Thursday, February 27

Welcome back to the Cubs Beat newsletter. Jordan Bastian has covered baseball for MLB.com since 2005, including the Cubs since the 2019 season.

MESA, Ariz. -- Vidal Bruján unloaded on the pitch, watched it soar deep over Sloan Park’s left field and hopped out of the batter’s box before shifting into a trot. 

The home run hop had a familiar look to it -- and that was intentional.

Moments earlier on Tuesday afternoon, Bruján was sitting in the dugout with Cubs icon Sammy Sosa, who was offering feedback on his swing. Bruján -- a native of Sosa’s birthplace, San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic -- then sent a fifth-inning pitch to the berm and paid tribute to the legendary slugger with the hop.

“Yes, yes, that was done because of the tips that he gave me,” Bruján said in Spanish.

Bruján was born in 1998, when Sosa belted 66 home runs for the Cubs en route to winning the National League’s MVP trophy. The utility man may not have vivid memories of Sosa’s career, but he grew up hearing the stories and understood what it meant to have Chicago’s all-time home run king in camp.

Sosa and the Cubs smoothed things over this past winter, ending a 21-year hiatus for the slugger. He was announced as an inductee for the team’s Hall of Fame at Cubs Convention in January and invited to come to Spring Training as a guest instructor. Sosa arrived in time for Tuesday’s 4-2 win and was available for hitters during Wednesday’s morning workout.

"Honestly that’s going to help so many ballplayers,” Bruján said. “It’s a good option to have close. I understand that it’s a good sign and good example to have, because of the talent that he had. We have a lot of respect for him, which is important.”

Sosa said he watched Bruján’s first plate appearance (a strikeout) on Tuesday and felt the utility man -- trying to win a spot on the bench for the Cubs -- was “jumping” too much in his swing. Bruján noted that Sosa told him tips for “charging the pitch,” including staying firm in the box with his back leg.

“I said, ‘Stay back, use the back leg and keep your head there,’” Sosa said. “And we say, ‘Bring the swagger.’ And then he hit that. He listened to me and he got it done.”

Cubs hitting coach Dustin Kelly laughed when asked about Bruján belting a home run after one short chat with Sosa.

“I might have to really dig in on what he said,” Kelly quipped.

Added manager Craig Counsell: “I hope it’s that easy.”

As for that signature Sosa hop, Slammin’ Sammy felt it displayed Bruján finding a comfort zone.

“I feel that was release from him,” Sosa said. “Most players come here trying to make the team and they have a little bit of pressure instead of believing in themselves. When you have a plan and you go to the plate, it’s going to happen. Everybody has talent.

“The thing that makes it go a different direction is when you pressure yourself and you want to hit two home runs in one at-bat. He was happy. He was released. He was comfortable. And I’m here to continue to help him and everyone.”

• Outfield prospect Kevin Alcántara will undoubtedly help the Cubs this summer, but can he crack the Opening Day bench? Read more >>

• The post-outing chat with Matthew Boyd following his spring debut was a normal one. That was refreshing for a pitcher who has dealt with injury setbacks in recent seasons. Read more >>

• Carson Kelly has been working hard behind the scenes to get to know the Cubs’ pitching staff, and prepping for a catching timeshare with Miguel Amaya. Read more >>

• Cubs pitching prospect Cade Horton walked into the MLB clubhouse this spring knowing he already had a veteran in his corner. Read more >>

• Great story here from MLB.com’s Sweeny Murti on how Satchel Paige’s 1965 encore helped Cubs icon Rick Sutcliffe “fall in love” with the game. Read more >>

Pipeline has already unveiled the preseason Top 100 list, but the annual Top 30 rankings for each team will be rolled out in the coming week. The Top 30 for the Cubs will be part of the NL Central announcement on Tuesday. The Cubs’ list will be topped by Top 100 players Matt Shaw (No. 19), Horton (No. 52), Owen Caissie (No. 54), Moises Ballesteros (No. 69), James Triantos (No. 73), Alcántara (No. 90) and Jefferson Rojas (No. 97).

Single-game tickets for the Cubs’ home slate at Wrigley Field are now available. Click here to check out the schedule and this is where you can snag your tickets. The Cubs have also released their 2025 promotional schedule. And for fans coming to Spring Training, click here to learn more about tickets at Sloan Park.

“I think our Spring Training venue is as good as it gets. It almost recreates Wrigley in this mini version, which is so cool and really rare, I think, in Major League Baseball. There were so many Cubs fans and they kind of gave Kyle welcome No. 1. I’m sure he’ll get another one in Wrigley, but that was fun to see.” -- Counsell, on the Sloan Park reception to Kyle Tucker’s first at-bat with the Cubs

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