(670 The Score) The Cubs trimmed 11 players from their spring training roster Friday, including 22-year-old outfielder Brennen Davis, the organization’s top prospect.
Davis was 1-of-6 with a homer, three RBIs, two walks and two runs in limited action across six games in Cactus League play. He left a good impression on the Cubs coaching staff before he was assigned to minor league camp.
“He’s made a really good impression,” manager David Ross said. “I think just his movements, he got a lot of at-bats. It’s hard to judge guys off just such short spring training, but you can tell he’s just starting to fill out his body. He looks the part, had a great season last year, continue to build on that. Hopefully we see him really soon. I think it’s a guy who’s one of those future pieces that you see and kind of watched him develop, put in a lot of hard work this offseason, looks strong and fit. He moved well in the outfield.
He’s a great guy. The experience he got this spring was great for him and us.”
Davis hit .260 with 19 homers, 53 RBIs and an .869 OPS in 100 games across multiple minor league levels in 2021. That included him hitting .268 with a .933 OPS in 16 games at Triple-A Iowa. Davis is expected to receive a big league call-up sometime in 2022.
The Cubs also optioned right-hander Cory Abbott and outfielder Greg Deichmann to Triple-A Iowa. They optioned right-hander Anderson Espinoza and left-hander Brailyn Marquez to Double-A Tennessee.
In addition to Davis, right-hander Ben Leeper, left-hander Conner Menez, left-hander Locke St. John, infielder Dixon Machado, infielder Chase Strumpf and infielder Andy Weber were assigned to minor league camp.
In another move Friday, the Cubs activated right-hander Tommy Nance off the COVID-related injured list and designated him for assignment. The team’s spring roster in big league camp now sits at 44 players.