Deadspin | Reports: Cubs missing key pieces for Japan series

Apr 10, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (2) smiles after hitting game winning single against the Seattle Mariners during the 10th inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner will not travel to Japan for next month’s season-opening two-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, ESPN reported Thursday.

Hoerner, 27, still is recovering from surgery in October to repair a flexor tendon in his right forearm and will remain in Arizona to continue his rehab.

The report of Hoerner’s unavailability for the March 18-19 series in Tokyo comes one day after Chicago’s 670 The Score reported that top prospect and potential starting third baseman Matt Shaw won’t make the trip either.

Shaw, 23, sustained an oblique injury early in spring training and there’s reportedly “no way he’s going to be ready to go there and compete.”

Following the international series, Chicago has time for both players to get healthy before a four-game road series against the Arizona Diamondbacks from March 27-30.

Hoerner batted .273 with seven homers, 35 doubles, 48 RBIs and 31 stolen bases in 151 games with the Cubs last season. He won a Gold Glove award at second base in 2023.

A first-round pick by Chicago in 2018, Hoerner is a career .278 hitter with 29 homers, 217 RBIs and 102 steals in 548 games since making his debut in 2019.

Shaw, the Cubs’ first-round pick in 2023, has yet to make his major league debut. He batted .284 with 21 homers, 71 RBIs and 31 steals in 121 games in 2024 between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa.

Veteran Justin Turner, signed this month to a one-year deal, becomes the likely starter at the hot corner with Shaw sidelined. The Cubs could turn to Jon Berti or Vidal Brujan at second base.

–Field Level Media