MESA, Ariz. — Javier Assad’s performance in the World Baseball Classic was a topic of conversation around Cubs camp, both while he was with Team Mexico and since he has returned to Mesa.
“He was electric,” fellow right-hander Kyle Hendricks said. “And he was so fired up out there, too, the emotion and all of it. Everybody was so excited for him when he walked back in that door, man.”
Assad wasn’t touching 97 mph in his return to Sloan Park, as he had in the WBC. But a middling outing Friday against the Rangers in which he allowed two runs and five hits in three innings didn’t tarnish his otherwise-dominant spring.
Mexico used Assad, a starter for the Cubs last year, in a multi-inning relief role. Manager David Ross said Assad’s WBC impact reminded him of Keegan Thompson’s impressive run in a similar role with the Cubs last season.
“He definitely built on what he did last year and has improved a lot of areas,” Ross said.
Now it seems Assad has put himself in a position to make the Opening Day roster as a reliever.
“I haven’t really had that conversation [with Ross],” Assad said through an interpreter. “But I’m here to help the team the best way I can. Whether that’s starting or relieving, I’ll give everything I have.”
With Mexico, Assad first faced Team USA’s All-Star-filled lineup, “one of the best lineups you could ever put together,” in Hendricks’ words. Assad struck out Pete Alonso on a 97 mph high heater, a pitch so remarkable that when the Cubs’ Hayden Wesneski touched 97 mph in his start Thursday, he said, “I’m just trying to be like Javy.”
In addition to striking out Alonso twice, Assad got Mookie Betts, Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt, Tim Anderson, Jeff McNeil, Kyle Tucker and Will Smith to hit into outs. Only Mike Trout got on base against Assad, with a single.
“For me, it was just [to] make sure I was focused, make sure I was really concentrating on my pitches,” Assad said, “[and] having faith and confidence to execute my pitches.”
He faced Puerto Rico in the quarterfinals with two of his Cubs teammates on the other side of the field.
“He was filthy,” said right-hander Marcus Stroman, who started for Puerto Rico. “He looked really good, man. And you see that guys have that uptick when you’re playing for your country. It’s a different level and energy and passion that these guys reach into.”
Cubs outfielder Nelson Velazquez, who had Puerto Rico’s first hit, thought he’d get to face Assad. But Puerto Rico manager Yadier Molina instead had lefty-hitting MJ Melendez pinch-hit for Velazquez when Assad entered the game. Velazquez said he respected and understood Molina’s decision to play the matchup. Melendez walked.
“He did an amazing job — when he faced us, he was nasty,” Velazquez said of Assad. “He did what he needed to do. I’m happy for him, too.”
Assad held Puerto Rico scoreless for 2 ⅔ innings — only surrendering one hit, a single by Francisco Lindor — and bought time for the offense to mount a 5-4 comeback win.
“That was one moment I’ll definitely not forget,” he said.
With the results of his offseason velocity program on display, he showed he can go toe-to-toe with some of baseball’s best hitters. Now that he’s expected to be an important contributor no matter his role, he’ll have a chance to sustain this run in the regular season.
