SS Simmons rekindles 'long history' with skipper Ross at camp

MESA, Ariz. -- Manager David Ross finds amusement in how a moment from his playing days has come full circle. When he played for Atlanta more than a decade ago, Andrelton Simmons had the locker to his left and Jason Heyward was Ross' neighbor on the right.

On Tuesday morning, Simmons put on his new Cubs gear and took batting practice on Field 1 at the team's complex as Ross looked on. Heyward, of course, is a key part of Chicago's clubhouse culture and outfield.

"Excited to have him," said Ross of Simmons. "I've got a long history with him."

Simmons' one-year, $4 million contract with the Cubs became official on Tuesday, allowing him to take the field with his new club. Ross is looking forward to having the four-time Gold Glove Award winner as part of the middle infield, which also features Nico Hoerner (short and second) and Nick Madrigal (second).

The Cubs' sinker-heavy pitching staff benefited from having Javier Báez at shortstop in recent seasons, but the All-Star was traded mid-season and has since signed with Detroit via free agency. Simmons does not offer the same kind of bat, but he has offered an elite glove throughout his career.

"Man, I feel like he's a baseball genius," Heyward remarked. "I feel like he has eyes all over, because he's always watching everything -- on defense, on offense, when he was running the bases [and] in the dugout, I feel like he always watches the game. And there's a lot of things you can learn just by watching. He doesn't even have to say anything.

"It's nice to have. If you're going to replace a shortstop -- a really good shortstop -- replace him with a Platinum Glove shortstop."

Simmons, 32, took home his Platinum Glove in 2013, when he had one of his three seasons with at least 30 defensive runs saved. The shortstop posted a career-best 41 DRS in 2017, but has registered 38 total across '18-21. Last year, he ranked second in DRS (15) and fourth in Statcast's outs above average metric (16) among all MLB shortstops.

"Any glove we can get behind me, I'll take," starter Kyle Hendricks said. "A guy like that, he's unreal. Watching Javy for so many years and what he can do, I love being on the bench and watching those guys and the work they do out there. Watching Andrelton is going to be fun."

Happ aiming for Opening Day
With the addition of the designated hitter, Ross said outfielder Ian Happ should be ready in time for the April 7 season opener against the Brewers at home. Happ, who underwent a right elbow procedure in February, is confident he will be ready for the outfield by then, too.

"I think the whole thing will be ready by Opening Day," Happ said. "But that will probably be a good progression -- a couple DH games and then be out in the outfield during spring. But, yeah, it definitely gives us flexibility."

Happ noted that the elbow discomfort that flared over the offeason has been a sporadic issue dating back to 2019. In previous winters, rest has been the remedy. This time, the tightness persisted as he began ramping up his throwing and hitting.

"It's something that I was always able to play through," Happ added. "And then it got to a point this offseason where it needed to be fixed."

Worth noting
• Lefty Brad Wieck is healthy and throwing again in the wake of his heart ablation procedure in late August last year. Wieck, 30, had 28 strikeouts and no runs allowed in 17 innings in '21 before the heart issue ended his season in early July. The reliever also had a cardiac ablation in February '20.

"This is where it's going to be really delicate, right?" pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said. "A lot of communication on how he's feeling, digging in deep on how the offseason went for him and just being very diligent about how we ramp that up.

"Because the last thing you want is anything creeping back up, you pushed too soon, and then you lose him for an extended period of time again, right? Everything I'm getting from the doctors … is checking out well and he's doing well."

• Hendricks is scheduled to make his first start of the spring on Thursday against the White Sox at Sloan Park. Righty Marcus Stroman will start Friday against the Giants in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Quotable
"Man, that is probably one of the most exciting shortstops in the game, for sure. One of the guys that definitely doesn't take any time off on defense. … He's one of those guys that is always looking for the extra out [and] is always ahead of the play, so I'm excited to see him out there." -- catcher Yan Gomes, on Simmons