MESA, Ariz. — Alexander Canario’s time away from baseball in 2023 inevitably led to poor habits — ones he wasn’t even fully aware of.

As he wrapped up his winter ball season with Águilas Cibaeñas in the Dominican Winter League last November, the Cubs sent the 23-year-old a plan to correct a bat tip that had formed in his load during his swing.

“The bat kind of rocked forward,” Canario said of the pattern that had happened.

In an effort to chase more power, Canario formed a bat tip that meant his swing was longer and his path to attacking the ball was slower, stunting some of his ability to have successful at-bats. The Cubs sought a way to correct that and try and unlock his full potential.

To correct the bat tip, the Cubs hitting coaches and Canario had to focus on his rhythm. Instead of becoming too antsy in wanting to attack the ball, the plan was for Canario to keep his hands steady as he began his load. That would allow him to create a more straight-forward path in his swing plane and thus creating more consistent contact.

Part of the reason that happened, Cubs assistant hitting coach Juan “Pipi” Cabreja said, was because of the time away from the game as he recovered from a broken left ankle and dislocated left shoulder that he suffered in winter ball in 2022. Those injuries kept him out of minor league action until June last season.  

“When he gets a little anxious, he begins to move the bat. So that adds movement when he attacks the ball,” Cabreja said. “We’re trying to get him to understand his rhythm so that when it’s time to attack the ball, he’s eliminated the movement and to eliminate the bat tip, which is what creates that loop for him that makes him not consistently get to the ball, especially the fastball.”

He was able to incorporate the changes in some games in the Dominican Winter League before his season was ended.

But he really started seeing results after his winter season was over, when he could focus on the mechanics as opposed to worrying about results in game, where the shortened season means a higher emphasis on each game and individual performances.

The change meant returning to the basics.

At Nelson Cruz’ complex in the Dominican Republic, Canario began taking dry swings with the motion, then advancing to hitting off a tee and against pitching machines. When he returned to the Cubs complex in late January, he felt in a solid place with his swing.

“It took about two weeks to get the timing back and get used to batting in that manner,” Canario said. “But now I feel ready. I’ve had time doing it in games, in live BPs and now it’s part of me.”

Beyond the change in his load, Cabreja and the Cubs wanted Canario to be more consistent in his pitch selection at the plate. That, they thought, would also help eliminate the bat tip, since he wouldn’t be as likely to sell out for a pitch if he knows it’s not one that he can do damage on.

The hope is that all those changes help unlock a new level of hitting for him.

He’s gone just 5-for-25 with a double this spring, but that doesn’t necessarily tell the full story. Canario has drawn 7 walks this spring, a clear sign that he’s being more selective.

“I’m all about them hitting the ball consistently and not just hard,” Cabreja said. “Now, he has the mentality of hitting the ball well and not just hard.

“Now he’s more consistent taking his batting practice and in picking his pitches. Now it’s a question of taking that to the game.”

If he does that, it could give manager Craig Counsell an intriguing option either off the bench or as a DH spot. For now, though, Canario’s best path to playing time could come at Triple-A, where he can have more game reps to show the results of the swing changes.

“Obviously, like [Counsell] said, I’m competing for an opportunity,” Canario said. “That’s my focus, do my job and compete and when they give me the opportunity, be ready to do my job.”

Bellinger shines in Cubs win

Cody Bellinger was 1-for-3 with a 2-run double in the Cubs’ 5-0 win over the Rockies on Saturday at Sloan Park. Patrick Wisdom had a pair of hits and 2 RBI in his return to the lineup after missing more than a week with a quad injury. 

Thomas Pannone, a lefty non-roster invitee, struck out 2 while allowing just 1 hit over 3 innings of work. He was a last-minute starter after Jameson Taillon was scratched just minutes before what would have been his spring debut.

Next Up

The Cubs travel to Surprise, Ariz. to take on the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers Sunday. Drew Smyly will get the start at 3 p.m. on Marquee Sports Network.