MESA, Ariz. — Fans that were crowded around the backfields of Sloan had a rare treat on Monday.

They had the opportunity to see one of the game’s finest hitters swing in a living batting practice for the first time — and it didn’t take long for them to be able to marvel at his skills.

On the first pitch Tucker saw against lefty Justin Steele — the Cubs’ best pitcher over the last two seasons — the new right fielder hit an opposite field liner that one hopped the left-center wall on Field 6.

Sunday, Tucker stood in for live batting practice but was tracking pitches, so he didn’t swing or showcase his prowess. Just like his day-to-day offensive routine, he doesn’t need too much work.

Tucker isn’t taking hundreds of swings a day in the cage or off a machine.

“He keeps it simple,” manager Craig Counsell said on Sunday. “His routine is very simple, doesn’t hit a lot either — doesn’t need a lot of swings.

“Hitting coaches are big fans of [that].”

[MORE: Cubs slugger Kyle Tucker details his approach and routine in the batter’s box]

Whatever works, right?

Just last season, Tucker hit .289 with a .993 OPS, 23 home runs and a 4.7 bWAR in just 78 games. He’s a lifetime .274 hitter with an .870 OPS and 125 home runs, so if it works, don’t fix it.

Steele found that out quickly. Tucker, though, wasn’t flawless. He faced new reliever Ryan Brasier and the righty got the best of Tucker, striking him out.

Cactus League starter

The Cubs’ first Cactus League game is just around the corner — and they know who will be taking the bump for that contest.

Right-handed pitcher Cody Poteet — who was acquired in the Cody Bellinger deal from New York — will take the ball in the opener against the Dodgers on Thursday at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz.

Last season, Poteet had a 2.22 ERA in 5 games (4 starts) for the Yankees with a 1.07 WHIP across 24.1 innings. The 30-year-old is being stretched as a starter in spring training and should provide depth in the rotation for the team.

“This is the second year [removed] from Tommy John [surgery for] him,” Counsell said last week. “Last year, little bit slowed down from that, made some really good starts in the big leagues and now kind of fully recovered and now kind of fully recovered and having a healthy offseason ready to go.”

Other live batting practice nuggets

• While Tucker’s first swings might have been noteworthy, Michael Busch wasn’t too shabby himself. The first baseman hit a home run off Steele and had another hard hit off the wall against Tyson Miller.
• Steele threw 2 innings of live batting practice on Field 6, facing Busch, Tucker, Dansby Swanson, Alexander Canario and Nicky Lopez.
• Jordan Wicks threw 2 innings of live batting practice, too, against Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Vidal Bruján and Jon Berti.