Notes: Christian Yelich, Lorenzo Cain get to stop talking about being Brewers and go play

PHOENIX - Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich weren't on the same field Friday but made their debuts as the Milwaukee Brewers played split-squad games to open Cactus League play.

The ballyhooed outfield acquisitions finally got to stop talking about joining the team and go out and play. And it was a nice first day as the Brewers won both games, defeating the Chicago Cubs, 2-1, at Maryvale Baseball Park and the San Francisco Giants, 6-5, in Scottsdale.

Cain went 2 for 2 in his only trips to the plate against the Giants.

"It's early and all I'm really focused on is coming out of the game early," said Cain, who signed a five-year, $80 million deal as a free agent. "But two knocks today. I didn't hit them like I wanted to, but I'll take it.

"The main goal is the same. Just get ready for the season. Whatever happens in spring happens in spring, whether you hit .400 or .200, your main goal is to make sure you're completely healthy for the season because that's when the real grind starts."

Facing nothing but lefties, the left-handed-hitting Yelich went 1 for 3 with a pair of strikeouts against the Cubs. 

"It's good to get the first one out of the way and try to knock some of the rust off," said Yelich, acquired in a blockbuster trade with Miami. "It was the first time out there with a new team and a new group of guys, so it was exciting. Somehow, I managed to get a hit. That was nice. 

"You're just working yourself back into baseball shape. It was good to be back out there."

With the focus on Cain and Yelich since the Brewers acquired them within hours of each other on Jan. 25, manager Craig Counsell said he was sure they were glad for the games to start and get on with it.

"For everything that's new, you cross a hurdle and then it gets a little more normal," Counsell said. "Now they probably both think they can ease into the routine of spring, and the ramp-up of swing.

"They're probably most happy that the day is over because we can move on to other news stories."

Ramping up: While Ryan Braun was the lone position player to not see action in the Brewers' split-squad games, he'll be out there plenty beginning next week and mostly at first base in the early going.

With a glut of outfielders, the Brewers are hoping Braun can play well enough at first to be a right-handed-hitting option behind Eric Thames. He hasn't played on the infield since his rookie season in 2007 when he came up as a third baseman, but Counsell said so far, so good with Braun during workouts.

"The physical stuff, he's got it," Counsell said. "There are no worries at all about his actions. We have to get through receiving throws, running to the bag, how far he can get from the bag. Things like that, you have to experience in a game at game speed. That's why the more action he can get at first base will benefit him.

"I actually kind of want mistakes to happen here because generally, those are the plays that make you think 'I can do better' or 'I can do this differently next time.' There's part of you that kind of wants to see him put in those uncomfortable situations because he'll correct them. I'm very confident in that.

"More things happening to him is what you want. That's how you learn."

Fitting in: First baseman Ji-Man Choi, who signed a minor-league deal in January with an invitation to camp, has fit right in with an engaging personality and sense of humor. His interpreter is Daniel Cho, who already had been hired by the Brewers to run the video operation at Class AAA Colorado Springs.

“I love it,” Choi said of the Brewers’ camp. “The manager and coaches are relatively young, and the players are easy-going and fun. I enjoy that part of it.

“Speaking with teammates isn’t a problem. Even if we have a miscommunication, it’s fun, just being with them.”

Choi, 26, has little chance of making the club, especially with Braun getting action at first base. He signed with the Brewers knowing Eric Thames was the No. 1 first baseman and that Jesús Aguilar did nice work as the backup last year.

“There’s competition at any level so I’m not too worried about that,” he said. “I feel like it’s going to be a battle anywhere I go.”

Choi spent most of last season playing for the New York Yankees’ Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre affiliate, batting .288 with 15 home runs, 25 doubles and 69 RBI in .288. At the least, he gives great depth at first base but Counsell also said he’d see action in left field.

“He's an interesting player,” Counsell said. “He had a very good season last year. He had a brief big-league thing that didn't work out (with the Angels in 2016), a look that didn't last long, but he had a great Triple-A season last year.” 

Choi displayed a great sense of humor, joking that Thames “is more popular than me in Korea.” He also said he hasn’t mentioned the homer he hit off Junior Guerra while briefly up with the Yankees last season.

“He doesn’t act like he knows me,” Choi said with a smile.