SURPRISE, ARIZONA – MARCH 07: Adrian Sampson #41 of the Chicago Cubs pitches in the first inning against the Texas Rangers during a Spring Training game at Surprise Stadium on March 07, 2023 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Opening Day is just around the corner. Which three Chicago Cubs players will fall just short of making the 26-man roster?
The Chicago Cubs made some formidable additions throughout the offseason and are hoping to make some noise in a competitive National League Central Division during the upcoming 2023 season.
Cody Bellinger, Dansby Swanson, and Jameson Taillon were all signed during over the winter and are sure to be on the field when the Cubbies take the field on March 30 versus their NL Central rival, the Milwaukee Brewers.
But there are handful of Cubs players, who could make the Opening Day roster, but won’t. Let’s look at three candidates who won’t be part of the festivities at Wrigley Field next week.
Adrian Sampson will not be on the Cubs Opening Day roster
Once it was known that Kyle Hendricks would be absent from the Chicago Cubs Opening Day roster while he recovers from a should injury, the competition between several of the team’s young starting pitcher became quite intense.
It would appear as though Hayden Wesneski has the inside track to secure the No. 5 spot in the rotation, but don’t sleep on Javier Assad either. The one player, however, who’s not pitched as well this spring has been Adrian Sampson.
Look for Sampson to be headed to Iowa rather than Chicago. The right-hander owns a near-10.00 ERA in four games during Cactus League play and has allowed eight round trippers as well.
The 31-year-old certainly pitched well enough last season to warrant consideration, but his performance this spring casts doubt on his ability to remain consistent. Sampson adds depth to a pitching staff that’s going to need it this season, but he’s has fallen out of favor when it comes to landing a spot in the starting rotation.