Unique setting in Iowa 'hits home' for Cubs

DYERSVILLE, Iowa -- Drew Smyly took a moment to soak in the unique atmosphere on Thursday afternoon. Hours before his start against the Reds, the Cubs pitcher walked out alone to the Major League mound at the Field of Dreams site, turning slowly as he gazed around the ballfield.

In the distance, behind the cornfield beyond the right-field fence, was the baseball diamond and farmhouse used in the famous film. Soon, Smyly's teammates -- donning classic uniforms to represent the early 20th century era of the franchise -- joined him on the field.

"I was taking it in," Smyly said. "I went and stood on the mound just to kind of get the perspective of what it was going to be like. I knew this was going to be a lot different than a normal Major League game."

In a 4-2 win over Cincinnati, Smyly turned in a performance worthy of the setting. The veteran left-hander piled up nine strikeouts over five scoreless innings, and did so as his daughter, Parker, celebrated her 5th birthday. That was fitting given the spirit of the "Field of Dreams" movie, in which farmer Ray Kinsella -- played by Kevin Costner -- builds a baseball field here to share one last catch with his father.

Cubs lefty Justin Steele recently became a dad with the birth of his son, Beau, this summer. Thursday marked the first time that his son was in the stands for a Cubs game, and Steele said the theme of fatherhood resonated with him differently now.

"It's really special," Steele said. "I know that it hits home with a lot of people. It hits home for me."

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It would have been a daunting task to live up to the inaugural Field of Dreams Game last year, given the walk-off homer heroics of White Sox star Tim Anderson. Even so, the impact of the game really registered for the Cubs when they touched down in Iowa.

Cubs manager David Ross said there were people on rooftops when the team's plane landed. There were even more fans -- some sitting in lawn chairs -- along the small-town streets as the bus made its way to the field off Lansing Road in Dyersville.

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“It's exceeded expectations,” Ross said. “You can tell this is a really big event when people are that [excited about the team] going through the town, almost like a mini-parade to get here."

When Ross stepped onto the MLB field for the Cubs' team picture before the game, the manager said his inner child took over.

"I don't know why, I got the urge to run," Ross said with a smile. "So, I ran to our team photo. Just one of those moments that, you stepped foot out there, you feel like a kid."

After the photo, the Cubs walked through the cornfield and emerged in center field of the movie site. Pitcher Marcus Stroman brought his camera, snapping candid shots of teammates and pictures of his surroundings. At one point, Franmil Reyes asked Stroman to take his photo in front of a “Field of Dreams” sign.

"I’m just out there catching moments, everything," Stroman said. "The whole atmosphere. I’m just trying to capture the vibe of where I’m at, really, through my lens, which is different than anybody else."

A group of Cubs players made their way to the farmhouse and hung out on the porch. Rookie Christopher Morel snapped a photo with a few actors dressed as "ghost players" from the 1919 White Sox. Patrick Wisdom made sure to "have a catch" in the outfield. Rowan Wick climbed up on a tractor (a couple of hours before retiring the side in order in the ninth for the save).

Standing on the diamond from the film in the afternoon, Nico Hoerner said he had never been anywhere like the Iowa farm. After the win, he laughed during a news conference while saying that he could "visibly see a horse from shortstop" during the game.

"It's cool when you think about, baseball players really do come from all places," said Hoerner, who is from Oakland. "Baseball is loved here, just like lots of other places in the world."

Cubs catcher Willson Contreras -- who avoided an injury scare after taking a spill on the basepaths in the third inning -- brought that point home.

"I've come a long way," he said. "From Venezuela to here, all the way to Field of Dreams. The first time that I watched the movie, I was back in Venezuela. I was a kid."

Nick Madrigal -- whose season-ending right hamstring injury with the White Sox last season before he was traded to the Cubs cost him the chance to play in the inaugural game -- churned out three hits and stole a base in the win. It was his first such game since Aug. 30, 2020.

Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ and Hoerner each had a run-scoring hit in the first inning, but the game action seemed secondary on this day.

Hoerner said one of his favorite moments was during the introductions, when he looked to his left and right and realized he was standing between Hall of Famers Billy Williams and Johnny Bench.

"That's not something I'll ever forget," Hoerner said.

It was a scene none of the players involved will soon forget.

"Honestly, I caught myself in between every inning," Smyly said, "when I wasn't pitching, just staring out into the cornfields, just looking over the left-field wall."

They built it, and the Cubs came away with a victory.

"It made me feel like I was in the movie," Contreras said.