3 takeaways from Chicago Cubs spring training Thursday, including Trevor Williams’ lab work and Nico Hoerner’s hot start

In the socially distanced and reduced-capacity crowd, fans’ comments can be heard easily in spring training ballparks.

One ardent Los Angeles Dodgers fan didn’t hesitate to boo the Chicago Cubs and generally voice his displeasure when something didn’t go the Dodgers’ way during Thursday’s Cactus League game at Camelback Ranch. After Austin Romine swung and missed against Dodgers right-hander Edwin Uceta in the third inning, the fan proclaimed that the Cubs’ backup catcher had been recalled to the bench after the whiff.

Romine deposited the next pitch over the left-center-field wall. Ian Happ connected for his first homer of the spring, and non-roster outfielder Michael Hermosillo hit a home run for a second consecutive day en route to the Cubs’ 7-0 win in seven innings.

Here are three takeaways from Thursday.

1. Trevor Williams’ slider remains a work in progress.

The Dodgers represented Trevor Williams’ first in-game test for his slider.

Williams has been testing different slider grips, using the Cubs’ pitch lab to get a more precise look at how the changes alter the baseball’s movement. Specifically, Williams is trying to find which variation creates more horizontal movement and how it can be used to expose a hitter’s weakness.

“By having a lab, it’s one of those where we have the ability to throw 10 sliders or eight sliders this way, eight sliders this way and eight sliders this way and see how it works and how it looks,” Williams explained. “And then it goes back to what are you most comfortable throwing. Does it feel good in your hand? Are you able to locate it to the ability of the first one versus the second one versus the third one? So we got to use it utilize it a little bit (Thursday).”

Leaving the controlled lab environment allows Williams to see how hitters react and their swing paths against the pitch. Facing Cubs hitters in live batting-practice situations can provide honest feedback from his new teammates too.

In his 2021 Cactus League debut Thursday, Williams completed two scoreless innings, working around four Dodgers singles. He didn’t walk a hitter and struck out four. Two came against Mookie Bettes. The first was a strike-three looking as Betts thought the slider was outside the zone.

“The main thing for me in the first game was comfort level with the slider grip that I am familiar with,” Williams said. “And we threw a lot of those. We threw a couple today that we were trying to do new ones with. Some were great, some weren’t. That’s just part of our spring training and part of utilizing the lab.”

Williams, 28, signed with the Cubs last month after spending the first five seasons of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

2. Kris Bryant still will be used in the outfield.

The addition of Joc Pederson doesn’t mean the end of Kris Bryant playing in the outfield. He gives Cubs manager David Ross another option if he wants to switch things up. Left-handed-hitting Jason Heyward and Joc Pederson, manning the corners next to switch-hitter Ian Happ in center field, can create a more balanced lineup against a right-handed pitcher. Ross could want a different look versus certain lefties.

Ross anticipates playing Bryant in the outfield but didn’t provide insight as to how often. Ross said Thursday that Bryant has told him multiple times he likes moving around the field and is fine playing in the outfield.

“He understands that anything can happen, roster injuries, ... and we’re definitely left-handed heavy in the outfield,” Ross said. “So he understands if there’s a tough matchup that we’ve got other positions that we can fill in the infield from the right side that pushes him to the outfield at times.”

Bryant started four games in left field last year and 117 total in his six-year Cubs career. David Bote could move to third base, whether he’s in a bench role or slides over from his starting spot at second, on days Bryant plays in the outfield.

3. It’s still early, but Nico Hoerner is off to a hot start.

What’s not to like about Nico Hoerner’s performance less than a week into Cactus League games? After collecting three hits Thursday against the Dodgers, Hoerner is 5-for-6 with two doubles and two runs scored. In the first inning, he stole third base and scored the Cubs’ first run on a throwing error by Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes.

Hoerner, who went 3-for-5 in stolen-base attempts in 2020, has the type of speed to be successful on the bases. It will be interesting to see how often the Cubs have him run this season. During Saturday’s live batting practice, Hoerner worked on leadoffs and jumps with first-base coach Craig Driver and third-base/baserunning coach Willie Harris.

Williams got a glimpse of Hoerner the last two seasons from the Pirates’ dugout, calling Hoerner a pest.

“Now I’m glad that we’re on the same team,” Williams said, “and I’m loving the way that he’s shown in his play the last few days.

“He hustles, every ball that’s hit he runs hard. He’s looking to make every play that’s going after him.”

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