Workman gets the word: Pack for Japan
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MESA, Ariz. -- Gage Workman was monitoring the Rule 5 Draft in December and was excited to see that one of his friends, Liam Hicks, had been selected second overall by the Marlins. Workman was crafting a congratulatory text when another friend sent one his way, too.
¡°I must¡¯ve been behind on the TV,¡± Workman said. ¡°Somebody said, ¡®Congratulations,¡¯ and I was like, ¡®No way, who¡¯s next?¡¯ Then the Cubs walked right up and picked me. It was just me and my wife at home -- nothing crazy -- but a pretty cool experience.¡±
Though he didn¡¯t notice he was the No. 10 pick of the Rule 5 Draft, it was a career-altering moment for Workman. He arrived at Cubs camp this spring with a real chance at an Opening Day job after spending all of last season at Double-A Erie in the Tigers¡¯ system. And on Sunday morning, Workman was informed by Cubs manager Craig Counsell that he would be on the upcoming trip to Japan.
While Chicago has not officially finalized its 26-man roster and five-man travel squad for the trip overseas, Workman knows he will have a seat on the plane. Counsell also announced that utility man Vidal Bruj¨¢n (out of Minor League options) will be part of the group heading to Japan for the Tokyo Series (March 18-19) against the Dodgers.
¡°It¡¯s just a surreal feeling,¡± Workman said. ¡°When he gives you that news, there¡¯s nothing like it. It¡¯s the best.¡±
Workman, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the organization's No. 29 prospect, convinced the Cubs that he can be an option for third base, while also offering depth at short, second and in the outfield. Workman also displayed plenty of offensive promise in his Cactus League appearances. Counsell noted Workman¡¯s showing (two hits and one lineout) on March 3 against Corbin Burnes, A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez of the D-backs.
¡°You¡¯re not going to have a day of harder at-bats in the big leagues,¡± Counsell said. ¡°He handled all those at-bats as well as anybody that day.¡±
In the Cubs¡¯ 8-6 loss to the Giants on Sunday afternoon, Workman came off the bench and added a pair of hits, including an RBI single. That gave him a .414/.455/.759 slash line with three homers and 12 RBIs through his 13 Cactus League games.
As a Rule 5 selection, the Cubs are required to keep the 25-year-old Workman on their active roster all season, or offer him back to the Tigers. Last year at Double-A Erie, he slashed .280/.366/.476 with 18 homers, 29 doubles, 89 RBIs and 30 stolen bases in 126 games. It was the type of performance that intrigued the Cubs enough to take a long look at him this spring.
¡°Gage has had a tremendous camp,¡± said Counsell, who said being a Rule 5 pick is one of the ¡°hardest¡± positions a player can be in during the spring. ¡°We¡¯re taking Gage because we feel like he¡¯s a functional piece on a roster. That means he played really well. And it means he really did his job. I think he impressed - - maybe more than that. He surprised.¡±
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Lopez among roster reductions
Veteran infielder Nicky Lopez -- given a chance to win a bench job as a non-roster invitee this spring -- was among the players returned to Minor League camp on Sunday. Counsell said the 29-year-old Lopez likely would explore potential Major League opportunities with other teams.
¡°Nicky had a heck of a camp. He did everything we wanted him to do,¡± Counsell said. ¡°The other guys around the competition also played very, very well. So there¡¯s a decision. And they¡¯re on the roster, as well. Nicky¡¯s had a great camp and it¡¯ll turn out well for him, whatever happens here.¡±
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Final decisions looming
Counsell said the Cubs have not yet made a decision as to whether infielder Matt Shaw (No. 19 on MLB Pipeline¡¯s Top 100 prospects list) or outfielder Kevin Alc¨¢ntara (No. 89) are in the plans for the Tokyo Series. One is likely to be included on the 26-man roster, with the other a possibility for one of the extra travel spots.
Catcher Reese McGuire remains in camp and looks poised to be included as a third catching option as part of the extra pool of players. The 13th pitching spot for the 26-man roster appears to be down to one of Ben Brown, Brad Keller (non-roster invitee), Daniel Palencia and Jordan Wicks.