MESA, Ariz. -- Garrett Cooper was not sure which direction this spring would take him. The former All-Star signed a non-roster Minor League deal with the Cubs to get into a camp, start racking up at-bats and compete for a job. He also understood it could serve as an audition for other teams.

As it turned out, Cooper made the Cubs’ Opening Day roster.

“You feel like a kid again, getting that phone call,” Cooper said on Saturday.

Given the makeup of Chicago’s roster, plus an injury to corner infielder Patrick Wisdom, Cooper will be added before Opening Day to offer a veteran bat who can handle first base and DH duties. Cooper is especially adept at attacking left-handed pitching, which will be useful for manager Craig Counsell.

The initial thought was that Wisdom, one of Chicago’s top power threats, could serve as a versus-lefties weapon for the corner infield spots or the DH role. Wisdom also has experience in the outfield. Right now, though, Wisdom is working his way back from a back issue that will land him on the injured list to start the year and keep him out until “mid-April” at the earliest, per Counsell.

• Cubs' injury updates

That situation played a role in creating a clearer path to the Opening Day roster for Cooper.

“Garrett kind of proved this spring he is what he's been as a player and as a hitter,” Counsell said. “It fills kind of a role on the team we feel like fits in to complement some other players.”

Through 10 Cactus League games this spring, the 33-year-old Cooper has two homers, four walks and five RBIs in 30 plate appearances. Cooper said he has been focusing on hitting adjustments made over the winter with the help of hitting coach Mike Brumley, who has also worked with Dansby Swanson.

Cooper, a veteran of seven MLB seasons with the Yankees, Marlins and Padres, felt he was too worried about his mechanics when in the batter’s box last season, leading to a “tailspin” offensively. The first baseman hit .251 with 17 homers, 61 RBIs and a .724 OPS in 123 games between Miami and San Diego in 2023.

“I had a lot of good years in Miami,” Cooper said. “It stinks that the last year that I had there was probably my worst year. And I think that's more my fault for worrying so much about what I'm doing at the plate rather than just going out and playing.”

Within his overall showing last season, Cooper did hit .324 with a .904 OPS in 112 plate appearances against left-handed pitching. For his career, the right-handed hitter has posted an .816 OPS off lefties compared to a .756 OPS against righties. With the Cubs, Cooper looks like a good option to pair with lefty-hitting first baseman Michael Busch.

Cooper is just happy that his opportunity is going to come with the Cubs to start the season.

“It shows that you did something right throughout spring,” Cooper said. “I carried myself in a way that maybe the front office and coaching staff noticed -- putting together good at-bats, playing the field, DH’ing, doing all the things that they asked and that I worked on this offseason. … I'm just grateful that it translated into actually happening, and I'm excited to get going.”

Worth noting
• Counsell noted on Saturday that Ian Happ’s left hamstring issue from earlier this spring is “not quite behind him,” explaining the outfielder’s absence from the starting lineup over the last couple spring games. Counsell did not, however, sound concerned about Happ’s status for Opening Day.

“We're spending a couple of days just doing some different running with Happ,” Counsell said. “Kind of, he's plateaued. Obviously, he's playing and he's going to play again on Monday. But we're trying to just get him over this plateau with some running. It's kind of more exerted running off the field than in the games.”

• Right-hander Ben Brown (Cubs No. 11 prospect, per MLB Pipeline) logged four shutout innings in the Cubs’ 7-4 loss to the Brewers on Saturday. That gave the righty a 0.64 ERA with 12 strikeouts and five walks in 14 Cactus League innings this spring for Chicago, who optioned him to Triple-A Iowa on March 8.

“Generally, when we get excited about young pitching prospects, it’s stuff,” Counsell said earlier this spring. “Ben sits in that category. Then the next hurdle for, really, all players is just go get people out, go perform. Do that, and he’ll knock the door down, for sure. And we’ll be asking about him soon. Really soon.”

• With Carl Edwards Jr. opting out of his Minor League contract, the last two bullpen spots appear to be down to José Cuas, Luke Little and Hayden Wesneski.

• With Cooper, outfielder Mike Tauchman and catcher Miguel Amaya in the Opening Day plans, the last two bench jobs look to be between infielder Nick Madrigal, utility man Miles Mastrobuoni and outfielder Alexander Canario.