Schwarber sees first spring action at catcher

MESA, Ariz. -- Kyle Schwarber got behind the plate and caught four innings in a Minor League game Friday, his first game action at the position all spring.
The Cubs' 24-year-old slugger will log the bulk of his defensive innings in left field this season with Willson Contreras and Miguel Montero handling duties behind the plate, but Schwarber came up through the Minors as a catcher and he still has an affinity for the position.
"I love catching," Schwarber said. "It's what I was whenever I played baseball. I was always a catcher. For me to be able to do that today and feel pretty good about myself walking away from the day, it was a good step."
Although he didn't get a chance to throw to any bases, Schwarber did block a few balls in the dirt and said everything felt good.
"The most difficult part I would probably say was setup wise, trying to find that timing of your moves and everything like that," Schwarber said. "Sometimes I felt like I was a little late getting to my setup, but that all came. It's been a year since I got behind there."
Although Friday marked Schwarber's first game action at catcher, he has been working behind the plate throughout Spring Training, doing receiving work when time allows and catching a bullpen session once or twice a week.
Some soreness on Saturday is to be expected, Schwarber said, but otherwise he was comfortable behind the plate and said another brief tuneup would have him ready to go.
"I would probably say one more is going to be good, but I'm always going to be doing the extra work, always training the eyes," Schwarber said. "That will always help."