MESA, Ariz. — Camp Counsell has been underway for a month now and the 2024 regular season is fast approaching.

The Cubs open the season on March 28 in Texas, where Justin Steele will take the ball against the defending-champion Rangers.

But until then, more than a week remains in Spring Training.

Here are 10 observations and takeaways from the Cubs’ camp in Arizona:

1. A fresh perspective

Craig Counsell was arguably the biggest addition for this Cubs team over the offseason and he made his mark felt in the early stages of his tenure.

Counsell has shaken some things up — but in a quiet, understated way. He is not the type to come in and make sweeping changes just to make them.

Instead, he has brought a fresh perspective to the team and it’s one that impacts every corner of the organization.

Jed Hoyer has appreciated the fact that Counsell approaches the managerial job with a front office perspective, understanding how all the pieces of the puzzle fit together.

The players have appreciated Counsell’s direct communication style, like when he told journeyman Mike Tauchman on the first day of camp that he had earned a spot on the Opening Day roster.

Counsell’s fresh eyes also come in the form of a new outlook on the roster. He and the Cubs landed on a set position for Christopher Morel, allowing the young slugger to focus exclusively on third base all spring instead of moving around the diamond like past years. And when it comes to the pitching staff, Counsell is more interested in viewing his staff as “out-getters” instead of worrying about specific roles.

It remains to be seen how much of an impact Counsell’s presence will have on the win column, but his arrival is paying dividends so far.

2. The kids can play

The inaugural Spring Breakout game last Friday was rained out but the idea was a cool and unique way to showcase the game’s top prospects. However, anybody who has paid attention to Cubs camp has already seen plenty of what the organization’s youngsters can do.

Outfielder Owen Caissie looked like the best player on the field early in spring. At one point nearly two weeks into game action, the 21-year-old was leading the entire Cactus League in batting average (.529) and on-base percentage (.600) and was second in OPS (1.424) and hits (9).

2023 1st-round pick Matt Shaw hasn’t even spent an entire season in pro ball and he spent the offseason learning a new position (third base) but has put on a show this spring both defensively and at the plate.

Fellow top prospects Alexander Canario, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Luis Vázquez have seen a lot of run in spring games and we’ve also gotten a look at position players like Kevin Alcántara and Moises Ballesteros as well as pitchers like Ben Brown and Porter Hodge.

“Watching them play every day is really fun,” Hoyer said. “I feel like an organization is in a good position when innings 6 through 9 in Spring Training are exciting and fun.

“I feel like we’re in a good position. The guys we’re running out there either in road games or late in the game [at Sloan Park], I feel like those are good players and exciting to watch.”

3. There are going to be some very interesting roster decisions

The cuts will keep coming over the final week-plus of Spring Training but there are some very intriguing situations that have come up so far in camp.

We already know that Crow-Armstrong won’t start the year in the big leagues but the Cubs still have plenty of bench positions to figure out beyond Tauchman and young catcher Miguel Amaya. Patrick Wisdom, Nick Madrigal, Miles Mastrobuoni and Canario are already on the 40-man roster and there is also a trio of enticing minor-league signings in camp.

David Peralta, Dominic Smith and Garrett Cooper all have extensive resumes in the big leagues and are in Cubs camp as non-roster invitees.

Peralta is recovering from offseason elbow surgery and has not yet played the field. He figures to start the season in the minors but once he’s 100%, he could become a factor in Chicago at DH and in the outfield.

Cooper and Wisdom fit a similar build as right-handed sluggers who play first base and can DH (Wisdom can also factor in at third base) and it might be difficult to find room for both on the Opening Day roster.

Smith is still only 28 and a former top prospect. He’s finally healthy in camp and absolutely mashing with 8 hits and 12 total bases in his first 20 at-bats. The Cubs are in the market for more quality left-handed hitters and Smith could fit the bill as depth at first base and DH.

Then there’s Carl Edwards Jr. in the bullpen. The 2016 World Series champion is back with the Cubs on a minor-league deal and could earn a spot on the initial 26-man roster to open the season.

Of course, the Cubs won’t have room for all of these guys. Young right-hander Caleb Kilian will go on the 60-day IL at some point, creating an open 40-man spot that could be utilized by Peralta or one of the other veterans on minor league deals. But if more than 1 of these guys makes the roster, the Cubs will need to create room by removing somebody else from their 40-man roster.

“We are getting to the place to make really hard decisions and the biggest focus is just keeping depth,” Hoyer said about the roster crunch.

4. Versatility is key

Hoyer’s front office deserves credit for building a deep, versatile roster. Cody Bellinger can play very good defense in center field, right field or at first base. Newcomer Michael Busch looks in line to be the team’s first baseman to open the year but he has played all over the diamond in his minor-league career.

Tauchman can back up all three outfield spots and the Cubs have plenty of depth at each of the infield positions and a ton of options in the mix for DH at-bats.

Then there’s the versatility from the lineup locks, where Counsell has utilized Spring Training games to give Seiya Suzuki an opportunity to play in left field in case the Cubs need to go that route at some point in 2024.

On the pitching staff, the Cubs have a variety of options who can either start or relieve (including Javier Assad, Drew Smyly and Hayden Wesneski) and several young pitchers who can begin the year in Triple-A or on the big-league staff (Jordan Wicks, Luke Little, Daniel Palencia, Wesneski, Brown, etc.).

The Cubs have had to navigate injuries this spring to key players like Ian Happ and Jameson Taillon, so the depth and versatility on the roster has already shown itself.

5. Unfinished business

With Bellinger back in the fold, there is a sense of unfinished business on this Cubs roster.

The team finished a lone game out of the playoffs in 2023 and they came to camp this spring hoping to get over that hump and play in October once again.

“We were so close last year,” Bellinger said during his re-introductory press conference. “Really got banged up towards the end and fought ’til the very end. We got so close and for me to come back here with almost the same team.

“To experience playoffs in Chicago is something that I want to do and it’s something that I want to experience. It’s a big part of the reason why I did want to come back here.”

With all the young guys knocking at the door of the big leagues plus the return of Bellinger and the other offseason additions like Shota Imanaga and Héctor Neris, it’s easy to see why the Cubs are optimistic about this season.

6. Pitching depth is paramount

Taillon’s injury is already testing the depth but with the ascension of Wicks plus the versatility of Assad, Smyly and Wesneski, the Cubs should be able to cover until Taillon returns. The pitchers in that group that don’t crack the Opening Day rotation will undoubtedly make some starts for the Cubs at some point in 2024 as the team looks to keep everybody fresh.

The Cubs may not roll with an official 6-man rotation but they are already figuring out ways to shuttle players between Iowa and Chicago to build in more rest. It’s something Counsell is familiar with from his time in Milwaukee, when the team did the same thing to create more time off for pitchers like Freddy Peralta and Brandon Woodruff.

“We have some depth, knock on wood, [and can] bring a guy up to make a start if [Counsell] needs to spread that out,” Hoyer said. “I know they did that in Milwaukee to give Woodruff and Peralta extra time and not throw them very often on 4 days rest. I do think we’ll probably use our depth that way.”

[MORE: How the Cubs bullpen is lining up for the 2024 season]

7. Back to basics

Counsell’s focus on basics and drills in camp have been noticeable. Early in camp, the Cubs ran what they dubbed the “Vandy bunt drill”.

Pitchers gathered at the agility field and formed a mini diamond where each base was about 15 feet apart. A pitcher was stationed at every infield position, including on the faux mound. Triple-A manager Marty Pevey would roll a ball out to various spots on the diamond and the pitchers would field and throw the ball to the correct spot, depending on the situation.

“It’s more of just a drill to teach pitchers what everybody else’s responsibilities are,” Counsell said after the day’s drills were over.

The Cubs have ran numerous situational drills, often with Counsell himself serving as a baserunner in situations. He or bench coach Ryan Flaherty would stop drills to go over certain situations and emphasize the moment that could appear in games.

Counsell has also added a new dimension to the practice routine of players, adding 1-on-1 time with coaches and creating more individualized workouts instead of the usual format where it’s a larger group of players or even an entire roster. It’s something he learned from former Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer.

“The coaches get into their sweet spot too instead of doing a lot of organizing,” Counsell said. “I try to do a lot of the organizing for them and then give them 1 guy to really impact.”

8. Seiya Suzuki is hot — red hot

The last two months of 2023 offered a glimpse to what Suzuki could be.

Through Spring Training he’s continuing to provide that.

Suzuki is hitting .440 with a 1.401 OPS and 3 home runs through Saturday’s games. After a 2-homer game on Saturday, Counsell decided to end Suzuki’s day, a sign of how locked in he is.

“So Couns literally just said [I’m] done after the second home run,” Suzuki said with a laugh through interpreter Toy Matsushita. “[I’m] really lucky. Call it a day.”

Seiya's second home run of the day is a MONSTER blast 🤯 pic.twitter.com/N9bTXbC47J

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) March 16, 2024

Suzuki has always had high potential since the Cubs signed him out of Japan ahead of the 2022 season. But his first two seasons in MLB have been riddled by inconsistent Spring Trainings — the lockout-shortened spring in 2022 and an injury-filled one in 2023 — and has missed time during each season with injuries. A full Spring Training slate, coupled with health, could lead to a force in the middle of the Cubs’ lineup.

“I’ve been able to work on what I need to do and improve on my game,” Suzuki said of the full Spring Training.

9. New-look lineup?

Counsell hasn’t really been tipping his hand on what a potential lineup could look like.

“Your spot in the order should not dictate the quality of your at-bat,” Counsell said earlier in camp. “And it should not really change your approach to your at-bat.”

Happ led off Sunday against the Rangers, a spot that he could be in during the season. But Counsell didn’t budge when asked about it.

“I think it could be for sure,” Counsell said. “He’s a good hitter who gets on base a lot.”

Counsell emphasizes his best players getting the most at-bats and Suzuki could very well be a solid, modern day 2-hitter with Bellinger behind him, Morel after that and Swanson and Michael Busch to follow. It’s how the lineup looked Sunday.

The batting order, though, will likely change throughout the season. Counsell has been known for his ability to mix-and-match lineups and maximize every player on the roster given the situation and matchup. Counsell won’t likely be married to one lineup throughout the season, instead choosing to move players around given performances and matchups.

10. Shota Imanaga is going to be fun

“The Throwing Philosopher” immediately let his personality shine through, as he recited lyrics of “Go Cubs Go” at his introductory press conference in January.

"Hey Chicago, what do you say? Cubs gonna win today!"

Shōta Imanaga is going to be a fan favorite.

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) January 12, 2024

He has carried that entertainment into the spring while also teasing his potential. Imanaga has 19 strikeouts in 9.2 innings across 3 starts in Cactus League play and has impressed his new coaches.

“What I was really encouraged about his outing the other day was his ability to take what he worked on in the bullpen and go translate it and put it into a game right away,” Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said. “That’s an elite level. You’re coming from a veteran guy — I know he’s like a rookie here, but he’s been pitching for a while.

“His ability to take feedback and then go execute on it was outstanding. I think the one fun part for us is getting to know him and what he’s used to hearing and talking about, what the Japanese coaches and the pitching coaches over there would prioritize with him might be a little different than what we have talked to him about.

“So it’s fun to communicate, show him information, show him why we think things should work and then him to trust you in that moment and go do it in the game and actually be able to execute what you want to do, which was really cool to see.”

24 for ’24 series

What are the Cubs expecting from Kyle Hendricks in 2024 and beyond?
What role will Drew Smyly fill on the 2024 Cubs?
How will Jameson Taillon fare in Year 2 with Cubs?
How will Shota Imanaga handle the adjustment to MLB?
Who will DH for the Cubs?
Who is the Cubs’ fifth starter?
Will defense once again be the Cubs’ strength?
Can Seiya Suzuki pick up where he left off? 
What are the Cubs’ long-term plans at first base?
Have the Cubs done enough to address their left-handed hitting?
Will Justin Steele replicate his stellar 2023 season?
When will Pete Crow-Armstrong be up with the Cubs in Chicago?
Will Adbert Alzolay be Cubs’ closer again?
Who will hit leadoff?
How will Christopher Morel fare at third base?