Sunday, February 23

Welcome back to the Cubs Beat newsletter. Jordan Bastian has covered baseball for MLB.com since 2005, including the Cubs since the 2019 season.

MESA, Ariz. -- The Cubs’ position players are not required to be in Spring Training camp until Friday, but the bulk of the roster already has been roaming the practice fields at the team’s Arizona complex. That includes the Gold Glove-caliber middle-infield combo of shortstop Dansby Swanson and second baseman Nico Hoerner.

Swanson and Hoerner underwent October procedures for different ailments, but both have arrived ready for the first full-squad workout to varying degrees. Swanson is not expected to miss any time, while Hoerner’s comeback schedule makes it harder to predict whether he will be available for the start of the season (either the March 18-19 Tokyo Series against the Dodgers or the March 27 domestic opener against the D-backs).

“I’m not focused, nor is Nico focused, on, ‘I’m ready for this game or that game,’” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “He’s not going to miss much, if at all. That’s what I’d say. I’m confident in that. What Nico and I have talked about is stacking good days. Just keep on stacking good days, because when you look too far forward, you kind of forget about today.

“You stack a bunch of good days up, and that day’s going to be sooner than we all think. That’s what’s happened so far. The news has been all good so far.”

Hoerner underwent surgery on Oct. 11 to address a flexor tendon injury in his right forearm that hindered his throwing last season. In these early days of Cubs camp, Counsell said the second baseman has advanced to soft toss in his hitting program and continues to build his arm strength up in a throwing progression.

“Right now, we have to be very disciplined about his throwing,” Counsell said. “He’s still in a throwing program. And his swings, we’re prescribing numbers in those areas -- a number of swings. It’s not just, ‘Go hit today.’ We’re very carefully prescribing everything. We’re still in that stage of it.”

Swanson had core muscle surgery in October to correct an issue that he has said first flared in 2023 and persisted again throughout last season. Counsell said the Cubs will take a conservative approach with the shortstop in the early part of Spring Training.

“Dansby’s healthy. He’s out here doing everything,” Counsell said. “I think we’ll probably be a little careful just with his ramp-up. But I think we would probably go slow with Dansby, anyway. He’s going to be good to go. We just want him to run around out here a couple extra days as he kind of ramps up intensity.”

Counsell noted that one of the goals with Hoerner’s rehab is to get him back to a place where he feels comfortable and strong enough to serve as Swanson’s backup shortstop. Prior to Swanson’s arrival to the Cubs, Hoerner played short at an elite level before shifting to second, where he won a Gold Glove in ’23. His ability to play short would help the roster’s flexibility.

“I want Nico to be able to play shortstop, and he wants to be able to play shortstop when needed,” Counsell said. “So my goal for this -- and I think Nico’s goal, as well -- is to get him to that point. That’s important.”

• Counsell said Cubs top prospect Matt Shaw (No. 19 in MLB Pipeline’s overall rankings) will get “the first shot” at winning the vacancy at third base.

• Ben Brown is “fully operational” this spring after his neck issue last year, per Counsell. Brown is vying for a rotation or bullpen job.

• Counsell described this as an “important” spring for outfielder Alexander Canario. Out of Minor League options, Canario is competing for a bench spot.

• Righty Nate Pearson will be stretched to handle multiple innings, but he is not being considered as a potential starting pitcher, per Counsell.

• Righty Brandon Birdsell (the organization’s No. 20 prospect) is sidelined with a back/lat issue. There is no timetable for his return.

• Righty Cody Poteet (acquired from the Yankees in the Cody Bellinger deal) is viewed as a depth piece for the rotation.

The Cubs unveiled their 2025 promotional schedule this week, giving the first look at the giveaways, theme nights and other offers coming to home games at Wrigley Field this year. One of the first questions fans want to know: Who is getting the bobblehead treatment?

The Cubs plan five bobblehead giveaways:

• April 19 vs. D-backs: Pete Crow-Armstrong

• April 26 vs. Phillies: Clark the Cub

• June 1 vs. Reds: Shota Imanaga

• June 22 vs. Mariners: Michael Busch

• Aug. 3 vs. Orioles: Greg Maddux

Visit cubs.com/specials to take a look at the full promo schedule. Single-game tickets are set to go on sale on Feb. 21. In the meantime, a presale registration opportunity is available through Tuesday.

• Shota’s sophomore season is set to begin in Tokyo. Read more >> 

• Porter Hodge has an experienced mentor in Ryan Pressly. Read more >>

• Javier Assad shut down due to ‘mild’ oblique strain. Read more >>

• Way too early look at Cubs’ Opening Day roster. Read more >>

“I think it's healthy to have a sense of urgency. I think that's the right way to show up in camp. I think it's OK to voice expectations. I think we have a really good group of guys, and I think it's time for us to put that on the field and make a run in the playoffs. I don't think it should stress anyone out.” -- Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon

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