Mike Olt entered the weekend not having played a minute of third base for the Chicago Cubs, but he was well on his way to solving a big problem there and at other spots.
Olt hit two home runs as the DH in a March 12 game against the Seattle Mariners. That gave him three for the Cactus League season and had him tied for the team lead with shortstop prospect Javier Baez.
The Cubs have been hoping Olt can step up and win the third-base job in the spring. That would fill a gaping hole the Cubs have had since Aramis Ramirez left after the 2011 season. It also would allow them to slot players such as Luis Valbuena and Donnie Murphy into backup and utility roles instead of having them play too much and getting overexposed.
The 25-year-old Olt came to the Cubs last July from Texas in a trade that sent pitcher Matt Garza to the Rangers. Vision problems derailed Olt’s season in the minor leagues last year in both organizations, and he batted a combined .201, albeit with 15 homers.
The vision problems are cleared up and Olt now is waiting for a tender shoulder to heal 100 percent so he can see game action at third base.
“This year is definitely a whole different feeling,” he said. “I’m feeling way more comfortable at the plate. It definitely does help me go forward and know I’m in the clear.”
If Olt can hold his own, it also will allow the Cubs to avoid the temptation of rushing another top prospect, third baseman Kris Bryant, their top draft pick from last year. Bryant was among several players sent to minor league camp recently. While in big league camp, he hit two homers and batted .182. Bryant likely will open the season at double-A (Kodak) Tennessee with another third-base prospect, Christian Villanueva, beginning the year at triple-A (Des Moines) Iowa.
NOTES, QUOTES
–RHP Edwin Jackson said there was no issue or problem between him and manager Rick Renteria over pitch selection. While facing minor leaguers this past week, Jackson threw a full repertoire of pitches. In his previous Cactus League start, however, he went with only fastballs, and that seemed to cause some communication problems between him and Renteria. Jackson said he merely wanted to work on fastball command. “I told them before the game,” he said. “I don’t know if they thought it was for real. I got tired of being asked about it.” Renteria said the case is closed. “He threw three pitches (against the minor leaguers),” Renteria said. “It speaks for itself, I think.”
–RHP Jeff Samardzija continues to shrug off trade rumors. Every time Samardzija pitches, a good number of scouts are in attendance. Samardzija is the Cubs’ probable Opening Day starter on March 31 at Pittsburgh. “Just going with the flow, man,” Samardzija said. “I’m out here pitching, and I’m really excited with how I feel for this season and where I’m at right now.”
–SS Starlin Castro entered the weekend having not played since March 2 because of a sore left hamstring. The Cubs originally talked of getting him into game action by the end of the week, but it appears they will delay his return until the week of March 16. Manager Rick Renteria said the plan is to have Castro ready for the regular season and not risk reinjury. “We want him ready for April,” Renteria said.
–LHP James Russell made his Cactus League debut on March 12 after being brought along slowly because of a “dead arm.” Russell, the workhorse of the Cubs’ bullpen the past two seasons, gave up one hit and a run against the Seattle Mariners in his first spring outing. Russell worked in 74 games last year and 77 in 2012. This year, the Cubs got him some help from the left side in veteran Wesley Wright, whom they signed in the off-season.
–SS Javier Baez entered the weekend with three home runs to tie IF Mike Olt for the team lead. The Cubs insist Baez will open the season at triple-A (Des Moines) Iowa as a shortstop. However, expect Baez to see action at second base and possibly third in the upcoming week of the Cactus League season. Baez hit 37 home runs and drove in 111 runs in two minor league stops last year. Baez might come up this season, but with Starlin Castro firmly entrenched as the shortstop, somebody will have to move. Right now, it looks like the Cubs are preparing for that somebody to be Baez.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “We’re glad they’re Cubbies. They’ve shown their ability to be professionals here in terms of how they carried themselves, some of the performances they had in the course of the spring.” — Manager Rick Renteria on top prospects Kris Bryant, Albert Almora and Jorge Soler, who were among the early spring cuts