"Alfonso Soriano is having his best spring since becoming a Cub after working out all winter in the Dominican Republic and working with hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo this spring.

"He's cut, he's in great shape, he's ready to go from Day One," manager Mike Quade said. "We had to push him to really get into working out (in left). I ran him into the wall and hurt him once. That was not good."

That happened in the spring of 2008, and Soriano missed a few Cactus League games.

Quade said playing the wall is "one of the difficult things for outfielders — and Wrigley's walls are close, so you spend a lot of time near them — and I just decided we're going to do some wall work. I ran him into the darn thing, and he hurt his wrist. When you're an outfield coach for Lou (Piniella), you're going 'Oh, man, I'm looking for work. (Soriano) might miss a week, and I'm missing the end of the year."

Quade disputed the contention that Soriano is "afraid of the wall.""