: • Brennen Davis and... - The Athletic Cubs roster moves: • Brennen Davis and Alexander Canario were optioned to Triple-A Iowa. • Miguel Amaya, Ben Brown and Ryan Jensen were opti...

MARCH 10, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Kevin Alcantara - Optioned to High-A Alcantara was optioned to High-A South Bend on Friday.

Impact This will be the highest level Alcantara has reached so far. Despite not turning 20 until July of last year, he posted a .269/.357/.439 slash line in Single-A last season with 14 homers and 15 steals in 112 games as he continues to try and turn his physical tools into on-field production.

MARCH 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Miguel Amaya - Optioned to Double-A Amaya (foot) was optioned to Double-A Tennessee by the Cubs on Friday.

Impact Amaya has yet to play this spring after suffering a Lisfranc fracture last September, although he's supposed to be close. Once healthy, he'll continue to hone his craft at Tennessee.

MARCH 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ryan Jensen - Optioned to Double-A Jensen was optioned to Double-A Tennessee on Friday.

Impact Jensen spent all of last season with Double-A Tennessee, logging a 4.25 ERA and 1.39 WHIP through 59.1 innings. If the 25-year-old righty can manage to improve upon his numbers from last season, there's a chance he cracks the Triple-A level at some point in 2023.

MARCH 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ben Brown - Sent packing to Double-A Brown was optioned to Double-A Tennessee by the Cubs on Friday.

Impact Brown was added to the Cubs' 40-man roster over the winter after being acquired from the Phillies in the David Robertson trade. He'll join Tennessee's rotation.

MARCH 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Brennen Davis - Sent down to Triple-A Davis was optioned to Triple-A Iowa by the Cubs on Friday.

Impact Davis is finally over the back problems that plagued him last season, but he'll need to knock off some rust in the minors. The ceiling remains high for the 23-year-old.

MARCH 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Alexander Canario - Optioned to Triple-A Canario (ankle, shoulder) was optioned to Triple-A Iowa by the Cubs on Friday.

Impact Canario is still recovering from a fractured left ankle and dislocated left shoulder he suffered while playing in the Dominican Winter League back in October. The 22-year-old is close to being cleared for baseball activities but could get a late start to the season for Iowa.

MARCH 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

How Ian Happ took charge in a Gold Glove season, ahead of big contract decision for Cubs Happ's leadership, which comes with intellectual curiosity and edginess, has made him an integral part of the team on and off the field.

MARCH 10, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Hitting technology could help baseball's struggling lineups

Major league hitters are working with the sport's brightest minds to close the gap on a technology-driven pitching renaissance

MARCH 10, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Spring training roundup: Cubs homer their way past Reds Trey Mancini, Patrick Wisdom and Christopher Morel all homered in the sixth inning to erase a five-run deficit and push the host Chicago Cub...

MARCH 10, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Chicago Cubs top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong's defense continues to impress: 'He's going to be one of the top-10 center fielders to ever play' Pete Crow-Armstrong already has produced numerous highlight-reel worthy catches as he heads into his second full season of professional base...

MARCH 10, 2023 • TWINCITIES.COM

Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Expects Jason Heyward to Make Opening Day Roster Pencil Heyward in for the 26-man roster.

MARCH 10, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Alexander Canario - Nearing baseball activities Canario (ankle/shoulder) said Thursday that he expects to be cleared for baseball activities in "a week or so," Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact Canario fractured his left ankle and dislocated his left shoulder while playing in the Dominican Winter League back in October. Both injuries required surgery, but he's made steady progress and should be able to return to live competition within the first half of 2023. The 22-year-old outfield prospect put up a shiny .899 OPS with 37 home runs and 23 stolen bases in 125 games last summer between High-A South Bend, Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa.

MARCH 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Narciso Crook's second home run | 03/09/2023 Narciso Crook smokes a three-run homer to center field, scoring Niko Goodrum and Reese McGuire and extending Boston's lead to 8-3

MARCH 9, 2023 • MLB.COM

Gomes expects new-look Cubs to 'come ready to win' MESA, Ariz. -- Earlier this spring, when veteran Kyle Hendricks was readying for his first light bullpen workout of camp, catcher Yan Gomes...

MARCH 9, 2023 • MLB.COM

Crow-Armstrong, Mervis manifesting longtime dreams by climbing through Cubs system

Top prospects Pete Crow-Armstrong and Matt Mervis have forged an unlikely bond while starring in the minors. They also represent a promising...

MARCH 9, 2023

Rangers' Corey Seager thriving in post-shift MLB world

Analytics say that Corey Seager was one of the hitters in MLB most hurt by extreme infield shifts last season, but things have turned around...

MARCH 9, 2023

World Baseball Classic players get artsy with custom cleats

Flashy footwear is a feature of this year's World Baseball Classic

MARCH 9, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS