Chicago Cubs Wesneski's Latest Outing Valuable Learning Moment
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Hayden Wesneski is no longer perfect in Spring Training.
The Chicago Cubs' young right-hander was touched up for four earned runs over 3.1 innings of work in Friday's split-squad loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Anyone casually looking at Wesneski's final stat line will not understand the entire picture.
The 25-year-old retired the first eight batters he faced, including four strikeouts, mirroring his outing six days previous against this same team.
However, Wesneski wasn't attacking the strike zone as much this time around, yielding only two walks, but the Dodgers made him pay. J.D. Martinez launched a three-run home run in the fourth inning after Wesneski walked the first batter and allowed a single to Max Muncy.
“The walks are what killed me,” Wesneski said. “That was it. Other than that, though, can’t be too upset with the outing. Just needed to lock in a little more.”
However, the young right-hander came back and struck out Chris Taylor following the home run. After allowing a single, Wesneski's day was done.
Despite striking out six batters on the day, half of his walks in Spring Training came on Friday.
At this point in the schedule, it's nothing to be concerned about. Wesneski attributed the walks to a lack of focus.
“It’s all on me and babying pitches and all the fun stuff. I just think those were all on me and those should get up and go away, but I just gotta fill it up,' he said.
Overall, Wesneski boasts 17 strikeouts in only 12.0 innings of work. Nobody should have expected him to go unblemished throughout the spring. Friday's outing underscores the importance of the exhibition slate before the games matter at the end of the month.
Wesneski, by all accounts, still leads the race for the fifth starter competition. While nothing has yet been announced, he's earned the job with his body of work this spring.
And these learning moments will only help him in his next outing and down the line.
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