Major League Baseball has teamed up with celebrated Japanese artist Takashi Murakami for an exclusive merchandise collection leading up to the 2025 Tokyo series featuring the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs. Launching on March 7, the collection showcases Murakami's distinctive style on various apparel including t-shirts, hoodies, and jerseys for both teams.

Esteemed for his vibrant floral art, Murakami expressed his excitement about collaborating with MLB and highlighting standout players like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman. In addition to apparel, the collection will feature unique baseballs, gloves, and bats, integrating Murakami's iconic designs.

The Chicago Cubs are optimistic about their top prospect, Matt Shaw, who recently returned to action after recovering from an oblique injury. Shaw was an early standout in spring training, showing great progress with his hitting and throwing abilities. With Isaac Paredes gone, Shaw is strongly positioned for the starting role at third base. Ranked as the No. 19 prospect in MLB, Shaw boasts a .303 minor league batting average and performed well in Triple-A last season, hitting .298 with seven home runs over 35 games.

Shaw's development is crucial for the Cubs' offensive lineup, where he is expected to complement stars like Kyle Tucker and Dansby Swanson. His ability to manage the strike zone and hit to all fields aligns with modern offensive strategies, making him a player to watch closely this season.

The Chicago Cubs are gearing up for a crucial 2025 season after a series of offseason moves aimed at transforming their recent mediocrity into contention in the NL Central. With no postseason appearances since 2020, the team hopes the addition of star outfielder Kyle Tucker and the development of top prospect Matt Shaw will reinvigorate their roster. The Cubs were unable to secure Alex Bregman, who opted for the Red Sox, but players remain optimistic about the depth and talent assembled this winter. The Cubs' management has been praised for its strategic approach to roster building, making fans hopeful for a return to playoff baseball.

Shaw, a promising infielder, aims to capitalize on his opportunity with Bregman out of the picture, while Tucker, an established All-Star, brings a much-needed elite presence to the team. As the Cubs prepare for spring training, expectations are high for a squad eager to reclaim its former glory and make a serious run at the postseason.

The Chicago Cubs are positioning themselves as serious contenders for a playoff spot in 2025 after years of near misses. With an impressive pitching staff that ranked third in the National League ERA last season, the Cubs have bolstered their roster with key additions like Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros and free agent signings Colin Rea and Matthew Boyd. This enhanced rotation supports stars Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele, while the bullpen also sees new faces, including Ryan Pressly, Ryan Brasier, and Caleb Thielbar. However, to truly compete with the Milwaukee Brewers and secure a playoff berth, the Cubs will need their batting lineup to step up, especially from underperformers like Dansby Swanson.

Chicago Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner's status for the upcoming season remains uncertain following flexor tendon surgery he underwent earlier this offseason. He has not yet begun his throwing program or hitting practice, raising questions about his readiness for Opening Day, which is scheduled for March 18 against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Japan. Last season, Hoerner played through the injury, impacting his throwing ability.

The 27-year-old, who hit .273 with seven home runs and a .335 on-base percentage last season, has emerged as one of the Cubs' key players, also excelling on the base paths with 31 stolen bases in 2024. He received a Gold Glove Award in 2023 for his defensive prowess. Despite trade rumors circulating earlier in the offseason, the Cubs opted to keep Hoerner, possibly influenced by his ongoing injury concerns.

Hoerner is under contract through the 2026 season after signing an extension before the 2023 season. Once cleared, he is expected to play alongside Dansby Swanson at shortstop for the Cubs, who finished tied for second in the National League Central last season, trailing the Milwaukee Brewers by ten games.