Cubs top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong included in first round of spring cuts

MESA, Ariz. — The Cubs announced their first round of cuts from major-league camp Friday, and top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong was among them.

‘‘I don’t think he’s surprised, but I think he’s disappointed,’’ manager Craig Counsell said.

The cuts were prospect-centered, as the Cubs whittled their spring roster from 62 players to 50. Many were with the major-league team to learn, rather than compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster, and Counsell made that clear to them from the start.

Crow-Armstrong, however, was in a different situation. Before the Cubs re-signed center fielder Cody Bellinger to a three-year, $80 million contract in late February, Crow-Armstrong was in the running to make the team out of camp.

‘‘Like a true pro,’’ Bellinger said when he was asked about how Crow-Armstrong handled the dynamic. ‘‘We have a really good relationship. I think really highly of him. And this whole time, it just goes to show, even though he’s a super-young kid, he’s very
mature in a lot of ways.’’

Now Crow-Armstrong will be looking to force the Cubs’ hand with his performance at Triple-A Iowa.

‘‘Pete’s 21 years old,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘He needs to just play baseball and learn from his experiences playing baseball. The younger you are, the more you just have not experienced yet. And so just do that, and he’s going to get better quickly.’’

The Cubs optioned four players to Iowa: Crow-Armstrong, outfielder Brennen Davis, right-hander Ben Brown and shortstop Luis Vazquez.

They optioned three players to Double-A Tennessee: pitchers Michael Arias and Porter Hodge and outfielder Kevin Alcantara.

The team assigned five non-roster invitees to minor-league camp: infielder Matt Shaw, outfielder Owen Caissie, pitchers Ethan Roberts and Riley Thompson and catcher Pablo Aliendo.

Camp cuts are going to get more difficult moving forward. As Counsell and president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer have some of those tough conversations toward the end of spring training and through the season, their dynamic will evolve. So far, however, it’s clear Counsell approaches roster questions from a front office-like perspective.

‘‘He’s so on top of every detail, thinking about different ways to use the roster,’’ Hoyer said. ‘‘He’s just constantly thinking multiple steps ahead: How is this move going to affect this series, extra off-days, these matchups?’’

Bellinger returns to center field

Bellinger played his second game of the spring Friday and his first in the field. He beat out a single for his first Cactus League hit and played five innings in center field.

‘‘It’s always funny: No matter what, you always get the first ball,’’ Bellinger said. ‘‘Good to get the first one under my belt. Felt really good out there.’’

He said the bigger hurdle to feeling ready for the season will be getting used to being on his feet in the outfield. He’s scheduled to play center field again Saturday against the Rockies.

‘‘I’m feeling pretty comfortable in the box,’’ he said. ‘‘I’m seeing the ball really well.’’

Taillon to make Cactus debut

Right-hander Jameson Taillon is set to make his first Cactus League start Saturday. He’s the only Cubs starter who hasn’t pitched in a game this spring, instead throwing a simulated game on a back field Monday.

Cubs 9, Mariners 5

Diamondbacks 7, Cubs 5

• Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga surrendered two runs in three innings against the Mariners. He struck out five but also gave up a home run and two walks. “I was working on throwing that fastball for a strike up,” he said through interpreter Edwin Stanberry. “A couple misses for balls, and then there was the home run. I want to continue to work on that. It was the same issue I had last time.”
• Non-roster invitee Garrett Cooper hit his first home run of spring, a two-run shot to right field. A late addition to camp, Cooper logged his fourth game Friday against the Mariners was his fourth game.
• Against the Diamondbacks, starter Kyle Hendricks allowed five hits and three runs in 3 ⅓ innings. He threw 15 curveballs, a majority coming in the third inning.
• On deck: Rockies at Cubs, 2:05 Saturday, Mesa, Marquee, Austin Gomber vs. Jameson Taillon.