Cubs' Long won't join Chinese Taipei's Classic team due to elbow issue

MESA, Ariz. – Jonathon Long was looking forward to experiencing the World Baseball Classic, especially considering his taste of the upcoming tournament would begin inside the famous Tokyo Dome in Japan. In the end, the first baseman felt staying in camp with the Cubs was the appropriate decision.

On Thursday, Cubs manager Craig Counsell noted that Long had decided not to join Chinese Taipei in the Classic as he recovers from a left elbow sprain and competes for a spot on Chicago’s Opening Day roster. Long is not back to full strength and he would have needed to fly to Tokyo on Friday.

“To fly across the world,” Long said, “not knowing if I could swing a bat and then have to rehab with them, versus being here, it just didn’t make sense. Especially getting ready for a season, it’s kind of more important to be fully healthy.”

The 24-year-old Long sustained a sprained left elbow in the fourth inning of Saturday’s Cactus League game against the Rangers. A throw pulled Long off the bag and Texas’ Mark Canha ran into the first baseman’s left arm as he attempted a swipe tag. Long immediately exited the game and has spent the past several days slowly adding more activity to his schedule.

It was also revealed this week that first baseman Tyler Austin is scheduled to miss “months,” as Counsell phrased the situation, following surgery on his right knee. Austin was signed over the offseason to be the primary backup to Michael Busch at first and a righty bat off the bench. Now, that spot on the Opening Day bench is up for grabs.

“We worry about the contingency plans,” Counsell said of the backup first-base job. “But I think the biggest thing is we have a first baseman. Johnny, he could make the team. If he doesn’t make the team, we know he’s going to be in Triple-A. So, knowing that we have a first baseman a day away, I think that mitigates your kind of worry about all the contingency plans.”

Catchers Miguel Amaya and Moisés Ballesteros will get work at first base this spring to offer possible backup possibilities behind Busch. Counsell also noted that Matt Shaw – prepping for a super utility role this season – might also try his hand at the position as an emergency option.

Long more closely fits the right-handed profile for first base that the Cubs envisioned Austin filling to start this season. First, Long has to get fully healthy. The swelling in his elbow has reduced since Saturday and he has regained improved range of motion, but there is still some soreness when swinging a bat.

As for the possibility of winning an Opening Day roster spot, Long is not looking too far ahead.

“I’m just going to focus on what I can control,” Long said. “Obviously, there’s exterior decisions that I can’t make, so I'm going to focus on what I can control and try to have the best camp that I can have.”

Pipeline ranked Long at No. 6 on the Top 30 list for the Cubs at the end of the 2025 season and have new updated rankings for the team coming on March 3. The first baseman was a ninth-round pick in 2023 by the North Siders and has produced steadily (.294/.398/.479 in 280 games) since entering Chicago’s system.

Long climbed two levels in ‘24 and hit .340 with a .983 OPS in his 46-game taste of Double-A. Last season, he was moved up to Triple-A Iowa, where the first baseman hit at a .305/.404/.479 clip with 20 homers, 23 doubles, 91 RBIs, 79 walks and 86 runs in 140 games. That included hitting .314 with a .901 OPS against pitchers older than him.

“That’s kind of why he’s in the conversation,” Counsell said. “He’s been the kind of player that’s just hit, and hit his way to the situation that he’s in right now. Very consistent at-bats. It’s maybe not one part of the skill-set that stands out. It’s just a good all-around hitter.”