MESA – Last year’s adversity is already in Javier Assad’s rearview mirror. The last thing he needed in 2026 was more.
Like some other foreign-born players around MLB, including his teammates Moisés Ballesteros of Venezuela and Christian Bethancourt of Panama, Mexico native Assad had issues with his visa, which delayed his arrival in Mesa to open Spring Training when pitchers and catchers reported Wednesday.
Ready to get to work, and pronouncing himself healthy after missing most of 2025 with a left oblique strain, Assad was suited up and thinking forward on Saturday morning.
“I’m glad things worked out. I’m really happy to be here,” he said through team interpreter Fredy Quevedo Jr. “It was a little frustrating, but thankfully I’m here.”
The 28-year-old righty suffered the injury this time last year in Spring Training, and he aggravated it soon after in April. This was after Assad rose to being a key piece of the Cubs’ 2024 rotation when he made 29 starts with a 7-6 record and 3.73 ERA.
The injury kept him on the 60-day IL most of last season, although he did return to the rotation in August. For the year, Assad pitched in eight games (seven starts) and posted a 3.65 ERA with 23 strikeouts and a 1.22 WHIP, while holding opponents to a .243 clip in 37 innings.
Assad spent Saturday morning doing some high-velocity long tossing, right beside Shota Imanaga at times, and at other times on his own for extra reps. Assad said that focusing on getting back to top form physically was his offseason priority.
“I worked a lot on the midsection of my body and made sure I strengthened that,” he said. “This year, I am healthy. I want to make sure I’m healthy this year.”
Despite his late return in 2025, Assad was left off the playoff roster for the Cubs’ NLDS series against the Brewers. The Cubs were eliminated in five games.
“We probably got him healthy by the end of the year last year. Maybe just a little bit too late,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Saturday. “Coming into form probably a little late [compared] with some other people that just had moved ahead of him at that point.”
Being left off the roster sparks no motivation for Assad in 2026.
“Those things are in the past. Those are things I can’t control,” he said. “This year, I’m looking to contribute. The goal always is to win the World Series, so I’m here to contribute in any way I can. I’m looking forward to this season.”
Assad’s spring also will include pitching for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. He’ll be following up his sparkling WBC run in 2023, when he pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings in relief, allowing just two hits, walking one and striking out six.
Team Mexico will compete in Pool B of the WBC from March 6-11. Other Pool B teams include the U.S., Italy, Great Britain and Brazil.
“I always told them that if the opportunity was there, I would always be willing to be there and represent my country,” Assad said of Team Mexico. “Last time it was a really great experience. I was really happy with it. Going into this one, I’m looking for new goals in the tournament, but looking forward to it.”
Other Cubs playing in this year’s WBC include Alex Bregman, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Matthew Boyd with Team USA, Jameson Taillon with Canada, Daniel Palencia with Venezuela, Miguel Amaya with Panama and Seiya Suzuki with Japan.
Acclimating pitchers, like Assad, for the WBC while balancing Spring Training work starts with conversations as far back as December.
“You just need time to prepare for them is the biggest thing. We’ve had that,” Counsell said. “You have plenty of time to ramp that up. It’s an honor to pitch and it’s a thrill to pitch. And you want to experience that.”
The Cubs open their Spring Training slate of games in less than a week when the White Sox visit Sloan Park on Friday.