Chicago Cubs news and notes, — Palencia, Counsell, Hoerner

Ryan O’Rourke (Cubbies Crib) Cubs prospect Pedro Ramirez continues to hit new heights in his breakout campaign. “The young infielder is knocking on the door after a strong start to the season.”

Casey McAleer (Da Windy City): Nico Hoerner injury update shows how much Cubs rely on their offensive engine. “Chicago may have avoided a worst case scenario, but his absence still carries weight …… Hoerner’s absence immediately impacts the Cubs’ ability to produce, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. Hoerner hasn’t just been important in theory, he’s been one of the most consistent pieces in real time.”

Steve Greenberg (Chicago Sun-Times {$}): Cubs’ challenge starts with real-deal Reds in formidable NL Central. “The Reds’ own 20-12 start should be turning heads around the league considering their top two SPs — flame-throwing ace Hunter Greene and lefty Nick Lodolo — have yet to appear in a game.”

Tom Domol (Cubs Insider) Craig Counsell’s Managerial Masterclass Has Cubs Clicking. “Counsell has had to squeeze every last pitch out of a litany of relievers, many of whom have been added to the roster as emergency replacements. The usage of surprise contributors like Ryan Rolison, Corbin Martin, and Riley Martin has shifted the tide of this campaign exponentially.

Paul Magno (ChiCitySports): Daniel Palencia kills it in rehab outing, topping out at 102 mph. “Palencia came into the game in the fifth and pitched a scoreless two-thirds of an inning. In the outing, he struck out one, allowed one hit, and threw 14 of 19 pitches for strikes. His velocity ranged from 100-102 mph in the appearance.”

Aldo Soto (Sports Mockery): Chicago Cubs Got First-Hand Proof How They Dodged Bullet in Free Agency. “On Friday, the Cubs got first-hand proof that despite being desperate for arms, they dodged a bullet by not signing Zac Gallen in Free Agency.

Casey McAller (Da Windy City): Cubs have clear path to series win against Diamondbacks at home. “Chicago’s offense and home field advantage create opportunity against inconsistent Arizona club ….. This is a series the Cubs should control at Wrigley.”

Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): Busch returning to form with productive at-bats as calendar turns to May. “The Cubs have been waiting for Michael Busch to really find his rhythm in the batter’s box this season.”

Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Why Kyle Hendricks joined the Tigers, not the Cubs, as a special assistant. “Kyle Hendricks returning to the Chicago Cubs in a different capacity seemed like a natural next step ….. With a young family, financial security and a Dartmouth degree, the extent to which Hendricks wanted to stay involved in the game was unclear.”