Spring Training Miscellany: Cubs Smoke the Reds, Arms Get in Work, Hamels Plunks Rizzo, More

With the Cubs sending mostly youngsters and minor league vets out on the far trip to Goodyear to face the Reds, they nevertheless had enough to win handily, thanks in large part to Albert Almora, who led the game off with a dinger and made an Almora-like catch in center:

(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

In the game, Alec Mills started with two scoreless, striking out three and allowing a walk and a hit. A quality depth piece as a starter or a reliever, Mills was on Bryan’s list of just-missed top 20 prospects earlier today.

Mills was followed by three consecutive scoreless innings from bullpen competitors Brian Duensing, George Kontos, and Randy Rosario. Then Allen Webster came in for two perfect innings with three strikeouts (one of which was Yasiel Puig). Folks who saw him last year and folks who’ve seen him this spring think the stuff looks really, really good for what it’s worth.

Meanwhile, back in Mesa …

  • Mike Montgomery got in two simulated innings, which suggests the Cubs will still work to get him stretched out before March is up (and that’s just fine for now):
  • Montgomery had been dealing with shoulder stiffness at the outset of camp, so this is a very good sign for his readiness for the season.
  • Cole Hamels also worked a simulated outing, stretching to three innings and plunking Anthony Rizzo in the process:
  • And Brandon Morrow’s progress continues:
  • A bullpen session in late March, with a typical ramp-up from there, would keep Morrow on track to return to the big league team at the end of April/start of May.
  • Jon Lester was named the Cubs’ Opening Day starter earlier today, and he was pleased:
  • Kris Bryant, Extremely Wholesome Guy:
  • View this post on Instagram

    Happiest of birthdays to the queen of my heart ❤️

    A post shared by Kris Bryant (@kris_bryant17) on

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    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

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