MESA, Ariz. -- Chicago Cubs top pitching prospect C.J. Edwards is writing a spring training diary for ESPNChicago as he attends his first big league camp. He’ll provide periodic updates about the goings-on both on and off the field. His first entry discussed arriving in Arizona when just the pitchers and catchers reported. Here’s his second installment.

We all got together on the first day (last Thursday) with the owner and the whole team. It was like a dream. I pinched myself, so I knew for a fact I wasn’t dreaming. It’s just amazing, finally. (I'm) not saying I’m in the big leagues, but I’m on this side (major league side) and starting to see things work in my favor.

Then I threw against live hitters for the first time in camp. It was pretty cool. I felt great. My arm feels really good. I have a lot of confidence in all my pitches. My lesson for the day was just to focus on my target -- not to gas people. I just wanted to make sure my command was there. I did get a little adrenaline going. I faced Albert Almora, Christian Villanueva and a few other guys.

The pitching coach (Chris Bosio) was watching me from behind the mound and he was complimenting me. He would say to the catcher, ‘Go up with the target,’ and I would hit the target up. Stuff like that. We would go over scenarios like runner on second, one out, so they want me to pitch inside to a righty or outside to a lefty so they hit it to the left side. It helps out a lot so when you get into a game you already know what to do.

I had a little fingernail problem. Just split it. It didn’t stop me from pitching or anything. It was kind of like a hangnail. Clipped it off and had to put a band-aid on it.

Away from the field we had a little dance off outside here. Addison Russell and I against Dallas Beeler and Justin Grimm to Missy Elliot’s “Music Makes Me Lose control.” Addison and I won easily. It was just to have fun.

Back at home my fiancé is starting to (show more) because we’re having a baby in August. I’ll be a dad. It’s an awesome feeling. And my roommate (Cubs minor leaguer) David Garner got to town so that’s cool. We’ve been playing video games, catching up on lost time and laughing. He’ll be on the minor league side. Looking forward to games coming up. That’s it for now.