Cubs’ defense remains a priority after significant improvement in 2020

MESA, Ariz. — Spring training is in full swing, and with games beginning next week, the Cubs took the opportunity to work on their defense for the first time in a group workout Wednesday.

One of the things manager David Ross wanted to improve when he was hired after the 2019 season was the Cubs’ defense, and he did. The Cubs won the team Gold Glove Award last season, and drills that often are considered an afterthought in the spring helped them take their defense to another level.

‘‘It is exciting,’’ Ross said. ‘‘It was nice, clean, crisp. I’m kind of like a sucker for a good infield [drill] at the big-league level. These guys, just watching them throw the ball and move around out there, the…