This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian's Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
MESA, Ariz. -- Vidal Bruján unloaded on the pitch, watched it soar deep over Sloan Park’s left field and hopped out of the batter’s box before shifting into a trot.
The home run hop had a familiar look to it -- and that was intentional.
Moments earlier on Tuesday afternoon, Bruján was sitting in the dugout with Cubs icon Sammy Sosa, who was offering feedback on his swing. Bruján -- a native of Sosa’s birthplace, San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic -- then sent a fifth-inning pitch to the berm and paid tribute to the legendary slugger with the hop.
“Yes, yes, that was done because of the tips that he gave me,” Bruján said in Spanish.
Bruján was born in 1998, when Sosa belted 66 home runs for the Cubs en route to winning the National League’s MVP trophy. The utility man may not have vivid memories of Sosa’s career, but he grew up hearing the stories and understood what it meant to have Chicago’s all-time home run king in camp.
Sosa and the Cubs smoothed things over this past winter, ending a 21-year hiatus for the slugger. He was announced as an inductee for the team’s Hall of Fame at Cubs Convention in January and invited to come to Spring Training as a guest instructor. Sosa arrived in time for Tuesday’s 4-2 win and was available for hitters during Wednesday’s morning workout.
"Honestly that’s going to help so many ballplayers,” Bruján said. “It’s a good option to have close. I understand that it’s a good sign and good example to have, because of the talent that he had. We have a lot of respect for him, which is important.”
Sosa said he watched Bruján’s first plate appearance (a strikeout) on Tuesday and felt the utility man -- trying to win a spot on the bench for the Cubs -- was “jumping” too much in his swing. Bruján noted that Sosa told him tips for “charging the pitch,” including staying firm in the box with his back leg.
“I said, ‘Stay back, use the back leg and keep your head there,’” Sosa said. “And we say, ‘Bring the swagger.’ And then he hit that. He listened to me and he got it done.”
Cubs hitting coach Dustin Kelly laughed when asked about Bruján belting a home run after one short chat with Sosa.
“I might have to really dig in on what he said,” Kelly quipped.
Added manager Craig Counsell: “I hope it’s that easy.”
As for that signature Sosa hop, Slammin’ Sammy felt it displayed Bruján finding a comfort zone.
“I feel that was release from him,” Sosa said. “Most players come here trying to make the team and they have a little bit of pressure instead of believing in themselves. When you have a plan and you go to the plate, it’s going to happen. Everybody has talent.
“The thing that makes it go a different direction is when you pressure yourself and you want to hit two home runs in one at-bat. He was happy. He was released. He was comfortable. And I’m here to continue to help him and everyone.”