Injury May Cost Cubs Prospect Way More Than World Baseball Classic

Jonathon Long entered spring training, riding high after he was named 2025 Chicago Cubs Minor League Player of the Year. The 24-year-old prospect had a stellar season at Triple-A and while it may have been a long shot to make the Opening Day roster in 2026, Long was in the mix to compete for a potential bench role this spring training. The calculous has changed for the Cubs in recent days because of an injury, which may have opened the door for Long to win a roster spot, but unfortunately he’s dealing with an issue of his own.