WATCH: Craig Counsell announces starter for first game, talks position battles

Tony Crumpton - Senior Editor - Monday, February 17 2025

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell spoke to the media about Kyle Tucker's progression within the organization, injury prevention in spring training, gives some insight into who's starting the first game and more.

“This is the second year [removed] from Tommy John [surgery for] him,” Counsell announcing Cody Poteet as the first starter of the spring. “Last year, little bit slowed down from that, made some really good starts in the big leagues and now kind of fully recovered and now kind of fully recovered and having a healthy offseason ready to go.”

Watch the interview below:

Video summary/cliff-notes:

Cubs Rotation Update: Craig Counsell announced that Cody Poteet will be the Cubs' starting pitcher on Thursday (06:20).

Position Battles: Kevin and Canario are likely backup options in center field, while John Berti and Johnny Long are getting reps at first base (00:00).

Johnny Long's Performance: He had an impressive last two months in professional baseball and a strong Fall League performance (01:23).

Spring Training Mindset: Focus is on preventing injuries rather than just pushing players hard, reflecting a shift in training philosophy over the past 10-15 years (03:04).

Spring Training Length: While the NFL is shortening preseason, Counsell believes baseball manages it by adjusting player workloads rather than reducing the schedule (04:21).

Philosophy on Ramping Up: The Cubs started spring training preparation earlier to ensure players don’t feel rushed (05:30).

Upcoming Starters: Counsell only confirmed Poteet for Thursday but will announce the Friday starter soon (06:20).

Injury Concerns: Counsell acknowledged injuries are common in spring training, referencing the Mets losing a $34 million pitcher recently (07:00).