Nico Hoerner
Washington Nationals' Juan Soto, left, celebrates after hitting a solo home run as Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras looks to the field during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Wednesday, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Soto hits scoreboard, Scherzer wins again, Nats top Cubs 4-3

By Matt Carlson May. 19, 2021 11:51 PM EDT

Cincinnati Reds' Tucker Barnhart, right, watches a single hit by Reds' Mark Payton get past Seattle Mariners third baseman Jantzen Witte (67) during the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game Monday, March 29, 2021, in Goodyear, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Rizzo ends talks; Odor getting cut; restrictions to loosen

Mar. 29, 2021 07:00 PM EDT

New York Yankees' Jay Bruce waits on deck during the during the second inning of a spring training exhibition baseball game against the Detroit Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla., Tuesday, March 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Bruce, Sandoval on big league rosters, Maybin, Frazier cut

By The Associated Press Mar. 27, 2021 06:20 PM EDT

Chicago Cubs' David Bote (13) celebrates his home run against the Cleveland Indians with Cubs third base coach Willie Harris during the first inning of a spring training baseball game Thursday, March 18, 2021, in Goodyear, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Bote wins Cubs 2B job; Hoerner optioned to Triple-A Iowa

Mar. 27, 2021 05:06 PM EDT

Colorado Rockies' Brendan Rodgers, right, celebrates with C.J. Chron (25) after they both scored off of a home run hit by Rodgers during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Gallo's early power surge brings hope for big 2021 season

By David Brandt Mar. 11, 2021 03:39 PM EST

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) throws against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning of a spring training baseball game, Friday, March 5, 2021, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Ohtani fans 5 in return to mound; Harper HR on 1st swing

By The Associated Press Mar. 05, 2021 07:40 PM EST

Chicago Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward takes the field with a flag of Chicago before an opening day baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Friday, July, 24, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
Hendricks goes 9; Rizzo HRs, sanitizes; Cubs beat Brew 3-0

By Jay Cohen Jul. 24, 2020 10:01 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 28, 2019, file photo, Chicago Cubs' Nico Hoerner, left, celebrates with teammate Ian Happ after Happ hit a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in St. Louis. When the coronavirus pandemic stopped spring training last month, Ian Happ offered Nico Hoerner, Zack Short and Dakota Mekkes a place to stay if they wanted to remain in Arizona. That's how “The Compound” was born. (AP Photo/Scott Kane, File)
Cubs foursome sharing house, experiences awaiting baseball

By Jay Cohen Apr. 23, 2020 02:35 AM EDT

In this March 31, 2016, file photo, Elias Ruiz, front right, and Steven Woytysiak, both from C&H Baseball, help install a 35-foot-high safety netting that runs behind home plate and along the length of each dugout at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, N.C. While Major League Baseball tries to figure out a way to play this summer, the prospects for anything resembling a normal minor league season are looking increasingly bleak. For minor league communities across the country, looking forward to cheap hot dogs, fuzzy mascot hugs and various theme nights, it's a small slice of a depressing picture. (Whitney Keller/The Herald-Sun via AP, File)
A lost season? Minor league teams, players face bleak future

By Jay Cohen Apr. 21, 2020 03:31 PM EDT