Cubs announce Opening Day roster, add top prospect Matt Shaw
TOKYO – The Cubs added top prospect Matt Shaw to the Opening Day roster Tuesday, as they announced the full 26-man squad.
The move was expected, with Shaw in line to make his major-league debut Tuesday against the Dodgers at the Tokyo Dome. To clear room on the 40-man roster, the Cubs designated for assignment reliever Keegan Thompson, who did not make the trip to Japan. They optioned Daniel Palencia, who appeared in the Cubs’ Sunday exhibition game against the Yomiuri Giants, to Triple-A.
The Cubs put right-hander Javier Assad (strained left oblique) on the 15-day IL, as anticipated.
The Cubs did not select reliever Brad Keller, who made the travel roster as a non-roster invitee. If he is not on the roster before the end of camp, he could trigger the opt-out in his contract.
Starters Jameson Taillon and Matt Boyd, who each pitched at least four innings Sunday, are not on the 26-man roster and cannot appear in the Tokyo Series. But they – and second baseman Nico Hoerner, who stayed in Arizona to continue his ramp-up after offseason forearm surgery – occupy roster spots 27-29, a special designation for the early overseas series.
Here’s the full 26-man Opening Day roster:
Starting pitchers (2):
LHP Shota Imanaga
LHP Justin Steele
Relievers (11)
RHP Ryan Pressly
RHP Porter Hodge
RHP Ryan Brasier
RHP Eli Morgan
RHP Nate Pearson
RHP Julian Merryweather
RHP Tyson Miller
RHP Colin Rea
RHP Ben Brown
LHP Caleb Thielbar
LHP Jordan Wicks
Infielders (7)
1B Michael Busch
2B/UTL Jon Berti
SS Dansby Swanson
3B Matt Shaw (NRI)
1B/DH Justin Turner
UTL Vidal Bruján
UTL Gage Workman
Outfielders (4)
LF Ian Happ
CF Pete Crow-Armstrong
RF Kyle Tucker
DH/OF Seiya Suzuki