The Chicago Cubs, freshly back from an international expedition to Tokyo, have now returned to their regular spring training games. In spite of battling fatigue, most of their key players found themselves on the startup roster against the Colorado Rockies. No ounce of jetlag was sufficient to keep them off the field. Ryan Brasier, one of the Cubs’ experienced relievers, commented on the taxing aftereffects of the journey, still experiencing disrupted sleep patterns.
Feeling a bit ‘stuck in limbo’ as Brasier put it, the team is delicately balancing recovery from the trip and maintaining momentum. Even Dansby Swanson, the Cubs’ shortstop who found himself feeling under par due to a combination of illness and travel exhaustion, decided to power through and join his teammates. Swanson decided there was not a moment to spare, and getting his body back in motion was the best path to recovery.
Engaging in the spirit of resilience, Justin Steele, the club’s starting pitcher who endured a challenging start in 2025, was eager to step back on the mound and leave the Tokyo performance behind him. Despite a rocky start against the Dodgers – surrendering five hits, five runs, and three homers during the Cubs’ 6-3 defeat – the news of him being chosen as the starting pitcher for the upcoming opening-day game certainly boosted his spirits. The opportunity to start against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Thursday is one he is delighted about.
The Tokyo journey was one of mixed emotions for the Cubs. They returned to Arizona on Wednesday night after two consecutive losses against the Dodgers and were absolutely drained. Yet, they all agree that the experience was worthy and would willingly embark on the same journey again if presented with the opportunity.
An intriguing twist to the Tokyo tour was the large welcome party hosted by Cubs’ designated hitter Seiya Suzuki and pitcher Sh?ta Imanaga. Set at the Kanda Myojin Shrine, the event included a 400-pound tuna that the players enjoyed slicing open. It was a grand gesture to welcome their comrades to their homeland and proved to be a distinctive and enjoyable experience.
Despite being the official ‘home team’ for their two-match series in Tokyo, the Cubs marveled at the overwhelming proportion of local support driving towards the Dodgers and their star player, Shohei Ohtani. It was clear that they underestimated Ohtani’s celebrity in Japan earlier. The sheer magnitude of his Japanese fan base was truly an eye-opener.
Imanaga himself, even though not as popular as Ohtani, experienced the enormity of playing in his homeland against the Dodgers in those first four innings. More than just physically strenuous, his season debut back home was an emotionally taxing experience. The Cubs have decided to offer him additional rest and he’s not expected to be back until their third game of the series against the Diamondbacks on Saturday.
Reflecting on emotionally charged moments, Brasier, who formerly played with Suzuki on the Hiroshima team in 2017, commented on the heartwarming reception the Japanese crowd had for Suzuki and Imanaga during their games in Tokyo. It was a heartfelt tribute to their favorite sons, Suzuki and Imanaga, who were returning to play in their home country, and a sight Brasier admits impacted him greatly.
Now, after a string of exhibition and regular-season games in Tokyo, the Cubs are pivoting their gaze towards more ordinary tasks at hand. The anticipation of tranquility now replaces the frenzy of the past days. Three more spring training games await them against the Athletics and Atlanta at Sloan Park, before their official season opening on March 27th.
Time on the road is on the horizon, as the team will soon relocate to a Phoenix hotel before setting off to Sacramento. This travel is for the inaugural showcase of the Athletics’ new cricket grounds for the upcoming three seasons. After winding their way through these cities, the Cubs will finally head back to their home turf in Chicago, with the first game scheduled against the San Diego Padres on April 4.
Already having experienced four distinct opening-day presentations during their time in Japan, they now find themselves on track to lead the majors with a total of seven opening-day ceremonies by the tenth fixture of the season. These various homecomings and dawning experiences perfectly encapsulate the dynamism of the season’s path until now.
As they gradually realign their body clocks and shake off the remnants of jet lag, the Chicago Cubs will have to attune themselves to the familiar rhythm of their regular games. Having experienced the vibrant Tokyo spectacle, the Cubs now face the pleasant reality of returning to their routine. Now, the distinction between the practice games and the ones that count is once again reinforced.
After the rampant changes and extraordinary moments, the Cubs now fervently look forward to the journey ahead. The element of normalcy, routine, and familiar ground has never felt as comforting and welcoming as it does now. As they gear up to face the rest of the season, they do so with renewed energy that comes from overcoming challenges and looking ahead with determination.
The post Chicago Cubs Back from Tokyo, Facing Spring Training with Renewed Strength appeared first on Real News Now.
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