Chicago Cubs News: 2025 Opening Day in Japan, Brennen Davis, and David Peralta

Chicago Cubs fans may have missed that the Major League Baseball regular season has officially started.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres played a two-game series in South Korea last Wednesday and Thursday. Major League Baseball has placed an emphasis on international games in recent seasons and that will continue in 2025 with the Chicago Cubs being the next team to open their regular season overseas.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported on Sunday that the Cubs and Dodgers have secretly been told that they will open the 2025 season in Japan. It will be a similar formula to this season where the Dodgers and Cubs will play two games before resuming their regular season a week later. Nightengale reports that the Cubs will return to Arizona after the two games and continue their regular season on the West Coast.

Featuring a roster that includes Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga, there is no doubt that the Cubs would be a draw for the Japanese market. Cubs fans will need to set their alarms early, however, as the games will likely start in the early hours of the morning locally.

Former Cubs top prospect assigned to Triple-A

Confusion had arisen over the status of former Cubs' top prospect Brennen Davis as the team concluded their Cactus League schedule on Sunday but fans were unclear on what was going on with Davis.

Davis was actually assigned to Triple-A Iowa on March 8. Davis had been impressing in the early games of Spring Training, collecting 4 hits in 12 plate appearances with 1 home run. Davis entered concussion protocol early in Spring after being hit by a pitch and did not return to game action.

Chicago Cubs keeping David Peralta for now.

Of the three notable veteran position players that were with the Cubs on non-roster invites--Dominic Smith, Garrett Cooper, and David Peralta--only Cooper made the Opening Day Roster.

Smith was released over the weekend but Peralta will be remaining with the organization. Peralta proved in Spring Training that he is still capable of being a valuable bat off the bench, 8 hits in 20 plate appearances, but off-season shoulder surgery still has him unable to play the field.

Peralta will remain with the Cubs in an extended Spring Training, deferring the roster decision until the veteran outfielder is ready to throw.

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