MESA, Ariz. — Cody Bellinger chased a ball up in the zone against right-hander Jameson Taillon for strike three. He then strode over to pitching coach Tommy Hottovy, who was seated against the fence on the first-base side of the field, to talk.
He hit a fly ball to deep left field against left-hander Thomas Pannone, then plopped down next to hitting coach Dustin Kelly in the chairs set up on the third-base side.
‘‘It was a perfect setting, especially to get ready for [a game] Wednesday,’’ Bellinger said after a simulated game on the back fields of the Cubs’ spring-training complex Monday. ‘‘For me to see lefty, righty, lefty, righty was ideal. It just worked out that way.’’
Two squads of minor-league players faced off behind Taillon and Pannone. Bellinger, who is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut Wednesday, took an at-bat every half-inning, racking up six.
He is penciled in as the designated hitter Wednesday against the Angels at Sloan Park, manager Craig Counsell said, and is expected to play in the field Friday or Saturday.
‘‘I was happy with how I was seeing [the ball], happy with how my swing was,’’ Bellinger said. ‘‘So I feel good.’’
He hit a line-drive single to right-center against Pannone, hit into a double play on a sharp grounder to second base against Taillon, hit a deep fly against each pitcher and struck out against each pitcher.
Bellinger had a late start to spring training after his free agency dragged into the first full week of games. His first day of camp — after signing a three-year, $80 million deal to return to the Cubs — was last Wednesday.
He got extra time with his wife and their two daughters, ‘‘which was great,’’ he said. But he also worked out with his hitting coach, Micah Franklin, whom Bellinger has known since he was in high school. Franklin is now the manager of the Oakland Ballers, an
independent-league team.
‘‘The physical part, it’s the easier part,’’ Bellinger said of his offseason preparation.
The mental side was the harder part.
‘‘Me and my hitting coach, we emulated [facing live pitching] as much as we could,’’ Bellinger said. ‘‘That’s the visualization part of it all. And he tries to get me out, and I’m trying to get hits off him. So you get that competitive nature.’’
The Cubs weren’t concerned about Bellinger’s timeline, despite the delay. Counsell referred to 2022, when the MLB lockout lasted until March 10, pushing back the spring-training schedule.
‘‘We’re in no rush to play him in a game,’’ Counsell said last week. ‘‘The most important thing for Cody, from my perspective, is running around every day, being on your feet a lot, that part of getting used to camp.’’
On his second day of camp, Bellinger took his first live batting practice session, facing right-hander Keegan Thompson for two at-bats.
Bellinger’s six at-bats Monday reflected a steady ramp-up. And he provided staunch competition for Taillon, who has yet to pitch in a spring game this year. Instead, Taillon threw three innings on the back fields.
The only runs Taillon gave up came on a two-run home run. He allowed three hits, issued a walk and had four strikeouts.
‘‘He looks really good,’’ Bellinger said on his way to find Taillon to swap feedback. ‘‘I thought the ball was coming in hard, and his location was really good.’’
