The Spring Breakout game is always a highlight of Spring Training, and this year was no different as the Cubs prospects showcased their power with four solo home runs, edging out the Padres prospects 7-5 at Sloan Park.
Will Sanders, starting for the Cubs, made quite the impression. His fastball averaged 95 mph, a notable uptick from last year’s velocity.
It’s typical for pitchers to throw harder early in the season, especially with a limited pitch count, but Sanders consistently reached 94.8 mph even in his third inning of work. He allowed just one run on two hits, struck out three, and didn’t walk a batter over three innings.
The lone blemish was a solo shot by Kale Fountain that tied the game temporarily.
The Cubs regained the lead in the fourth. Cole Mathis doubled, advanced on a grounder, and scored on Carter Trice’s infield single.
Brooks Caple then took over for Sanders, navigating through a leadoff single and an error in the fourth. However, he ran into trouble in the fifth, surrendering a three-run homer to top Padres prospect Ethan Salas.
Despite this setback, the Cubs roared back with a four-run sixth inning. Kade Snell, last year’s fifth-round pick, launched a massive 449-foot homer to center, cutting the Padres' lead to 4-3.
Catcher Ariel Armas followed with a 398-foot blast to tie the game. Trice, staying hot, singled after Armas, and Kane Kepley, a second-round pick, doubled to set the stage for two wild pitches that allowed both runners to score.
The Cubs added another run in the eighth with Trice hitting his fourth solo home run of the day. The Padres managed a run in the ninth off reliever Luis Martinez-Gomez, who secured the save despite a leadoff double and a hit batter.
Yenrri Rojas earned the win with two scoreless innings, striking out two and walking one. Kaleb Wing, a fourth-round pick from last year, pitched a clean eighth inning, allowing just a walk and striking out one.
Carter Trice, who didn’t start the game, emerged as the standout performer, going 3 for 3 with a home run. The Cubs’ prospects demonstrated their potential, making this Spring Breakout game one to remember.