Javier Assad takes the bump for I-Cubs opening night tonight at 7:08 at Principal Park in Des Moines. The rest of the roster will likely be announced sometime during the day today, with a really good mix of top prospects and veterans.

Happy minor league opening day to all the prospect nerds, small city baseball lovers, families who love a cheap game, and curious big league fans!

Told you

Opening Day. It’s here.

If you wanna get more pissed about the size of the font on the Netflix scorebug, try watching the game on your phone.

ESPN walked so Netflix could run (derogatory)

Where Cubs games will air on TV this season: 142 Marquee only 6 FOX only 3 Apple TV only 3 NBC/Peacock only 2 Marquee & FS1 2 Marquee & TBS 2 ABC/ESPN only 1 Peacock only 1 Not picked up yet (vs. DET on 7/22)

My updated I-Cubs projection SP: Assad, Noland, Wiggins, Sanders, Velasquez, Kipp RP: Hollowell, Rolison, Brigham, Roberts, Little, Martin, Martin, Snider, Rios C: Bethancourt, Yang, Opitz IF: Long, Triantos, Ramirez, Cowles, Murray, Miller, Cantrelle OF: Dean, Bateman, Alcántara

Information on 57 different players in the Cubs system in just over an hour ⬇️

The Chicago Cubs and Nico Hoerner in extension talks now that PCA signed his deal:

Big party to celebrate PCA’s extension at Wrigley Field. 1:20 on Thursday afternoon.

3 teams 19 players per team 1 fantasy draft of only Cubs prospects PCA wasn’t available but @cubsmith.bsky.social & @ivyfutures.bsky.social join me to build squads on the newest episode of Cubs On Deck! 📺: youtu.be/hfZ6PlZSlR0?... 🍎: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c... 🔗: linktr.ee/cubsondeck

Waking up knowing the Chicago Cubs just extended Pete Crow-Armstrong:

Does this mean PCA made the Opening Day roster?

Hearing Counsell announce Cubs roster decision gets me one step closer to the more important issue at hand: Figuring out what the Iowa Cubs opening day roster will look like

Went to my first in-person baseball game of the year today. We are so back.

Seiya Suzuki injured Tyler Austin injured Chas McCormick injured Matt Shaw shaky in right field Kevin Alcántara might mess around and make the Cubs opening day roster

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Marquee carrying Cubs minor league games, along with their whiparound show, is one of the best things they do on the network. They will have 60 games covered this season, including each of the 4 affiliates.

Mark Gonzalez reports that Ethan Conrad is sidelined with a lower back injury.

The Cubs Spring Breakout game is today against the San Diego Padres at 8:05pm CT on Marquee and MLB dot com. Will Sanders will get the start on the bump. He is my 15th ranked prospect in the Cubs system.

I love that Jefferson Rojas has looked as impressive as he has this Spring. The numbers across the board are very encouraging. But I also just think it’s incredible he’s leading the Cubs in at-bats. Super simple, I know, but the Cubs continue to show faith in the 20 year old.

Jefferson Rojas Getting a Whole Lot of Time and Attention this Spring https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2026/03/19/jefferson-rojas-getting-a-whole-lot-of-time-and-attention-this-spring/

My Opening Day roster projections after removing some guys that might start the year on the IL, based on current reports (Suzuki, Conrad, Florentino, etc.). Things starting to fall in place a bit — final step will be sorting out all the vets on minor league deals with opt-outs.

IOWA CUBS PLAYER PREVIEWS Iowa Cubs broadcaster Jason Kempf joins me to run through the guys we expect to see in Triple-A this season including… Jaxon Wiggins Kevin Alcántara Jonathon Long Pedro Ramirez 📺: youtu.be/h6gH0L2cQwo?... 🍎: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c... 🔗: linktr.ee/cubsondeck

Great outing by Shota Imanaga: 4 2/3 IP, 1 hit (solo homer), 1 walk and 8 Ks vs. Angels. Imanaga had *25* whiffs tonight. Most he had in regular-season game last two years was 22 whiffs, both in 2024. Cubs haven't had starter tally that many whiffs in (regular-season) game since Yu Darvish in 2020

If I could select Opening Day starters for each of the Cubs affiliates, here’s who I would go with: Iowa - Jaxon Wiggins Knoxville - Grant Kipp South Bend - Ethan Flanagan Myrtle Beach - Dominick Reid

IOWA CUBS PLAYER PREVIEWS Iowa Cubs broadcaster Jason Kempf joins me to run through the guys we expect to see in Triple-A this season including… Jaxon Wiggins Kevin Alcántara Jonathon Long Pedro Ramirez 📺: youtu.be/h6gH0L2cQwo?... 🍎: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c... 🔗: linktr.ee/cubsondeck

A benefit of listening to the audio-only version of the podcast instead of watching on YouTube? I regularly edit out dozens of umms and uhhs every single week. I’m now incredibly familiar with what those LOOK like as sound waves in my editing software.

REALLY good to see Jefferson back in the lineup!

“Spiderman robs Superman!” was an incredible call by Joe Davis

Seiya Suzuki injured? No worries, we can just put Owen Caissie in right field.

Really hoping the Jefferson Rojas injury isn’t serious. Dude was riding one hell of a hot streak this spring and the Cubs were showing plenty of faith in him. Got off to a delayed start last year too, and hitting the ground running in Double-A this year would be huge.

The Bald Eagle has been replaced by Pete Crow-Armstrong as the emblem of the United States.

Alex Bregman runs like a toddler escaping his parents because he has something he shouldn’t.

My biggest takeaway from the World Baseball Classic is that Houston Astros fans deserve credit for putting up with that awful train horn every time the team scores a run.

Hand up ✋ I’ve fallen WAY behind on these. I’ll admit it’s way more difficult when I’m consuming Cubs Spring Training games by box scores in the evening instead of on the radio/tv. We’re almost to SIXTY Cubs prospects appearing in a big league game!

This Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela game is peak baseball entertainment

Pretty sure that flyout to PCA on the warning track was hit further than any baseball Jon Berti hit during his time with the Cubs.

This one should hold you guys over for a bit: an hour and a half, previewing two different affiliates. We cover a ton of players including some of the fan faves in the system!

Cubs prospect Kade Snell roped a double 111 MPH today. I’ve got a 50 minute interview with him where you can get to know him a bit, and where he talks about tapping into more power ⬇️ youtu.be/I20tQ4RTCWQ?...

SOUTH BEND CUBS PREVIEW KNOXVILLE SMOKIES PREVIEW Brendan King joins me on this week’s pod to cover 35 prospects ranging from Jefferson Rojas to Kane Kepley to Jostin Florentino! 📺: youtu.be/oVTLYKbOptQ?... 🍎: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c... 🔗: linktr.ee/cubsondeck

I regret to inform you that yet again, John Smoltz be saying some stuff

BOBBY DID IT AGAIN

Did Aaron Judge just set the record for most combined velocity from an assist and a home run in one inning?

There’s been lots of chatter about how the Great Britain WBC uniforms suck, but really all of the uniforms are pretty lame. Zero flash, nothing making countries unique, no nods to specific culture. They are bland and boring, at best.

Two of the last three seasons, Pedro Ramirez has played in leagues that are EXTREMELY pitcher-friendly and in home ballparks that are EVEN MORE pitcher-friendly than the rest of the league. I’m guessing he’s enjoying Arizona and will have fun in Iowa as well.

If you only watched baseball games that were on national broadcasts, you would think Kyle Schwarber was the greatest hitter to ever step foot on this earth.

Pete Crow-Armstrong (Cub) sneaking a double down the line past BJ Murray Jr (Cub)

I’m a giant nerd and even I have seen enough when it comes to the endless number of Stuff+ models on the internet.

The swath of minor league teams in SEC country, with no Major League team between DC, Atlanta, Cincinnati, and St. Louis. It’s pretty jarring.