MESA and GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Chicago Cubs became the first big-league team to report to spring training last Sunday, getting an early start on camp ahead of next month’s season-opening trip to Japan.
With a more compressed spring slate due to the mid-March trip, most Cubs pitchers are ahead of where they would typically be at this point in camp. Their first Cactus League game comes Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, who they will face off against at the Tokyo Dome.
While many position players were already in camp, the White Sox will officially hold their first full-squad workout on Monday at Camelback Ranch. The team is gearing up for their Cactus League opener Saturday against the Cubs at Sloan Park.
Every Monday during the spring training, Tribune baseball writers will provide an update on what happened — and what’s ahead — for the Cubs and White Sox.
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Cubs right-hander Javier Assad and infielder Matt Shaw progressing from oblique injuries
Javier Assad isn’t quite sure how the injury occurred.
He initially felt fine after throwing his first bullpen at the Cubs’ complex last week but when he returned home that night Assad started to feel something. Assad remains completely shut down from throwing and is on a rest and strengthening program. Manager Craig Counsell said Saturday that the first step will be for Assad to play catch, which he said is “in sight” for the 27-year-old pitcher.
“Kind of waiting to see how I feel, seeing it day by day,” Assad said through an interpreter. “But so far, I feel better. There’s not exactly a timeline to speak, but everything’s been going well.”
Top prospect Matt Shaw has also been slowed by an oblique issue as the Cubs slowly ramp him up. Shaw, the front-runner to win the starting job at third base, experienced some soreness on his left side after a swing in the batting cage last week. As of Sunday, Shaw had been cleared for running and defense at about 70% intensity and is expected to start hitting and throwing Monday.
“Honestly, I feel really good,” Shaw said. “It’s one of those things where it really wasn’t at the worst time, maybe it’s good just to take a step back with everything that’s going on and take a breath here. So we’ll be rocking and rolling pretty soon.”
Sox pitcher Jairo Iriarte’s motivation level is ‘through the roof’
Last spring was filled with change for Jairo Iriarte.
The right-hander joined a new organization after being acquired by the Sox in March as part of the trade that sent pitcher Dylan Cease to the San Diego Padres.
“The difference (this spring) is now I know everybody here and I feel more comfortable, but I’ve been working the same way and trying to learn as much as I can to improve,” Iriarte told the Tribune through an interpreter on Friday. “I just want to go out and compete.”
Iriarte, 23, has had a nice start to camp. He displayed a lively fastball during a bullpen session on Wednesday at Camelback Ranch. Saturday, he zipped a fastball that dotted the bottom portion of the zone while facing Korey Lee in live batting practice.
“I’m feeling really good,” Iriarte said. “I had a good offseason and I feel ready to compete. I got my body stronger. I worked a lot on my body.
“And I also worked on the command of my pitches. That was something I put a lot of effort into.”
Iriarte pitched for Double-A Birmingham in 2024 before being called up to the majors on Sept. 1. He had a 1.50 ERA in six relief appearances for the Sox.
“It’s just a matter of, at this level, you can’t hesitate — you can’t have any doubt,” Iriarte said. “That was probably the biggest lesson (learned in 2024), that you have to have confidence in yourself 100 percent.”
He made 22 starts and had one relief appearance with the Barons last season. He could be an option for a spot in the Sox rotation this season.
“My motivation level is through the roof,” Iriarte said.
Number of the week
70
After signing outfielder/first baseman Joey Gallo to a minor-league deal with a major-league camp invite on Thursday, the Sox have 70 players at camp. Last spring’s camp high for the club was 72 players.
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This week in Chicago baseball
Cubs
- Thursday: at Dodgers, 2:05 p.m.
- Friday: vs. Dodgers, 2:05 p.m., Marquee
- Saturday: vs. White Sox, 2:05 p.m., Marquee
As their first Cactus League game approaches this week, the Cubs will get a first glimpse of a lineup featuring new slugger Kyle Tucker.
Counsell didn’t want to delve into all the specifics of how he might write out the lineup card this year with Tucker in the fold, but there may be some familiarity at the top of the lineup with Ian Happ potentially filling the lead-off hitter spot.
“Philosophically we’re going to figure it out,” Counsell said.
Tucker will likely slot in as the No. 2 or 3 hitter with Seiya Suzuki possibly being put in the other spot. There could also be some appeal to give Tucker a look at the top of the lineup at some point. It’s something Counsell did with Christian Yelich, who batted first the majority of his last two seasons playing for Counsell and almost exclusively did so in 2023.
Sox
- Saturday: at Cubs, 2:05 p.m., Marquee
- Sunday: at Royals, 2:10 p.m.
Manager Will Venable has noticed “a lot of positive energy” during the first days of Sox camp.
“(We’ve got) guys that seem to be mature beyond their years, that are connected, also,” Venable said Sunday. “That’s been, from the offseason, something that’s really stuck out.
“This group is really connected, which is nice to see — especially as a manager whose part of my job is to get guys connected. They have a head start on that, for sure.”
Venable looks forward to seeing that develop further as the Sox have their first full-squad workout on Monday.
“There’s going to be a lot going on, a lot of moving pieces trying to execute the schedule and get guys through their workouts,” Venable said. “Certainly with some intensity, but also understanding this is the first day and it’s going to be about getting our spikes underneath us and really setting a foundation for what’s ahead here.”
Venable said he would emphasize being ready to go.
“There are things we need to do to be in a position to attack from the first pitch of the game, no matter if you are a hitter or a defender or a pitcher,” Venable said. “That will take some thoughtfulness and some work. We’re here to figure those things out and build that program that is going to get us there.”
Quotable
“This is the best roster I feel like I’ve been a part of going into a season. It feels really exciting.” — Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner
