As Cubs pitchers and catchers reported to spring training in Mesa, Arizona, players began their first taste of preparing for the start of the regular season.

In an exclusive 1-on-1 with Marquee Sports Network’s Elise Menaker, new Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd explained how eager and ready to take the mound for the team this season.

His signing this offseason was a full-circle moment for Boyd as he made his first start of 2024 against the Cubs as a member of the Cleveland Guardians after returning from injury.

“It was one of those things that was just so special. It was like 420 days since my last start,” Boyd told Menaker in Cubs camp. “Everything that you go through, I couldn’t even get a big league job at the beginning of last year. It was clear that we were supposed to not sign and just wait. We were doing rehab and training in the mornings and the best part was the relief after surgery and coming back healthy, it was like, ‘OK cool. I know who I want to be. I’ve been thinking about this for a very long time.’ You go out and you just pitch.”

Boyd signed a 2-year deal with the Cubs this offseason and hopes to provide reinforcement in the starting rotation. He finished last season going 2-2 with a 2.72 ERA and 1.134 WHIP with 46 strikeouts in 39.2 innings pitched.

In the interview with Menaker, Boyd showed off his 5 pitches in his arsenal that he utilizes throughout the season: fastball, slider, curveball, sinker and changeup. Between those 5 pitches, Boyd throws his fastball the most at 38.3%, according to baseball savant.

As Boyd detailed how he holds his fastball, he explained his ideal plan with each pitch.

“I’m trying to throw that thing and stay through that it so it takes off. If you think of all the lefties we have, we all have different kind of release points and different shapes on our pitches,” Boyd said. “I’ve got a lower release and the ball will do that whereas [Justin] Steele has got a little higher release and that thing will cut. Mine takes off arm-side…it’s got that arm-side action but it enters the zone really flat.”

Head over to the Marquee Sports Network app for more Cubs spring training coverage.