Previously in the fall, the Chicago Cubs have moved instructional ball to the winter so that it can run right up to the start of Spring Training. This way, the young prospects who are getting close and specific instruction on various skill developments and performance tweaks can more easily take those lessons with them right into the next season.
This also means that, here in mid-January, there is kinda-sorta-not-really-BUT-I’LL-TAKE-IT Cubs baseball going on right at this very moment. And there’s a hero – The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma – ready to share a look at what’s going on:
Nico Hoerner, Aramis Ademan and other Cubs prospects doing infield drills. pic.twitter.com/aXjQhjw2Cv
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) January 22, 2019
Nico is in a group with Brennan Davis and Aramis Ademan. All are legit prospects, but Nico was consistently making that sound off the bat that makes you look up and take notice.
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) January 22, 2019
Nico Hoerner swinging at some soft toss pic.twitter.com/QeApwi54CP
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) January 22, 2019
Some Cole Roederer BP pic.twitter.com/BKMbCcMKqY
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) January 22, 2019
Here’s a bonus clip showing just how much development has already taken place with Cubs second round pick Brennen Davis:
Quickly cut up video of Brennen Davis at the Area Code Games off YouTube contrasted to video @JasonPennini got from Davis hitting off a tee at instructs today. I think it shows pretty significant development that has taken place both in the weight room and with his swing. pic.twitter.com/CfqpGaAxJx
— Cubs Prospects (@cubprospects) January 21, 2019
For more on the Cubs’ instructs, and why they’ve made some big changes, Sahadev Sharma has a great look behind the scenes:
.@sahadevsharma is in Mesa for Cubs instructs and explains how they’re refining their player development process: https://t.co/8dGqEUHJlz
— The Athletic (@TheAthleticCHI) January 22, 2019