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PEORIA, Ariz. — The clubhouse leader for saves in a Cubs uniform right now is right-hander Rowan Wick. Given that his career total in that category is only 11, Wick is not a lock for closing duties, but one of a handful of options.
Wick would love nothing more than to earn manager David Ross’ trust as the top arm for the ninth inning, but he understands the landscape at the moment.
“We have a lot of good guys in here,” Wick said on Saturday morning. “I’ve always been a guy that just wants you to give me the ball. So whenever those opportunities arise, I’ll be willing and ready.”
In a 2-2 Cactus League tie with the Padres, Wick worked the third inning and relinquished an unearned run. The big righty is back on a regular spring program after his past two seasons were hindered by a lingering left oblique issue.
The 29-year-old Wick returned to the Cubs’ bullpen on Aug. 10 last season, roughly 11 months after the side injury first flared. He posted a 4.30 ERA in 22 games down the stretch, striking out 29 in 23 innings, flashing a new-look slider and dealing with the ups and downs expected from such a long layoff.
This spring, Ross has enjoyed seeing Wick refreshed and back on the mound as a late-inning possibility.
“Ro-Wick is healthy and came in in really good shape,” Ross said after Wick first faced hitters last week. “Getting off the mound and seeing him in live BP was really nice to see. It looked like the fastball, it was jumping. The slider was tight, and the breaking ball is starting to come along.”
Without a true closer in hand, Ross plans on beginning the season with a mixture of pitchers in that role. Manuel Rodríguez could be in that conversation, along with more veteran arms like David Robertson, Mychael Givens or Chris Martin, depending on how the roster shakes out and Opening Day readiness.
“Those things have a way of defining themselves,” Ross said. “We have, I think, an idea of what everybody’s stuff does and how it plays. And I think each individual lineup we’ll try to match that up correctly, and you may see some different guys on the back side.
“But you may also see somebody that starts to stand out a little bit. You guys will notice it, I’ll notice it and we’ll kind of adjust as we need to.”
Smyly sharp in spring debut
The runway to Opening Day is a short one, but lefty Drew Smyly made a strong first impression in his bid to be a part of the rotation.
Facing the Padres on Saturday, Smyly started and turned in two scoreless innings with catcher Yan Gomes behind the plate. The veteran lefty generated some awkward swings, striking out two and inducing a pair of groundouts with one hit allowed.
“It felt great. It was fun,” Smyly said. “Always, you get a little extra adrenaline rush first game of the season, and with a new team, you want to start off on a good note.”
Smyly said he was encouraged by the fact that his cutter produced a few of the ground balls and whiffs. The lefty said his next step may be to pitch again on short rest on Wednesday against the Mariners.
Hermosillo shows off speed
On Saturday morning, Ross raved about the speed and athleticism that outfielder Michael Hermosillo offers as an Opening Day roster candidate. Hermosillo showed those qualities in the second inning against the Padres later that afternoon.
Hermosillo sent a pitch from lefty Ryan Weathers into the gap in left-center field, where the ball eluded center fielder José Azocar. Third-base coach Willie Harris stood by his aggressive approach to baserunning this spring, waving Hermosillo all the way home for a Little League homer.
“I knew he was sending me,” Hermosillo said with a laugh. “Willie just kind of said that, in spring, we were really going to work on — not sending anyone, but if there’s a close play at the plate, runs are important. So it’s just seeing how far we can push the envelope right now.”
Worth noting
• Ross said that veteran shortstop Andrelton Simmons is dealing with a sore right shoulder. That explains why Simmons was limited to designated hitter duties on Thursday and was held out of games on Friday and Saturday.
• First baseman Frank Schwindel (back tightness) has been hitting, working out and feeling improved, per Ross. A return to games could be coming soon for Schwindel, barring any setbacks.
• Left-hander Wade Miley is scheduled to face hitters in live batting practice on Sunday. Ross has noted that Miley has been on a conservative “veteran” program this spring.
• Infielder Esteban Quiroz, acquired on Friday from the Rays, will report to Minor League camp.
Quotable
“I definitely had some off time early in the year with the oblique, but to be able to get back and be out there and just have fun again, it was awesome to get out of this facility. I was here forever, it felt like. To just play baseball again, it was a lot of fun.” — Wick, on returning from injury late last season