Cubs Nuggets: Spring Training Tidbits from First Weekend of Camp

I took some time off to head home for my parents’ 50th anniversary celebration, and now I’m trying to catch up on some of the news from the weekend. Nothing really struck me as being big enough to deserve a whole column on its own, so I figured a few quick hitters would help me get back in a groove.

Matt Shaw‘s oblique issue should be a non-factor

Just a day after it was revealed that Matt Shaw was dealing with a minor oblique issue suffered while taking swings in camp, he said he’d been cleared for full activity. That comes with a slight caveat, as he was limited to around 70% effort for a while, but it’s good that he’s been out there getting his work in. He’s still on pace to be the team’s Opening Day third baseman.

“We’ll be rockin’ and rollin’ here pretty soon,” he told reporters on Sunday.

As a little aside, things aren’t looking so great in Red Sox camp after Boston signed Alex Bregman for three years and $120 million. Bregman would have displaced Shaw had the Cubs won out on his services, but it doesn’t sound like that will be as simple with Rafael Devers installed at the hot corner for the Sawx.

“It’s my decision,” Devers told media members. “My position is third base. Whatever it is they want to do is what they want to do. But my position is third base.”

Meanwhile, Shaw was all smiles while getting advice from Mark Grace and Shawon Dunston. The former Cubs shortstop and No. 1 overall pick told Shaw he was rooting for him to win Rookie of the Year. It was cool to see all the 80s/90s-era Cubs together too.

From one generation to the next. ? pic.twitter.com/8862HeE2ac

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) February 15, 2025

Seiya Suzuki‘s DH role

This was a major topic earlier in the winter when it seemed as though Suzuki’s shift to DH might have caused a rift that would see him traded out of Chicago. Craig Counsell squashed that during CubsCon and addressed it further over the weekend.

“We both talked about it at the end of the year,” Counsell said. “I put it on myself, just doing a better job with talking to him. Sometimes, the language barrier makes you lazy, unfortunately. That’s on me. I got to get way better at that. And will. That’s something that I promised Seiya.”

Suzuki should still get some time in the outfield depending on the situation, though his offensive production last year was better when he was the DH. That could be a matter of not having his defensive miscues in his head. While I readily admit that it might just be a matter of revisionist history, he often looked distracted or unfocused in the outfield. Whatever the case, it doesn’t sound like his role will be an issue.

“My job is to give it my all to whatever my job calls for,” he said through interpreter Edwin Stanberry. “So if it is to DH, if it is to play the field, I’m giving my best.”

King Tuck hitting all the right notes

Kyle Tucker is fitting in nicely and understands the opportunity he’s got in Chicago, both for this season and his career as a whole after 2025.

“That’s our goal, to get to the World Series and win. We want to come out and win games and play at a high level and have a lot of fun doing it.”

“You don’t treat [The Japan Series] like a vacation…We’re there to play a few games and win them.”

“Whenever we did play in Chicago, I would always get the deep dish because I feel like it’s the best.”

Nico Hoerner‘s recovery

Though he has yet to make full-effort throws in the field, Hoerner has played a little catch and feels like he’s ahead of where he thought he’d be back when he had forearm surgery in October.

PCA’s hair

Pete Crow-Armstrong showcased a new hairdo that’s equal parts Slim Shady and Dennis Rodman. The centerfielder can certainly impact the game from the defensive side of things, so that part tracks.

A star-studded cut for PCA ? pic.twitter.com/mRwLsCi3P6

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) February 13, 2025

My girlfriend’s little sister is not a hairstylist, but she’s a tattoo artist so she’s a very good drawer,” PCA explained. “She’s artistically very strong, so she kinda egged me on and I gave in to some blue stars. But it’s as simple as that. I had no plans, no prior intentions to go do this.”

Honorable mention

• Shota Imanaga‘s hoops skills
• Ryno loving life
• Owen Caissie looks like a 16U player who won a drawing to participate at big league camp