Cubs right-hander Cade Horton stepped up in a big way during Sunday's game at Sloan Park, showcasing his potential as the No. 2 starter behind Matthew Boyd. Horton delivered an impressive six-inning performance against a lineup of Brewers minor leaguers, as the main squad had already headed to Milwaukee for upcoming exhibition games.
On the offensive side, the Cubs' regulars made the most of their time on the field, finding their groove against the Brewers' prospects. Ballesteros was a standout, smashing a double and proving he's more than ready to embrace the designated hitter role this season.
Ian Happ also made his presence felt with a solo homer, while Nico Hoerner contributed with two hits, including a two-run double. Dansby Swanson added to the tally, driving in a pair of runs.
Sure, it was against minor leaguers, but getting into a rhythm before Opening Day is crucial. The Cubs won't meet the Brewers again until May 18, so this was a nice tune-up.
In relief, Ben Brown was electric, throwing two scoreless innings and consistently hitting 97-98 mph on the radar gun. He's looking set to make the Opening Day roster, and this role could be a perfect fit for him this year.
The attendance at Sloan Park was strong, with 14,375 fans braving the 96-degree heat, pushing the season total to over 200,000. That's an average of 12,683 fans per game over 16 dates, not counting the Spring Breakout game.
As for roster updates, Jonathon Long's early camp injury likely cost him a spot on the Opening Day roster, but don't count him out for a big league appearance later this season.
The Cubs will close out their Spring Training with two exhibition games against the Yankees at Sloan Park. Monday's matchup features Shōta Imanaga against Carlos Lagrange at 2:05 p.m.
CT. While there won't be a TV broadcast, fans can catch the action on WSCR The Score and WFAN 660.