Cubs react to Fowler's dramatic return

Dexter Fowler shocked the baseball world with his decision to re-sign with the Chicago Cubs on Thursday after reportedly agreeing to a deal with the Baltimore Orioles.

Cubs president Theo Epstein masterminded a surprise team meeting to reveal Fowler to his oblivious teammates, which elicited some hilarious responses from all those involved.

Here's how Cubs players and personnel reacted to the news:

Anthony Rizzo: "I actually congratulated him because he didn't file for unemployment. I'm super excited to have him. Obviously he was one of my favorite guys last year on this team. It's a great addition for us.

"I told him maybe a week or two ago, 'Listen, if you sign back with us and don't tell me and you just show up, I'm not gonna have that.' Obviously, no one knew. It was a pretty cool moment."

David Ross: "I gave Dex a hug and told him, 'Man, I'm gonna miss ya.' I still was off. I was like, 'Wait a minute ...'

"Everybody was looking around kind of dumbfounded. Theo got us all. Theo pulled one over."

Joe Maddon: "I was getting ready to text him to congratulate him (on the Orioles contract). That's when I was told not to do that ... it was pretty spectacular."

Jason Hammel: "I thought for sure it was some circus animal or some weird magician. It beat out the (circus animal).

Kyle Schwarber: "I was like, 'Man, that really does look like Dexter down here. I thought he was with the Orioles.'

Kris Bryant: "I didn't know what Joe (Maddon) was going to bring us, I thought it was going to be something crazy. We'll settle with Dexter."