Ben Zobrist to Make Spring Training Debut for Cubs

Chicago Cubs infielder Ben Zobrist will make his Cactus League debut on Thursday afternoon, manager Joe Maddon announced.

Zobrist, who had missed the start of spring training as an excused absence, will bat second and serve as the designated hitter as the Cubs welcome the Oakland A’s to Sloan Park for a Thursday afternoon matinee.

Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward will also be back in the lineup after missing the last two days due to a personal issue. He will bat seventh and play right field for the Cubs in the game, as Chicago rolls out a lineup that bears a lot of similarity to a regular season version.

Some courageous kids and their families are on their way to sunny Arizona to see the Cubs at spring training. The kids are patients at Advocate Children’s Hospital, and as Regina Waldroup reports, the trip is aimed at helping them focus on being kids again.

Kyle Hendricks will be on the hill for the Cubs in the game, and Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, and Javier Baez will also get the starts as the Cubs battle the A’s in a meeting of Mesa-based clubs. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m., and a radio call of the game will stream on the Cubs’ website.