Kyle Schwarber’s 2018 defensive improvements were immediately forgotten last week when speculation surfaced about the National League eventually adopting the designated hitter and saddling the Cubs’ left-handed slugger with that role.
“I always take pride in my defense,” Schwarber said Monday after shagging flies in left field and hitting balls to all fields with authority — one week before the Cubs’ first full-squad workout.
“It’s going to set the tone of the way we want to approach our spring training, the way we want to work,” he said. “But it’s a whole new year. We’ve got goals we want to accomplish, and we’ll put our best foot forward.”
“Guys are really pumped to get out here and get going,” Schwarber said. “And once we get out here, it’s going to be fun. … We’re going to prepare ourselves for Game 1 in Texas (on March 28) and be ready to go from there.”
Schwarber made it a priority to reacquaint himself with Anthony Iapoce, the Cubs’ third hitting coach in as many seasons. The two worked together when Schwarber was in the minor leagues.
“They want to get the best out of you,” Schwarber said of Cubs hitting coaches, past and present. “So that’s how it’s going to be, to be the best version of me, and go from there.”