The Chicago Cubs shall be touring to Japan on Tuesday and for at the least the primary two common season video games in opposition to the Los Angeles Dodgers the thriller on the bench has been answered. Rule 5 draft decide Gage Workman and former top-50 prospect Vidal Bruján will each be making the journey abroad, which just about locks up the place group for the Cubs.
Nevertheless, there may be one spot up for grabs and a day earlier than the group finalizes its roster choices it seems as if it’s between two of the group’s high prospects, Matt Shaw or Kevin Alcántara. Meghan Montemurro, the Cubs beat reporter for the Chicago Tribune, famous on Monday that the Cubs are telling the 2 prospects to be ready for Japan.
Cubs aren’t asserting any Japan roster choices till tomorrow, eager to get by way of in the present day’s Cactus League sport to ensure there are not any accidents.
Gamers who’re on the bubble, like Matt Shaw & Kevin Alcántara, have been advised to pack & prep in case they’re on the roster. Cubs depart tomorrow.
— Meghan Montemurro (@mmontemurro.bsky.social) March 10, 2025 at 12:06 PM
The Cubs reporter talked about on Sunday that the ultimate place participant on the energetic roster for the journey to Japan was basically right down to Shaw or Alcántara after the group’s most up-to-date cuts in spring coaching. Among the many gamers who didn’t make the group was veteran infielder Nicky Lopez. The left-handed hitter signed a minor league deal and was a non-roster invitee to spring coaching.
Lopez, who was having a powerful exhibiting in Cactus League play for the Cubs, does have an opt-out in his deal, so he could look towards a possibility elsewhere later this month fairly than stick round at Triple-A with the Cubs to start out the 2025 season.
The choice may simply come right down to how assured the Cubs really feel Shaw is able to play in actual video games. His indirect situation sidelined him for the primary couple weeks of spring coaching video games and heading into Monday Shaw had a complete of 13 plate appearances within the Cactus League.
There’s additionally the possibility that each Shaw and Alcántara make the trek to Japan, however perhaps considered one of them isn’t truly on the energetic roster.
So, let’s take a shot at projecting the 26-man energetic roster for the video games in Japan. I suppose we’ll add some extra names as a result of as a reminder the Cubs and Dodgers will take 31 whole gamers, giving either side a five-player taxi squad as backup in case of accidents.
One other reminder, Nico Hoerner is staying again in Arizona, the place he’ll proceed to rehab from his flexor tendon surgical procedure. The Cubs are hoping Hoerner shall be prepared by the top of the month, when the common season throughout MLB begins.
I’ll listing these out because the projected starters after which the 4 guys on the bench, plus the couple place gamers that is likely to be on the taxi squad.
Catcher:
Miguel Amaya
Infielders
Michael Busch, Jon Berti, Dansby Swanson, Matt Shaw
Outfielders
Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Kyle Tucker, Seiya Suzuki
Bench
Carson Kelly, Justin Turner, Gage Workman, Vidal Bruján
Taxi Squad
Reese McGuire, Kevin Alcántara
You gotta have that emergency catcher round simply in case, so Reese McGuire almost certainly makes the journey and as I stated above perhaps Alcántara is alongside for the experience in addition to backup for the outfield.
Looks like spring coaching simply began, however due to these video games in Japan the Cubs need to make some severe roster decisions sooner than the conventional yr. Clearly, proper now all eyes are on Shaw and if he’ll be deemed prepared to start out at third base in opposition to the Dodgers on March 18.
