4 Cubs players who won't make the Opening Day roster but will be promoted in no time

With the domestic opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks just days away, the Chicago Cubs' Opening Day roster is coming into focus. But the 26 players that break camp with a spot on the team come Thursday will by no means be the only ones who leave their mark on the club in 2025.

Chicago's farm system is incredibly top-heavy, with seven of their top eight prospects, according to MLB Pipeline either on the Opening Day roster (Matt Shaw) or opening at Triple-A Iowa. That means we're going to see a number of guys who missed the cut this spring pitch important innings and take meaningful at-bats in Chicago this season.

Here are four names to keep an eye on early in the year who could be the next man up in case of injury.

Luke Little

Given the Cubs' lack of left-handed relief depth behind veteran Caleb Thielbar, there's little doubt that imposing southpaw Luke Little will be a key piece for Craig Counsell this season. After a lat injury cut his 2024 season short, Little got a late start this spring, and that cost him any real shot at cracking the Opening Day roster (the fact he has multiple minor-league options remaining made him a near-lock to start the year at Triple-A regardless).

Last season, Little made 30 appearances, working to a 3.46 ERA/4.05 FIP. Limiting the free passes will determine how high leverage of a role he holds in the Cubs bullpen, but the upside comes in his high-velocity fastball and elite xBA. Thielbar is 38 years old and coming off the worst season of his professional career. If he falters or hits the IL, Little is the next man up on the depth chart.

Kevin Alcantara

Kevin Alcantara got his first taste of MLB action late last summer and the only reason he's not on the Opening Day roster is the crowded outfield picture following the offseason addition of Kyle Tucker.

A multi-tool outfielder, Alcantara still has the opportunity to grow in his frame and increase his power, but he has a lot to offer as-is. He runs well and put up an .848 OPS after being promoted to Iowa last season. If the Cubs lose Tucker, Pete Crow-Armstrong or Ian Happ early in the year, I'd be surprised if Alcantara wasn't the guy joining the team to eat major outfield innings.

Eli Morgan

For whatever reason, Cubs fans seemed very caught off-guard by the team optioning Eli Morgan to Triple-A last week. It boiled down to minor-league options. Chicago didn't want to have to remove someone from the roster if it didn't have to, and sending Morgan to Iowa to start the year allowed them to kick that can down the road at least a little longer.

Morgan played a key role for the Guardians' bullpen last year, working to a 1.93 ERA for first-year manager Stephen Vogt. Those numbers, paired with the right-hander making a solid appearance out of the pen in the Tokyo Series, made him a strange option choice at first glance. But this was solely about roster flexibility. Morgan is going to be an important arm in the Cubs' bullpen regardless.

Daniel Palencia

Daniel Palencia is another relief arm to keep in the back of your minds as we get underway this week. A straight 'stuff' arm, the right-hander possesses a triple-digit fastball - offering that elite velocity the entire Cubs' pitching staff lacks. The results haven't been there at the big-league level (5.03 ERA/1.88 K/BB) - but the team isn't ready to turn the page just yet.

Jed Hoyer did a great job adding veteran depth in the bullpen this offseason, pushing Palencia down the depth chart. But if can cut down the walk rate at Iowa and bring the eye-catching velocity we saw from him this spring, the Cubs will surely give him another look this year.