MESA, Ariz. – Jon Berti and Vidal Bruján sprinted around the bases Sunday, the speedsters testing how far they could get as Brujan’s single dropped in shallow center field. Berti ran from first to third. Brujan took a hard turn before retreating to first base.
“My running ability,” Brujan said through the team interpreter when asked what aspects of his game he hopes to showcase this spring. “Just to show everybody that I can be not only a good teammate but my ability to run – defense, running the bases.”
The Cubs added speed to their roster this winter with those two utility players, signing Berti to a one-year deal worth $2 million, and trading with the Marlins for Bruján.
The Cubs were one of the better baserunning teams in MLB last year, according to Statcast’s baserunning run value (14 baserunning runs). The Brewers and Diamondbacks, the only two teams ranked higher, respectively had eight and three players ranked in the Top 120 in sprint speed.
For the Cubs, Pete Crow-Armstrong (No. 6) was the only one. But manager Craig Counsell said the team wasn’t specifically targeting speed this offseason.
“It’s a tool to help win games,” Counsell said. “A lot of times there’s defense also attached to that. So I wouldn’t say just speed; hopefully it’s defense too.”
Both Berti and Bruján use that skillset to navigate multiple positions. Berti is considered a lock to make the Opening Day roster. And Brujan, on the 40-man roster and offering positional versatility, has a strong case for a bench spot.
Rounding out the Cubs’ utility options, and also competing for Opening Day roster spots, are Nicky Lopez and Gage Workman.
“I’ve felt like the last several years, that’s the way baseball’s going: being able to have a lot more depth in that area, of having guys who can play all over,” Berti said. “It just frees up the roster. It frees up the way a lot of managers will manage a game. … Hopefully that helps us utility guys.”
Center field reps
The last couple days, the Cubs have played three different outfielders in center field. Pete Crow-Armstrong, the expected regular starter in that spot, went 2-for-3 with a home run, double and sacrifice fly Saturday evening in Surprise.
The team also covered a pair of backup options. Back in Mesa for the split squad doubleheader Saturday, DH/ right fielder Seiya Suzuki started in center. And on Sunday, Ian Happ slid over from left field to start in center.
“[Suzuki] is going to find himself out there at some point, just with how the roster is constructed,” Counsell said. “And I think Ian could find himself out there with how the roster is constructed. It’s almost like you’re doing that just for the player, so that they’re like, ‘Alright, I know this isn’t the norm, but I’ve been out here, and I can do it.’”
The Cubs don’t have an obvious regular backup center fielder. Prospect Kevin Alcántara can play there, but in general, the team doesn’t want him sitting on the bench for extended periods if his development would be better served getting regular at-bats in Triple-A.
When Crow-Armstrong is out, the Cubs’ best offensive lineups will likely involve Justin Turner at DH, and Suzuki in the outfield.
Camp cuts
The Cubs announced Sunday that they’d returned catcher Pablo Aliendo to minor-league camp, reducing the spring training roster to 53 players.
Reds 12, Cubs 7
Right-hander Matt Boyd threw 2 ⅓ innings in his second Cactus League start of the spring. He allowed three runs and four hits. “The goal was to go out there, execute pitches, continue just to build up,” he said. “This point in spring, there’s like the physical goals of what you want to achieve in terms of pitch count and stuff. And then there’s things you go out there with an emphasis on.” For Boyd, the shape of the slider, “driving it down,” was a focus in the latter category.
- Outfielder Greg Allen led the team with two hits, including an RBI double in the fourth inning.
- The Cubs’ undefeated streak ended at 11 Cactus League games, finally falling to a division foe on Sunday.
- On deck: Cubs at Diamondbacks, 2:10 p.m. Monday, Scottsdale, 670-AM,, Caleb Kilian vs. Corbin Burnes.