{"id":575526,"date":"2026-02-16T13:00:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T13:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/575526\/"},"modified":"2026-02-16T13:00:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T13:00:19","slug":"full-squad-workouts-begin-in-arizona","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/575526\/","title":{"rendered":"Full-squad workouts begin in Arizona"},"content":{"rendered":"

Although most of the Chicago Cubs\u2019 58-player big-league camp roster has already reported to Arizona<\/a>, they hold their first official full-squad workout on Monday.<\/p>\n

They will have about a week together before Cubs players participating in the World Baseball Classic start departing camp, beginning with outfielder Seiya Suzuki (Japan) and infielder Jonathon Long (Chinese Taipei), who leave Feb. 23 to make the long trip to Tokyo for pool play.<\/p>\n

The White Sox<\/a> held their first full squad workout on Sunday, with base running among the fundamentals addressed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was awesome to have the position players all here and ready to go,\u201d manager Will Venable said. \u201cWe had a great first morning meeting, where we talked about some expectations for camp. We told these guys there is no limit to what we believe they can do. It\u2019s about them and our support of helping them realize the belief that we have in this club.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of positive feedback from the guys on that. We have a group that believes, so to be able to support these guys to go out and do it was great.\u201d<\/p>\n

Every Monday during spring training, Tribune baseball writers will provide an update on what happened \u2014 and what\u2019s ahead \u2014 for the Cubs<\/a> and White Sox<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Want the latest news from spring training? Subscribe to the Chicago Tribune<\/a> to read it all \u2014 and sign up for our Cubs Insider<\/a>\u00a0and White Sox Insider<\/a> newsletters.<\/p>\n

Cubs\u2019 Javier Assad hoping for a healthy season, eager to pitch again in the WBC
\n\"ChicagoChicago Cubs pitcher Javier Assad holds a ball up in the dugout during the NL Division Series Game 1 against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in Milwaukee on Oct. 4, 2025. (Chris Sweda\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

The 2025 season didn\u2019t play out how Cubs right-hander Javier Assad<\/a> envisioned.<\/p>\n

An oblique injury shortly before spring training last year, followed by a reaggravation, ultimately limited Assad to just eight big-league appearances (seven starts). He wasn\u2019t part of the postseason roster after returning in mid-August. Assad said not being pitching in the postseason was out of his control, and he\u2019s focused on helping the Cubs in whatever way they need him this season.<\/p>\n

\u201cI worked a lot in the offseason with my body, making sure I straighten that, make sure that this year I am healthy,\u201d Assad said through an interpreter, adding he lost about 12 pounds. \u201cWe\u2019re glad with strength, the abdomen and everything, so want to be make sure I\u2019m healthy this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Assad has shown he can handle pitching in a multi-inning role out of the bullpen or starting, giving manager Craig Counsell a valuable, versatile arm on his pitching staff.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe health is just so important,\u201d Counsell said Saturday. \u201cI mean, we probably got him healthy by the end of the year last year, and maybe just a little bit too late \u2014 just kind of coming into form, probably a little late with some other people that just had moved ahead of him at that point. So it\u2019s important, right? It\u2019s important to have some volume. He did not have a lot of volume last year. I think he can handle the volume.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pitching for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic will give Assad, 28, valuable innings. The experience pitching for his country in the 2023 WBC was a pivotal moment in his career, at that point having made just eight big-league starts. He showed a notable uptick in velocity and didn\u2019t allow a run in 5 2\/3 innings during the tournament, which carried into a stellar 2023 regular season.<\/p>\n

Assad couldn\u2019t contain a smile when talking about getting to pitch for Mexico again next month in a bigger role as one of their top arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always told them that if they were considering me and the opportunity was there, I\u2019d be willing to be there and represent my country,\u201d Assad said. \u201cLast time was a really great experience, really happy with it. I\u2019ll go on into this one looking for new goals in the tournament, but I\u2019m looking forward to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018He\u2019s got the juice\u2019: Munetaka Murakami makes a strong impression at Sox camp
\n\"WhiteWhite Sox infielder Munetaka Murakami takes a swing during batting practice at spring training Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo\/Ross D. Franklin)<\/p>\n

Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery has been in some batting practice groups with Munetaka Murakami<\/a> early during camp at Camelback Ranch.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s freakish,\u201d Montgomery said Saturday. \u201cHe\u2019s got the juice and he\u2019s got all that stuff and he is really smart.\u201d<\/p>\n

Murakami has made a strong first impression after signing a two-year deal with the Sox in the offseason.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m excited for him to get his feet wet in spring training and ball out in the WBC (World Baseball Classic),\u201d starter Shane Smith said on Friday.<\/p>\n

After hitting a ball off the wall during live batting practice on Saturday, there were screams of \u201cdouble\u201d from players and coaches standing nearby.<\/p>\n

Murakami said everyone has made the move from the Nippon Professional Baseball to Major League Baseball a smooth transition.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all because my teammates have very good communication,\u201d Murakami said Saturday through an interpreter. \u201cStill working on English right now, but lots of gestures, lot of short words, short terms, but the communication is there and we\u2019re happy to be teammates.\u201d<\/p>\n

Teammates, such as infielder Chase Meidroth, have tested their Japanese. And Murakami has mixed in some Spanish and English.<\/p>\n

Smith and Montgomery have enjoyed getting to know the infielder, who will see time at first base and some at third.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve talked to him as much as I can, with his translator here,\u201d Montgomery said. \u201cThey are both awesome, everyone here that\u2019s with them. He\u2019s great.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it was a great addition to this team. A guy who can bring some power and also just another dude that cares. He cares a lot. You see in the WBC how he plays. He wants to win. You bring another guy in like that who really wants to win, it\u2019s contagious.\u201d<\/p>\n

Week ahead: Cubs
\n\"FormerFormer NBA All-Star Charles Barkley, center, laughs with Chicago Cubs legends Ferguson Jenkins, left, and Rick Sutcliffe at Cubs spring training camp on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, in Mesa, Ariz. (Meghan Montemurro\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

Friday: vs. White Sox, 2:05 p.m. (Marquee)
\nSaturday: vs. Rangers, 2:05 p.m. (Marquee)
\nSunday: at Giants, 2:05 p.m.<\/p>\n

The Cubs got a kick out of NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley showing up at Cubs camp Friday.<\/p>\n

Barkley, donning the Cubs\u2019 baby blue spring training hat, is a friend of franchise legend Rick Sutcliffe, who invited him for a behind-the-scenes look at camp. Barkley spent the morning watching pitchers fielding work, bullpens and live batting practice on the backfields. At one point, Barkley chatted with Pete Crow-Armstrong<\/a> and Alex Bregman between drills.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe sat down in the office for half an hour, it was great,\u201d Counsell said. \u201cHe\u2019s just wonderful, a wonderful heart. I think that\u2019s the thing that sticks out the most.<\/p>\n

\u201cSutcliffe claims to be a big deal, but (Barkley) is a big deal,\u201d Counsell quipped.<\/p>\n

Week ahead: White Sox
\n\"TorontoToronto Blue Jays pitcher Seranthony Dom\u00ednguez works against the Kansas City Royals in Toronto on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025. (Chris Young\/The Canadian Press via AP)<\/p>\n

Friday: at Cubs, 2:05 p.m. (Marquee)
\nSaturday: vs. Athletics, 2:05 p.m. (CHSN)
\nSunday: vs. Brewers, 2:05 p.m. (CHSN)<\/p>\n

Assistant general manager Josh Barfield pointed to the bullpen as an area he is excited about after a busy offseason.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe lost so many one-run games over the last two years, and it\u2019s been a point of frustration,\u201d Barfield said last week. \u201cThere\u2019s a number of different things you can attribute that to. One way we thought we could really help address that and hopefully flip that is by having a stronger bullpen.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust giving (manager) Will (Venable) more weapons to close out games. Really excited about that and seeing how that all comes together.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Sox will get a good look at their options as Cactus League games begin on Friday.<\/p>\n

Seranthony Dom\u00ednguez<\/a> is a key addition. The right-hander signed a two-year deal after recording a 3.16 ERA with two saves and 20 holds in a combined 67 outings for the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays last season.<\/p>\n

Dom\u00ednguez told the Tribune on Saturday that he feels \u201creal comfortable\u201d in his new surroundings.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just want to get ready to be there for the team and help the team win,\u201d Dom\u00ednguez said.<\/p>\n

Dom\u00ednguez, 31, has plenty of big-game experience over his seven seasons in the major leagues, including posting a 1.93 ERA while appearing in five games during the 2025 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He\u2019ll be ready to pass along advice to his new teammates.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust got to be ready every single day, be on time, do your thing, be responsible and try your best every single time you go out,\u201d Dom\u00ednguez said. \u201cYou\u2019re not going to get the best results every single time, but you\u2019ve got to work to get it.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve just got to think about doing your thing, and do your best to help the team win.\u201d<\/p>\n

What we\u2019re reading today<\/p>\n

Quotable<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat everybody loves about him is what makes him fun to work with, and to be the level of player that he is and still be able to talk about how he\u2019s doing things and be able to carry that over to helping other players, those are rare traits, and it\u2019s just fun to work with.\u201d \u2014 Counsell on his initial impression of third baseman Alex Bregman<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Although most of the Chicago Cubs\u2019 58-player big-league camp roster has already reported to Arizona, they hold their…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":575527,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[2399],"tags":[5,5250,138,24,49,4245,161,41017,159,4,256,73,2539,4563,151,75476],"class_list":{"0":"post-575526","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-chicago-cubs","8":"tag-baseball","9":"tag-cactus-league","10":"tag-chicago","11":"tag-chicago-cubs","12":"tag-chicago-white-sox","13":"tag-chicagocubs","14":"tag-cubs","15":"tag-cubs-spring-training","16":"tag-javier-assad","17":"tag-mlb","18":"tag-mlb-baseball","19":"tag-munetaka-murakami","20":"tag-seranthony-dominguez","21":"tag-sloan-park","22":"tag-spring-training","23":"tag-white-sox-spring-training"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@mlb\/116080439102942776","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/575526","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=575526"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/575526\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/575527"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=575526"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=575526"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=575526"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}