PEORIA, Ariz. — He’s not just a pretty voice.
Infielder Munenori Kawasaki, whose biggest claim to fame most of camp was his moving karaoke performance of Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” is starting to make more significant music on the field.
He takes one of the more competitive at-bats in camp and has reached in nine of his last 13 plate appearances after a 2-for-3 game against the Padres in the Cubs’ 11-1 victory.
He leads the club with five walks this spring, and he has looked good enough at short that he’ll give Tommy La Stella a run for a roster spot if La Stella (calf) doesn’t get back on the field soon.
Hey-day
New big-money outfielder Jason Heyward matched his hit total for his previous seven games combined this spring when he went 2-for-3, including a two-out, three-run double into the right-field corner in the third.
In and out
The Cubs hit back-to-back homers the hard way in the eighth, with Kris Negron driving his over the wall in right-center, then John Andreoli legging his out after a helpful carom off the right field wall.
Ryan’s song
Ryan Williams, the least heralded of the three starting pitching prospects getting the focus of the coaching staff entering camp, has quietly put together one of the best springs in camp.
Williams pitched three more scoreless innings Tuesday (four singles, no walks, two strikeouts), running his spring total to six scoreless over three appearances.
Less a power guy than a control pitcher, Williams has four strikeouts and one walk.
Candelario streaking
Third-base prospect Jeimer Candelario, who caught the attention of the organization with a breakout 2015 at high-A and AA, had two more hits Tuesday, including a run-scoring double in the Cubs’ big first inning.
He’s 10-for-his-last-21 with five extra-base hits (including two homers).
On deck
Cubs at Royals, Surprise, Ariz., 3:05 p.m., CSN, mlb.com audio, John Lackey vs. Chris Young.
