Cubs Answer Mystery on Bench Leaving One Spot Up for Grabs

The Chicago Cubs will be traveling to Japan on Tuesday and for at least the first two regular season games against the Los Angeles Dodgers the mystery on the bench has been answered. Rule 5 draft pick Gage Workman and former top-50 prospect Vidal Bruján will both be making the trip overseas, which pretty much locks up the position group for the Cubs.

However, there is one spot up for grabs and a day before the team finalizes its roster decisions it appears as though it's between two of the organization's top prospects, Matt Shaw or Kevin Alcántara. Meghan Montemurro, the Cubs beat reporter for the Chicago Tribune, noted on Monday that the Cubs are telling the two prospects to be prepared for Japan.

Cubs aren’t announcing any Japan roster decisions until tomorrow, wanting to get through today’s Cactus League game to make sure there are no injuries. Players who are on the bubble, like Matt Shaw & Kevin Alcántara, have been told 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 mentioned on Sunday that the final position player on the active roster for the trip to Japan was essentially down to Shaw or Alcántara after the team's most recent cuts in spring training. Among the players who did not make the team was veteran infielder Nicky Lopez. The left-handed hitter signed a minor league deal and was a non-roster invitee to spring training.

Lopez, who was having a strong showing in Cactus League play for the Cubs, does have an opt-out in his deal, so he may look toward an opportunity elsewhere later this month rather than stick around at Triple-A with the Cubs to start the 2025 season.

The decision might just come down to how confident the Cubs feel Shaw is ready to play in real games. His oblique issue sidelined him for the first couple weeks of spring training games and heading into Monday Shaw had a total of 13 plate appearances in the Cactus League.

There's also the chance that both Shaw and Alcántara make the trek to Japan, but maybe one of them isn't actually on the active roster.

So, let's take a shot at projecting the 26-man active roster for the games in Japan. I guess we'll add some additional names because as a reminder the Cubs and Dodgers will take 31 total players, giving each side a five-player taxi squad as backup in case of injuries.

Another reminder, Nico Hoerner is staying back in Arizona, where he'll continue to rehab from his flexor tendon surgery. The Cubs are hoping Hoerner will be ready by the end of the month, when the regular season across MLB begins.

I'll list these out as the projected starters and then the four guys on the bench, plus the couple position players that might 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 around just in case, so Reese McGuire most likely makes the trip and as I said above maybe Alcántara is along for the ride as well as backup for the outfield.

Seems like spring training just started, but because of these games in Japan the Cubs have to make some serious roster choices earlier than the normal year. Obviously, right now all eyes are on Shaw and if he'll be deemed ready to start at third base against the Dodgers on March 18.