Get Ready, Cubs Nation! 2025 Opening Day Roster Takes Shape in Thrilling Fashion

One week today, the Cubs — or, more correctly, a bunch of guys wearing Cubs uniforms — will take the field at Camelback Ranch to face the Dodgers. Most likely, even if there are a handful of everyday Cubs regulars in the lineup, by the fifth inning they’ll be replaced by guys who will probably spend 2025 in Double-A.

Since I last did this a few weeks ago, the Cubs have added some players to the roster, guys who almost certainly will be on the team’s 26-man roster. One important note for this article: This is intended to be a look at the 26-man roster that will take the field for the Cubs against the Diamondbacks as they open the North American portion of the 2025 season at Chase Field March 27. The roster that will open the season March 18 in Tokyo against the Dodgers will be larger (probably 29 players) and might have some players who won’t be in Chase Field on March 27.

Now that Alex Bregman is a member of the Boston Red Sox and won’t be a Cub, perhaps we have a bit more clarity on certain things for the Opening Day roster.

Got all that? Here goes!

Catchers (2)

Miguel Amaya, Carson Kelly

There’s no question about these two, barring injury. Let’s hope they both have fine 2025 seasons behind the plate and at bat.

Infielders (6)

Michael Busch, Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson, Matt Shaw, Jon Berti, Gage Workman

I put Workman here only because if he shows well enough in Spring Training, I suspect the team is going to want to keep him around. It’s possible that Vidal Bruján would make it instead of Workman, or the Cubs will sign Justin Turner. (The latter, I put here only because of recent rumors, noted in that link. I don’t think it will happen.)

Outfielders (5)

Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Kyle Tucker, Seiya Suzuki, Alexander Canario

Canario is the wild card here — he has only 45 MLB plate appearances, though he hit fairly well in that small sample size (.286/.333/.524 with two home runs). And he batted .243/.336/.514 with 18 home runs in only 64 games at Triple-A Iowa.

I suppose it’s possible someone will come out of the non-roster list to make the team, or the Cubs could sign someone else. But most likely, this is Canario’s time. Also, we now know that Canario has been getting reps at first base and possibly could be used as a backup for Busch.

Suzuki, of course, will mostly DH, and occasionally play left field or right field to give Happ or Tucker a break.

Starting pitchers (5)

Shōta Imanaga, Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon, Matthew Boyd, Colin Rea

Imanaga will likely start the first Cubs game in Tokyo, and one of the North American openers as well.

I’ve got Rea in there as fifth starter, though certainly there are other possibilities, some of whom will wind up in the bullpen.

Relief pitchers (8)

Ryan Pressly, Porter Hodge, Ryan Brasier, Javier Assad, Eli Morgan, Caleb Thielbar, Tyson Miller, Nate Pearson

Here’s where you are likely going to disagree with me on several of these selections. Pearson could wind up at Iowa stretched out to start (though I think he’s of more use to the team in the bullpen). Luke Little, if healthy, might make this bullpen. I’ve left off Julian Merryweather, who’s been a useful reliever previously. Thielbar is mostly listed because he’s lefthanded and, well, gotta have at least one of those.

Ben Brown, Cody Poteet and Keegan Thompson could all make this pen. All have MLB experience relieving. The Cubs have other MLB-experienced relievers on the 40-man roster, including Gavin Hollowell and Daniel Palencia, and non-roster guys Phil Bickford, Trevor Richards and Brandon Hughes all have at least an outside chance to make it.

It’ll be interesting to see which of these pitchers come to Japan. Remember that the Cubs are also playing two exhibition games against NPB teams in Tokyo, so they’ll be able to get some innings for guys who won’t play in the two games vs. the Dodgers.