CHICAGO — A day after fielding questions about his lack of hustle on a seemingly routine grounder that was mishandled, Alex Bregman launched a three-run homer deep into the left-center field bleachers at Wrigley Field.Normally, that alone would be a feel-good story.However, after being unavailable following Tuesday’s win, Bregman was at his locker prior to Wednesday’s 23-3 victory over the San Diego Padres fielding questions about his swing, his rhythm at the plate and a thumbs-down gesture he made toward his dugout while rounding second base.Cameras also caught Bregman making the gesture after he touched home plate, but it was unclear to whom or where he was directing it.What did that mean?“Nothing,” Bregman responded.Was it directed at anyone in particular?“No,” Bregman said.
Cubs' Alex Bregman gives a thumbs-down sign as he rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run in the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field in Chicago on June 30, 2026.(Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) pic.twitter.com/NctlqZimn5
— Poindexter (@Ahclem53) July 1, 2026Bregman twice showed the thumbs-down gesture on Tuesday night, then posted a picture on Instagram of himself at the plate watching the home-run ball fly, with a thumbs-down emoji below it and Drake’s “Fair Trade” playing in the background.If there’s more to Bregman’s gesture, he’s keeping that to himself.When asked about players having a chip on their shoulder and using negative comments as motivation, manager Craig Counsell didn’t deny its place.“We all find our own ways to be motivated,” Counsell said. “Everybody does that. You can pick all sorts of ways. You can pick the people that love you to motivate you; you can pick the people that doubt you to motivate you. I think we all do both from time to time. Especially those of us that are getting constant feedback on our performance. When you get constant feedback on your performance, you toggle between picking between the lovers and the haters and who’s motivating you.”
