{"id":529040,"date":"2026-03-09T15:20:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T15:20:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/529040\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T15:20:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T15:20:11","slug":"rosters-are-shaping-up-for-the-cubs-and-sox-and-the-world-baseball-classic-heats-up-chicago-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/529040\/","title":{"rendered":"Rosters are shaping up for the Cubs and Sox \u2014 and the World Baseball Classic heats up \u2013 Chicago Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Cubs have reached their first off day of the spring, a timely arrival with the absence of eight 40-man roster players at the World Baseball Classic<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Roster cuts are starting to take place<\/a> for the Sox. They made 10 moves Friday, followed by optioning pitcher Tanner McDougal to Triple-A Charlotte and reassigning pitcher Noah Schultz to minor-league camp on Saturday. They have 55 players remaining in camp.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose guys were outstanding,\u201d Sox manager Will Venable said of McDougal and Schultz on Saturday. \u201cBoth of them did a great job. We talked early in camp about using this to build a foundation for a long, healthy and productive season. They did a great job of doing that and then saw what they did on the mound.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor young guys to be out there and have that presence, a feel for the zone, a feel for their pitches, it was great to see.\u201d<\/p>\n

Every Monday during spring training, Tribune baseball writers will provide an update on what happened \u2014 and what\u2019s ahead \u2014 for the Cubs<\/a> and White Sox<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Want the latest baseball news? Subscribe to the Chicago Tribune<\/a> to read it all \u2014 and sign up for our Cubs Insider<\/a>\u00a0and White Sox Insider<\/a> newsletters.<\/p>\n

Cubs RHP Shelby Miller eying September return from Tommy John surgery
\n\"ChicagoChicago Cubs’ Shelby Miller on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo\/Morry Gash)<\/p>\n

Shelby Miller is not ruling out a return from Tommy John surgery before the end of the season.<\/p>\n

Miller, who underwent the procedure in October, was told by surgeon Dr. Keith Meister a couple of weeks ago that he wanted to see if the right-hander could get into a big-league game by September. Miller is scheduled to get an MRI on March 17 on his arm, then start playing catch, the first step in his ramp-up process.<\/p>\n

\u201c(Dr. Meister) wrote off on, \u2018hey, we\u2019re gonna get you back this year\u2019 just by the way I\u2019m rebounding on workouts and the way my arm looks and feels,\u201d Miller told the Tribune on Sunday. \u201cMy goal is hopefully be back even a little bit sooner than that (September), depending on how I feel, but I\u2019m really optimistic about getting back this year and contributing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like I\u2019ve taken a pretty big step forward in the gym, and the way my elbow\u2019s recovering and not getting sore from all the lifts and stuff I\u2019m doing, I feel like I\u2019m ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Miller, 35, spent the first 3 1\/2 months of the 2021 season with the Cubs, appearing in three games before being released. That didn\u2019t diminish his love for the organization or the city, and Miller was drawn to the competitive roster they\u2019ve built, leading to a two-year contract<\/a> last month with a club option for 2028. Miller posted a 1.98 ERA in 37 appearances for Arizona last season before a trade to Milwaukee, where he had a 5.59 ERA in 11 outings before his season-ending surgery.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt this point in my career, it\u2019s all about who\u2019s going to give you the best opportunity to get that ring on teams that offer you deals, and this seemed like the best fit for me,\u201d Miller said.<\/p>\n

This recovery and rehab process is familiar to Miller, who had Tommy John surgery in 2017. His October surgery involved more repair of his flexor tendon than his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), but he also had an internal brace procedure to ensure his UCL would be 100% OK moving forward. Miller\u2019s timeline benefits from building up as a reliever versus a starter who would need to get up to multiple innings before returning.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s more about just the way I recover,\u201d Miller said. \u201cHow am I feeling after I start throwing, is there any soreness, how\u2019s my stuff, how is my sweeper and fastball and my sliders and then you just go from there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sox LF Andrew Benintendi gets back in the swing after dealing with right side soreness
\n\"ChicagoChicago White Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi waits for live batting practice at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz., on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

Andrew Benintendi batted with the bases loaded during the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners on Saturday at the Peoria Sports Complex.<\/p>\n

After taking a strike, the designated hitter ripped a two-run single back up the middle.<\/p>\n

Benintendi had two hits, both singles, in the 5-1 victory. It was the left fielder\u2019s second game back after missing time because of right side soreness. He was scratched from the lineup on Feb. 27 and returned to Cactus League play on March 5.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was one of those things where we were just being cautious early in camp,\u201d Benintendi told the Tribune before Saturday\u2019s game. \u201cIt was still February, so no real reason to push it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had swung a few days before (the March 5 game against the Cleveland Guardians) with no pain or anything like that at all. It felt good to get back out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

During this portion of camp, Benintendi said he\u2019s continuing to work on getting his timing back down. Benintendi is 5-for-13 (.385) in five games this spring. He\u2019s had back-to-back seasons with 20 home runs.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust trying to get back in that feel,\u201d he said. \u201cWork on depths, whether it\u2019s going the other way or catching it out front \u2014 which obviously comes with seeing more pitching.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooking forward to that.\u201d<\/p>\n

As a whole, Benintendi likes how the team is connecting.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been great so far, the energy in here has been great,\u201d Benintendi said. \u201cEverybody has gotten along. It\u2019s a pretty strong group.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs everybody says, the vibes are good right now. We\u2019re going to keep doing that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Number of the week: 254
\n\"GLENDALE,Dru Baker of the Chicago White Sox steals second base during the fourth inning of the spring training game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Camelback Ranch on Feb. 22, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (Jeremy Chen\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The Sox entered Sunday leading all of spring training in total bases (254).<\/p>\n

Week ahead: Cubs
\n\"Japan'sJapan’s Seiya Suzuki hits a home run during the third inning of a World Baseball Classic game between Japan and South Korea on Saturday, March 7, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo\/Hiro Komae)<\/p>\n

Monday: off
\nTuesday: at Rangers, 3:05 p.m.
\nWednesday: vs. Royals, 3:05 p.m.
\nThursday: vs. Mariners, 3:05 p.m.
\nFriday: at White Sox, 3:05 p.m.
\nSaturday: at Rockies, 3:10 p.m. 104.3 The Score
\nSunday: vs. Dodgers, 3:05 p.m. Marquee, 104.3 The Score<\/p>\n

Seiya Suzuki had been looking forward<\/a> to being back at the World Baseball Classic for years.<\/p>\n

He got to experience the WBC in 2017 at 21 years old, recording 14 at-bats, and was in line to have a major role on Team Japan for the 2023 tournament until an oblique injury forced him to withdraw. Suzuki, though, seized the big stage during pool play Saturday. He slugged a two-run home run to pull Japan within a run of South Korea in the first inning, then put them ahead in his next at-bat with a solo home run. He added a bases-loaded walk in the seventh to again break the tie as Japan went on to beat Korea 8-6.<\/p>\n

Although he opted out of the WBC to focus on preparing for the season, Shota Imanaga understands what Suzuki might be feeling representing their country.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor him, it\u2019s a great opportunity,\u201d Imanaga said Saturday through interpreter Edwin Stanberry. \u201cThey\u2019re expecting him to get those extra-base hits, and he\u2019s been able to produce. He\u2019s doing a phenomenal job.\u201d<\/p>\n

Former big-leaguer Adam Jones sent manager Craig Counsell a video Saturday from his view in the Tokyo Dome as fans chanted Suzuki\u2019s name right before one of his home runs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe place goes crazy and everybody\u2019s hugging each other \u2014 really, really cool,\u201d Counsell said. \u201cThat\u2019s a great experience, and that\u2019s why you play in the WBC for moments like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Week ahead: White Sox
\n\"SCOTTSDALE,Seranthony Dom\u00ednguez of the Chicago White Sox pitches during the spring training game against the Colorado Rockies on Feb. 23, 2026, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (Ric Tapia\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Monday: vs. Rockies, 3:05 p.m.
\nTuesday: at Athletics, 3:05 p.m.
\nWednesday: vs. Angels, 3:05 p.m.
\nThursday: at Giants, 8:05 p.m.
\nFriday: vs. Cubs, 3:05 p.m., CHSN
\nSaturday: vs. Dodgers, 3:05 p.m., CHSN
\nSunday: at Royals, 3:05 p.m.<\/p>\n

Relievers Grant Taylor and Jordan Leasure are already seeing the benefits of having Seranthony Dom\u00ednguez<\/a>\u00a0and Jordan Hicks<\/a> at camp.<\/p>\n

\u201cI pick Jordan\u2019s a good bit on what he likes to do and how he has had success,\u201d Taylor said after pitching a scoreless inning on Saturday.<\/p>\n

The Sox signed Dom\u00ednguez \u2014 who is currently with Team Dominican Republic for the WBC \u2014 to a two-year deal in the offseason and acquired Hicks as part of a trade with the Boston Red Sox.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s super exciting,\u201d Leasure recently told the Tribune. \u201cPicking up Hicks and Dom\u00ednguez, those are two huge pieces. And you still have Grant Taylor. The arms we have are super exciting, but I think most importantly how we\u2019re all jelling together and working together.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s one thing to have great players, but to have great people is another. Everyone in here is a really great person outside of this game, that makes playing together a lot easier.\u201d<\/p>\n

The group is pushing each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s always talks about after outings on what guys did well, there\u2019s talks about velo and whatever,\u201d Taylor said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHealthy competition between those guys, and it also frees you up a little bit to be able to just go out and perform because you know you have really, really good guys behind you.\u201d<\/p>\n

What we\u2019re reading today<\/p>\n

Quotable<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what Edward does pretty well. A lot of his strikes are on actually balls, makes the pitch look like a strike. It\u2019s actually a ball, but you get a swing. That\u2019s the ultimate in pitching, I think. And Edward has the ability to do that, and he does get that.\u201d \u2014\u00a0Cubs manager Craig Counsell on Edward Cabrera\u2019s stuff<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Cubs have reached their first off day of the spring, a timely arrival with the absence of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":529041,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[558],"tags":[180882,64,63,245026,5158,5256,14538,591,6784,250893,14536,30525,32953,85,205673,262869],"class_list":["post-529040","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mlb","tag-andrew-benintendi","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-cactus-league","tag-chicago-cubs","tag-chicago-white-sox","tag-craig-counsell","tag-mlb","tag-mlb-baseball","tag-noah-schultz","tag-seiya-suzuki","tag-seranthony-dominguez","tag-shelby-miller","tag-sports","tag-spring-training","tag-will-venable"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/529040","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=529040"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/529040\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/529041"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=529040"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=529040"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=529040"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}