Kyle Schwarber will catch for the Chicago Cubs on a limited basis this spring.

The 23-year-old reported to camp with pitchers and catchers on Tuesday though he'll mostly be a left fielder when the team opens the 2017 season.

"We're really going to go slow with it," Theo Epstein said. "His primary focus is to be a left fielder. ... His future is too valuable. He has such a great impact with his bat and the person that he is we don't want to do anything that can jeopardize the length of his career."

Schwarber returned early from knee surgery to help the Cubs win the 2016 World Series. He went 7-for-17 after missing all but the first three games of the regular season due to an outfield collision.