Cubs' Spring Training Temperature Check: Volume Two

We are back for another Chicago Cubs spring training check-in to see who is hot and who is not. The Cubs are 4-7 in Cactus League play and take on Team Italy next in an exciting round of exhibition games where MLB teams will take on World Baseball Classic participants. Over the last week, we’ve seen more of the main characters on the field, but there are still key parts of the Opening Day roster that remain unclear, so let's get to it.

Who's Hot for Cubs?

3B Alex Bregman
Spring training stats are of no importance when it comes to superstars like Bregman, but it's hard to ignore the impression he’s made in Arizona thus far. He’s played in five games, going 5-11 with three extra-base hits, including a home run versus the White Sox on Sunday. He’s drawn three walks and has not struck out yet. The Cubs are going to need these red-hot streaks from him to ignite their offense this season. As Joe Maddon used to say to Dexter Fowler: “you go, we go.” The same adage could be applied to Bregman going forward.

OF Dylan Carlson
There are still a few weeks of spring training left to play, but Carlson seems to be running away with one of the available bench spots for Opening Day. His 1.392 OPS is third in baseball during the exhibition slate, as he’s gone 7-13 with two doubles and five walks. The Michael Conforto signing complicates the outfield picture even further, but with Tyler Austin set to miss significant time, the Cubs need another bench bat. Carlson’s hot spring combined with his switch-hitting will likely give him a leg up on the competition. 

RHP Javier Assad
The Cubs took on the Dodgers on Saturday and held them to only two runs. A big part of this was due to Assad’s three shutout innings in relief of Ben Brown and Colin Rea, each of whom did not allow a run either. Assad allowed one hit and struck out four. He has worked more than one inning and produced multiple strikeouts in both appearances he’s had this spring and is yet to allow a run. Injuries kept him off the mound for most of 2025, but he was one of their most dependable arms in 2023 and 2024, so a return to form would do wonders regardless of his ultimate position in the bullpen or rotation.

Who's Not?

INF Scott Kingery/OF Justin Dean 
Kingery and Dean are lumped together because they both made this list last week and have continued to struggle in the regular playing time they’ve been getting. Kingery is 2-18 (.111) with six strikeouts, and Dean is 3-20 (.150) with a whopping ten strikeouts. Both players have never been successful major leaguers for any considerable stretch, and that does not look like it is going to change. They appear to be on the chopping block, barring a turnaround.

INF James Triantos
Triantos has not been quite as bad as the two aforementioned players, but in a season that seems pivotal for his future with the team, his .200 batting average (4-20) is not going to cut it. Higher-ranked infield prospects Jefferson Rojas and Pedro Ramirez are outperforming Triantos by a wide margin. At this point, it would be surprising to see Triantos find his way up to the big-league roster in the first half of the season.

RHP Jameson Taillon
Taillon further cemented his spot here Monday afternoon when he allowed six earned runs in 2 1/3 innings pitched against the Reds. He has now made three starts this spring, throwing six innings with an ERA of 19.50, allowing six home runs in the process. Opposing hitters are hitting over .400 against him, and that's in spring training where teams are sparingly playing their studs. Taillon will be in the Cubs rotation this season, so his spring stats don’t mean a ton, but it is still a little worrisome to see these early struggles, especially after he finished last year on such a torrid hot streak.