'He's an icon': Cubs getting to pick Sosa's brain in BP

MESA, Ariz. – More than two decades had passed since Sammy Sosa last stepped foot inside the Cubs’ spring complex. When the franchise icon arrived at the team’s newer location on Tuesday afternoon, he was blown away by the spaciousness of the training facilities, which sit a short walk from Sloan Park.

“This building looks like Disney World,” Sosa said with a hearty laugh. “My goodness. Incredible. Beautiful. We didn’t have that when we played.”

Wearing a Cubs uniform for the first time since 2004, Sosa sat in the bleachers next to Field 1 on Wednesday and chatted with reporters before heading to the diamonds as a guest instructor. After mending fences with the organization in December and enjoying a raucous return at Cubs Convention in January, Sosa was thrilled to be invited to work with hitters.

Sosa spent the morning on Wednesday hanging around the on-field cage for a few rounds of batting practice, observing swings and offering advice to various players. He then headed to the indoor cages to continue being available for questions and insight.

For Sosa, it felt special to put on Cubs gear after his 21-year hiatus.

“It’s great, man; I feel like I’m playing again,” Sosa said. “But it’s good. All the players are happy for me to be here. I have a lot to contribute here. I believe that the opportunity is here, so I'm enjoying it. I’m enjoying it right now.”

Sosa broke into a wide smile when former Cubs pitcher Rick Sutcliffe came up to him during batting practice armed with a quip and a hug. Also present at Wednesday’s workout was Cubs great Fergie Jenkins. Ryne Sandberg, Mark Grace and Shawon Dunston have also been in camp at points this spring for Chicago.

Whenever the Cubs’ alumni are present in camp, the team gives them the freedom to roam the fields and watch bullpen sessions. While the game has evolved over the decades, those team legends can still speak the same language of competitiveness and mentality. They also serve as connectors for different eras in Cubs annals.

“Part of the great thing about baseball, and specifically Cubs baseball, is the history,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “And to understand the history is important. I think we learn from it. We appreciate it. And the Cubs have a wonderful history.”

It is not every day that a player with 609 career home runs -- including a club-record 545 with the Cubs over 13 seasons -- is hanging around the batting cage.

“Guys light up when they talk to him, because he’s an icon when it comes to hitting,” Cubs hitting coach Dustin Kelly said. “It’s just fun for guys to be around it, and obviously he has a presence and an aura about him that breeds confidence.

“That’s what some of our guys have already taken away – just how confident he was at the plate with his mentality and what he was thinking up there.”

Many of the Cubs’ current players might be too young to remember when Sosa was among the hitters dominating the ‘90s and early 2000s, but the stories and highlights are plenty familiar. He and Mark McGwire chased down the single-season home run record in ‘98, when Sosa took home the National League MVP Award. Slammin’ Sammy also remains the only player in MLB history to launch 60-plus homers in three seasons.

Veteran Justin Turner, who took BP on Wednesday with Sosa looking on, remembers Sosa’s impact on the game from his youth.

“He’s one of the greats,” Turner said. “Any time you can get a guy around like that, I think you automatically revert to the little kid who was watching him do his thing, doing the Sammy Sosa hop. You just have a lot of respect for what he and McGwire did, really kind of making baseball popular again with that home run race.

“It’s cool to have him around and just talk it up with him.”

Sosa said he feels he has a lot to offer, even if only for the week he is around the team.

“I worked hard every day. Every day,” Sosa said. “I’m happy to explain to anyone or everyone who wants to listen to me.”

Asked if he would be grabbing a bat and stepping in the cage, Sosa let out a laugh.

“I’d have to get ready first,” he said. “It’s been a long time.”

Sosa then shrugged and offered a smirk.

“But,” he added, “I think it could happen.”