PEORIA, Ariz. – Spring coaching regarded quite a bit completely different final 12 months for left-hander Matt Boyd, who made his Cubs Cactus League debut on Monday.
“This time final 12 months, I used to be preparing for the Little League season and doing my rehab at dwelling,” he stated. “I’m grateful to be right here proper now and to be working in video games and dealing via conditions – excited to have a wholesome 12 months forward of me.”
Boyd, coming off his first season post-Tommy John surgical procedure, threw two scoreless innings Monday in opposition to the Padres. He restricted San Diego to 2 hits, with two walks and two strikeouts.
“I wouldn’t have wished the previous couple of years on anyone,” he stated of a sequence of injury-riddled seasons. “However these have been a blessing to me, too. So I get to placed on this Cubs uniform, all of the historical past that comes with it. I get to go play at Wrigley Subject; that’s one thing that I don’t take calmly. I’m tremendous grateful for, I’m tremendous excited for, that chance.
“And we get to be in a clubhouse with simply wonderful expertise, and a few wonderful individuals. So a whole lot of issues to be thankful for. It’s an superior clean canvas forward of us for this crew. And it’s thrilling to know that it’s going to be what we make of it, not what anyone else says.”
After signing a two-year deal price $29 million with the Cubs this offseason, Boyd is ready to be a daily rotation member. However with Boyd’s harm historical past in thoughts, the Cubs will alter their workload expectations as wanted via the season.
“I don’t wish to get too delicate about it,” supervisor Craig Counsell stated. “As a result of we would like him to pitch, and one of many causes we have been , is we thought he was set as much as actually have this nice full season. However we’ve simply obtained to observe these cues.”
Boyd labored with catcher Miguel Amaya on Monday. They talked in between innings, and on occasion mid-at-bat, the veteran left-hander gave enter on sequencing via PitchCom.
Boyd described the 25-year-old Amaya as “smart past his years.” Boyd stated his slider was flatter than he needed it Monday, and Amaya gave him suggestions like: “Nice location. Form was a bit completely different.”
Boyd beamed as he described the back-and-forth. It’s a standard a part of spring coach for brand spanking new battery mates. For Boyd, regular was refreshing.
“You return a calendar 12 months, I wasn’t on a crew, I didn’t have an opportunity to get a giant league job.” he stated. “However there was gratitude in attending to be dwelling, as bizarre as that sounds. I obtained to educate my youngsters; a whole lot of guys don’t get that chance within the season.
“Hopefully I don’t have that chance for about six-plus extra years.”
Turner makes Cubs spring debut
First baseman Justin Turner, who the Cubs signed final week, made his Cactus League debut along with his new crew on Monday. He went 2-for-2 and drew a stroll.
His first day in camp was Thursday, and he was taking reside batting follow by the following day.
Cubs 10, Padres 5
The undefeated Cubs prolonged their Cactus League profitable streak to 5 video games on Monday. They reclaimed the benefit with a five-run sixth inning and held on to the lead the remainder of the best way.
- Catcher Miguel Amaya led the Cubs with three hits. He has a 2.358 OPS this spring.
- Reliever Ben Keller once more dazzled along with his improve in velocity, tossing two hitless innings. He topped out at 97.2 mph. His common four-seam fastball velocity final season was 93.8 mph.
- On deck: Diamondbacks at Cubs, 2:05 p.m. Tuesday, Mesa, Marquee, A.J. Puck vs. Jameson Taillon.
