CHICAGO -- In the early days of Spring Training, even before exhibition games started, Cubs manager Craig Counsell could tell that Hayden Wesneski was frustrated with how he felt on the mound. The young pitcher’s delivery was off, and it was going to take time to fix his mechanics and

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Nerves began to overtake former Major Leaguer Dexter Fowler as he approached Penn State University’s Bryce Jordan Center to keep a promise that he made to his parents almost 20 years ago. “I told my parents, ‘Look, all I want to do right now is play baseball,’” the 38-year-old recalled

Big league closers can come from all areas of the pitching world. Some are guys who have always been relievers, from college all the way up to the big leagues. Some were starters whose power stuff (and perhaps lack of command) were better suited for shorter stints coming out of

CHICAGO -- Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga shouted and spun down the mound, while Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya burst out of his crouch and violently pumped a fist in the air. The way the Wrigley Field crowd roared after Imanaga escaped the sixth inning with a strikeout of Xander Bogaerts on

CHICAGO -- Cody Bellinger went through all the necessary tests to make sure he could feel like himself. The biggest step arrived Monday, when the Cubs’ center fielder faced live pitching at Wrigley Field and did not hold anything back with his swing. The way Bellinger felt in that session

The Rookie-level Arizona Complex and Florida Complex leagues began play last Saturday, a month earlier than they did a year ago. The changes mean that the circuits will be populated more by players making the jump from the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League the season before and less by guys coming

The most valuable pitch in baseball in 2024 is a 92 mph fastball. That seems impossible. But Shota Imanaga is showing the Major Leagues that velocity is just a number. The start to Imanaga's MLB career has been incredible. Entering his seventh start of the season Tuesday against the Padres,

CHICAGO – When Justin Steele dropped to the grass in Globe Life Field on Opening Day, grabbing at his left leg, it was easy to think through worst-case scenarios for the Cubs’ rotation. A little more than a month later, the lefty rejoined a group that has more than held

This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian’s Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CHICAGO -- Dansby Swanson admitted to letting himself get too caught up in the results and the numbers that have stacked up against him over the past few weeks. Over the past few days, the Cubs' shortstop did what he could do to shift his state of mind once he

CHICAGO -- Prior to Saturday’s game against the Brewers, Cubs manager Craig Counsell acknowledged that the lineup was in a lull, while awaiting the respective comebacks of outfielders Seiya Suzuki and Cody Bellinger. “Chris Morel is probably the exception,” Counsell said.

One down, five (and change) to go. With April comfortably in the rearview mirror, it's time to hand out the first round of monthly awards for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. Here are the eight stars -- household names and new phenoms alike -- receiving honors for their performance

You know it’s really Draft season when the first mock draft is out. Between now and July 14, when the 2024 Draft begins, Jim Callis and I will be providing prognostications of the first round on a fairly regular basis with the hope that our final mocks the night before

CHICAGO -- Adbert Alzolay has the kind of energetic personality that paired perfectly with late-game situations and the Wrigley Field crowd behind him. When he was locked in as the Cubs’ closer, the righty punctuated saves with a ferocious fist pump fit for social-media reposts. The way Alzolay won over

NEW YORK -- Cubs right-hander Ben Brown saw his wish come true on Thursday afternoon. The Long Island native and No. 9 prospect in the organization pitched at Citi Field for the first time in a 7-6 loss to the Mets in 11 innings. Brown, who entered the day having

This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian's Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox. CHICAGO -- A lot was thrown at the Cubs throughout the first month of the season. Injuries piled up and there was a steady

NEW YORK -- Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga pitched on four days’ rest for the first time in his brief career in the big leagues on Wednesday night -- and it didn’t matter, as he dominated in a 1-0 victory over the Mets at Citi Field. Entering the game, Imanaga was

Pitchers are meant to be ahead of hitters. Sluggers need at-bats to get into the rhythm of the season, and that takes time. Or at least that’s how the popular belief goes. But some Minor League hitters are proving they don’t need time at all to come flying out of

April is in the books, but there’s still plenty of baseball left to be played this season, and you can follow all the action on MLB.TV for a new reduced price. MLB.TV’s All Teams Yearly package, which enables you to stream every out-of-market game, live or on demand, on your

NEW YORK -- The Cubs didn’t play good defense on Tuesday night at Citi Field, and it proved costly in a 4-2 loss to the Mets. Chicago made two errors in the game, which helped the Mets score all four of their runs. It started in the first inning. After

NEW YORK -- Right-hander Cade Horton, the No. 2 prospect in the Cubs organization according to MLB Pipeline, is a step closer to the big leagues. He was promoted from Double-A Tennessee to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday. The news was first reported by the Des Moines Register. Horton, 22, dominated