I knew that Eric Sogard was playing shortstop today because I’d looked at the lineup, but I had to do a bit of a double-take when I saw the Cubs’ shortstop start an El-Mago-esque double play in the top of the first.
No, this is not Javy Báez:
Eric Sogard starting the El Mago-like double-play. pic.twitter.com/esACJq89BB
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) March 21, 2021
That’s an impressively quick snag and release to get the play started, especially for a guy who plays very little shortstop. Sogard wants to make this team.
And then, as the old cliche goes, the guy who made the sparkling defensive play in the top of the inning then leads off the bottom half with a dinger:
https://twitter.com/CubsZone/status/1373730426557173760
Sogard’s spring performance won’t necessarily win or lose him a bench job – the Cubs will make that decision based on whether he looks healthy, how he fits with the rest of the bench, and whether they want to lose him to an opt-out. But it won’t hurt his chances if he’s looking like he’s ready to go.