Tyler Austin‘s surprise injury at the beginning of spring training left the Cubs with only one true first baseman on the roster. The Cubs signed Austin to be a right-handed-hitting backup for Michael Busch, and presumably at DH, but Austin’s recent knee surgery has forced a change in plans.
The Cubs now need to figure out who their secondary first baseman will be to begin the 2026 season. Craig Counsell said that Austin’s surgery will cause him to miss “months,” meaning this will not be a brief absence.