ESPN

MESA, Ariz. -- Tony Campana is pretty certain who is the favorite in the first ever Cubs bunt contest.

“I think I am,” Campana said before heading off to take another round of batting practice Wednesday afternoon.

Campana’s teammates aren’t so sure. The speedy outfielder was teased, with teammates letting him know that in this type of contest, his speed can’t save him.

Not only was he ribbed about being a bad bunter who can outrun his mistakes, he was also told that this is about as close as he’s going to get to a home run hitting contest.

Campana soaked it all in, bouncing on the balls of his feet as he talked about the teaching tool/contest that new manager Dale Sveum has put together.

Because there are 63 players in camp, Sveum was added to the bunt tournament field to make it an even 64. When Chris Carpenter was moved to the Boston Red Sox as compensation for Theo Epstein, strength coordinator Tim Buss was added to the field.

The bunt tournament gets underway Thursday, and Sveum estimated that it could take up to two weeks to complete. Indications are that there could be as much as $50 per player placed into the pot for the winner, but players haven’t been so forthcoming with that information.

Sveum is the mastermind of the unique event. It is something he came up with and always wanted to use on the big-level if he ever got the chance to manage.

“A lot of guys lived on the spring training facility in Bradenton (Fla.) so after the workouts we kind of started something,” Sveum said about his days as a minor league manager in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. “I always remembered it and wanted to do something when I took over managing, if I ever managed.

“I thought it would be fun for the team, break things up a little bit and have fun with it. It will get fun especially as it goes on and we get to the Sweet 16.”

So far it has served a purpose far greater than fun. Campana said that in his brief time around big-league spring camps he has never witnessed so many players practicing their bunting.