During the Chicago Cubs second spring training game, first base prospect Jonathon Long injured his elbow. The injury occurred when he was trying to make a tag defensively. His diagnosis following removal was an elbow sprain.
Cubs prospect Jonathon Long leaves game after collision at first base pic.twitter.com/ymnx7phkKC
— Aldo Soto (@AldoSoto21) February 21, 2026
Injury strikes Chicago Cubs first base prospect Jonathon Long, casting doubt for World Baseball Classic availability
Prior to the injury, 24-year-old Long was set to represent Chinese Taipei at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Chinese Taipei is part of Pool C, with its games scheduled to be played in Tokyo, Japan from March 5–8. Although no official prognosis has been released regarding Long’s elbow, with less than two weeks remaining before the tournament begins, his availability for the opener is now very much in question.
As for implications with the Cubs, the team’s current sixth ranked prospect was viewed as a key player to monitor this spring after a dominant run at Triple-A last season. The former ninth-round selection in the 2023 Draft slashed .305/.404/.479 with 20 home runs and 91 RBIs, showing he may have little left to prove in the minors. A strong camp could have pushed him into the mix for a platoon role with Michael Busch at first base or earned him at-bats as a designated hitter.
Ultimately, the timing of the injury is what makes it most significant. With the WBC just around the corner and a pivotal spring ahead with the Cubs, what should have been a momentum-building stretch has suddenly turned uncertain.
If Long is able to recover quickly, he could still factor into both plans, representing Chinese Taipei on the international stage and forcing his way into Chicago’s roster conversation. But until more is known about the severity of the elbow issue, both his WBC status and his short-term role with the Cubs remain very much up in the air.
Can the Cubs comfortably declare an ace of the staff?
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