Cubs’ WBC players getting back into mix in big-league camp

PEORIA, Ariz. — Pete Crow-Armstrong is only 23 and has accomplished a lot for his age, but he’s already well-versed in falling short of team objectives.

It happened to the Cubs in a tight best-of-five playoff series against the Brewers last year. It happened when a favored Team USA lost to Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic this year.

When only one champion is crowned, that leaves a crowded elevator for everyone else to cram into and find their next floor. Armstrong pushed the button for the one up top, but it’s a 162-game ride to get there for him and the Cubs, who will open the regular season in five days after an unconventional spring training.

After an emotional, unforgettable experience in the WBC, Armstrong said he’s ready to focus on the Cubs.

“I’ve been looking forward to [Opening Day] the last few months,” Armstrong said Friday, still dusting off the residue of the WBC. “I feel like I’m in a weird space here. Nothing was on my mind except winning WBC games and now that we’re here it’s absolutely great to look forward to going to Chicago and seeing everyone there. That’s why I’m back, to be with this team and be with my boys again.”

There has been a measure of weirdness to this spring training, and one of the casualties of the WBC is having the group together to bond, which players insist is important. The Cubs had 10 players leave to play in the WBC, including Armstrong, Alex Bregman, Matthew Boyd and Daniel Palencia. Record temperatures in the 100-105 range also altered workout schedules and game times.

“It’s a different camp for sure, there’s no way to shake that,” Boyd said. “But different is not always bad. There’s ways we’ve all grown from it. Being away, other guys got reps that will make us better collectively. And the cohesiveness of this unit is in its continuity, and there is big power in that. We’re a close-knit group.”

Third baseman Alex Bregman, the $175 million, accomplished and polished free agent newcomer added to the 2026 mix, didn’t have the normal time a player gets to acclimate with new teammates, but he seems to be fitting in seamlessly while taking on a veteran leadership role.

“I can’t wait to get to Chicago and get started,” Bregman said. “It’s great to be back [from the WBC] with the guys. Looking forward to a good season.”

Camp started in early February, so everyone has had enough and agrees on one thing: It’s time to get on with the regular season.

Counsell said that with so many primary players missing from camp, more focus was on individual aspects of preparation than team aspects.

“Now that we have them back we can start on the team stuff a little more,” Counsell said. “Just a different ordering of how it went, but we’re kind of in team mode now, for sure. Although we’re not down to the final team, all these players will be part of this at some point, so we’ve gone into season mode with our conversations.

“But we accomplished some really good things from an individual perspective, kind of leading up to this and that’s an important part of this.”

Spring training always seems to drag on. And all of a sudden, the end is on you and it’s time to play ball.

“Can’t wait to get back to Wrigley,” Boyd said. “Can’t wait to pitch in front of the best fans in baseball. Playing at Wrigley is amazing, it’s special and the fans are the reason why.”