Jason Heyward hasn't taken his normal amount of time off this offseason so that he can work on fixing his swing.

"It's easier said than done trying to do it in season," Heyward said. "The offseason allows you to slow things down and focus on all the little things."

Heyward has been aided by coach Eric Hinske and with frequent visits from hitting coach John Mallee. They are trying to find the stroke that allowed him to hit 27 home runs with the Atlanta Braves in 2012.

"He's trying to mirror the swing he had then," Mallee said. "Right now the path is not the same it was then. It's not making a change. It's getting him back to who he was."

Heyward hit .230/.306/.325 for the Cubs in 2016.