MESA, Ariz. — The Cubs made another round of camp cuts Thursday, a week before Opening Day.
The team optioned outfielder Nelson Velazquez to Triple-A and reassigned nine players to minor-league camp: infielder David Bote, first-base prospect Matt Mervis, outfielder Ben DeLuzio, infielder Sergio Alcantara, catcher Dom Nuñez, left-hander Brendon Little and right-handers Nick Burdi, Cam Sanders and Manuel Rodriguez.
“We’re going to need depth,” manager David Ross said. “What I tell all these guys is there’s going to be moments in the season where we’re going to need to call on somebody.”
Velazquez was the one player on the 40-man roster whom the Cubs sent down this time around. He had recently returned from the World Baseball Classic, where he went 1-for-5, drew a walk and scored a run for Puerto Rico. In his first game back in Cubs camp, Velazquez hit a walk-off home run.
In all, he went 2-for-7 in three Cactus League games this week. Ross pointed to a hard-hit lineout to third base on Wednesday as more evidence of his consistent at-bats.
“Get him down there, let him get his at-bats, get ready for the season,” Ross said, “and hopefully get off to a good start in case we need to call up somebody. He would be one of those guys who would be in the mix.”
The Cubs need to fill the hole in right field left by Seiya Suzuki (strained left oblique), but, otherwise, they have little wiggle room in the outfield. When Suzuki is healthy, he, center fielder Cody Bellinger and left fielder Ian Happ are expected to get most of the playing time.
Wesneski has good outing
Right-hander Hayden Wesneski said that in his start against the Diamondbacks on Thursday, he felt the best he has all spring. He even touched 97 mph.
“That was sick,” he said. “That’s one of things I’m really happy about. But that’s not the hardest I’ve thrown. We’re just trying to get back to that top-end speed. We’re getting there.”
Wesneski held the Diamondbacks to one unearned run, which scored on an errant pickoff attempt, in five innings. He walked two and struck out five.
Ross hasn’t announced his decision on the fifth-starter battle, but Wesneski appears to be the favorite.
Quiroz traded
The Cubs traded minor-league infielder Esteban Quiroz to the Phillies for cash considerations, the team announced.
Quiroz made his major-league debut with the Cubs last September after more than a decade in the Mexican League and the minor leagues combined.
He went on a five-game hitting streak late in the month, going 8-for-19 in those games, but his bat cooled off before the end of the season.
Hoerner scratched
The Cubs scratched second baseman Nico Hoerner from the lineup with tightness in his left biceps. It was a precautionary measure, the team said.
Cubs 11, Diamondbacks 1
• Reliever Keegan Thompson checked off his first multi-inning outing of the spring, retiring six consecutive batters.
• The Cubs scored most of their runs late in the game, with major-leaguers putting together a four-run rally in the seventh inning and mostly minor-league replacements matching that production in the eighth.
• Right-hander Javier Assad, back from an impressive showing with Mexico in the World Baseball Classic, is scheduled to make a relief appearance Friday.
• On deck: Rangers at Cubs, 3:05 p.m. Friday, Mesa, Marquee, Andrew Heaney vs. Marcus Stroman. Cubs at Guardians,
8:05 p.m. Friday, Goodyear, Marquee, Adrian Sampson vs. Zach Plesac.
