February 23, 2026 | Sloan Park, Mesa, AZ | 2:05 PM CT | Marquee Sports Network
The Chicago Cubs wrap up another Arizona series today against the Kansas City Royals, and this one actually has some juice to it. Jackson Merrill, our prized offseason acquisition at shortstop, goes head-to-head with Bobby Witt Jr., one of the best young players in baseball.
Both teams finished below .500 last year—we went 78–84, they went 71–91—and both are banking on young cores to drag them back to relevance. The difference? The Royals already have their franchise cornerstone in Witt Jr. We’re hoping Merrill becomes ours.
Tyler Glasnow takes the mound again, giving Cubs fans another chance to see what our new ace looks like. And with prospects like Cade Horton and Matt Shaw potentially getting innings, this game could tell us a lot about where we actually stand heading into 2026.
Where the Cubs Are After the Offseason Moves
2025 Record: 78–84
We’ve been over this—last season sucked. We were supposed to compete, and instead we finished six games under .500 and missed the playoffs for the millionth time. The offense was inconsistent, the pitching was shaky, and by September we were playing for pride.
The front office responded by going out and getting Tyler Glasnow, one of the most talented arms in baseball when healthy. They brought in Jackson Merrill to finally solve the shortstop problem. And they’re betting on guys like Pete Crow-Armstrong taking the next step.
Key Players:
- Tyler Glasnow (SP): Elite strikeout pitcher with injury history—needs to stay healthy
- Jackson Merrill (SS): Smooth defender, solid bat, potential franchise building block
- Pete Crow-Armstrong (CF): Elite defense and speed, needs to prove he can hit
Top Prospects to Watch:
- Cade Horton (RHP): Could push for a rotation spot if he dominates this spring
- Matt Shaw (INF): Versatile infielder with offensive upside
- Kevin Alcántara (OF): Toolsy outfielder who needs to put it together
Today’s game is another test. Can Glasnow dominate a lineup with legitimate talent? Will Merrill continue adjusting to big league pitching? Can our young guys show they’re ready to contribute?
The Kansas City Royals: Young and Dangerous
2025 Record: 71–91
The Royals were bad last year, but they’ve got something we don’t—a legitimate, no-questions-asked superstar in Bobby Witt Jr. The guy’s 25 years old and already one of the best all-around players in baseball. Elite speed, elite power, elite defense. He’s the real deal.
Key Players:
- Bobby Witt Jr. (SS): Franchise player, MVP candidate, everything you want in a cornerstone
- Salvador Pérez (C): Veteran leader, still dangerous with the bat
- Vinnie Pasquantino (1B): Power bat who can change games with one swing
Top Prospects:
- Ben Kudrna (RHP): Young arm with upside, getting the start today
- Cayden Wallace (3B): Developmental third baseman
- Gavin Cross (OF): Outfield prospect with tools
The Royals are building around Witt Jr., which is smart. When you have a player that good, you build everything else around him. We’re hoping Merrill becomes that guy for us, but he’s got a long way to go before he’s in Witt’s stratosphere.
The Matchup Everyone’s Watching
| Position | Cubs | Royals |
|---|---|---|
| Shortstop | Jackson Merrill | Bobby Witt Jr. |
| Starting Pitcher | Tyler Glasnow | Ben Kudrna |
| Catcher | Miguel Amaya | Salvador Pérez |
Jackson Merrill vs Bobby Witt Jr. at Shortstop
This is the story of the game. Witt Jr. is already a star—30-30 potential, Gold Glove defense, the whole package. Merrill is trying to prove he can be our version of that. He’s got the tools, but can he produce at that level? This is a measuring-stick game.
Tyler Glasnow vs Ben Kudrna on the Mound
Glasnow is the established ace with elite stuff. Kudrna is a young prospect trying to show he belongs in a big league rotation. The talent gap is obvious, but Glasnow needs to dominate these matchups to justify the contract we gave him.
Miguel Amaya vs Salvador Pérez Behind the Plate
Amaya is our young catcher trying to establish himself as an everyday player. Pérez is a future Hall of Famer and one of the best catchers of his generation. Amaya can learn from watching how Pérez works a game.
What the Cubs Need to See Today
Tyler Glasnow Stays Dominant
After his last start, Glasnow needs to keep building confidence. Three or four scoreless innings with strikeouts and command. Show Bobby Witt Jr. and the Royals’ lineup that he’s going to be a problem all season.
Jackson Merrill Keeps Adjusting
Another quality day at the plate—good at-bats, hard contact, maybe a stolen base. And defensively, continue making the routine plays look easy. We need to believe he’s the real deal at shortstop.
Pete Crow-Armstrong Shows Offensive Growth
PCA’s defense is elite. We know that. But can he hit enough to be an everyday player? A couple of hard-hit balls and smart at-bats today would go a long way.
Cade Horton or Matt Shaw Make an Impact
If either of these guys get innings, they need to capitalize. Horton should dominate if he pitches. Shaw needs to show his bat is ready. Spring training is their opportunity to force their way onto the Opening Day roster.
Don’t Get Embarrassed by Witt Jr.
Look, Witt’s going to get his. But if he goes 4-for-4 with two homers and makes us look silly, that’s a problem. Make him work for everything.
What the Royals Will Bring
Bobby Witt Jr. is going to play hard and showcase why he’s a franchise cornerstone. Salvador Pérez will probably crush something. And Ben Kudrna will be throwing max effort, trying to prove he’s ready for the majors.
The Royals have offensive firepower with Witt and Pasquantino. If our pitching doesn’t execute, they’ll make us pay. But they’re also still developing, which means mistakes and opportunities for us to capitalize.
Cubs vs Royals: Tale of Two Rebuilds
Both teams are trying to build something sustainable. The Royals are further along because they have Witt Jr. already locked in as their guy. We’re hoping Merrill, Glasnow, and Crow-Armstrong become our core pieces.
Spring training games show you where you are in the process. If we look sharper, more prepared, and more competitive than Kansas City, that’s progress. If they look more cohesive despite having a worse record last year, that’s concerning.
The Royals are also testing young talent, evaluating depth, and trying to establish an identity. Whoever figures it out faster has a better shot at competing in 2026.
Cubs Fan Prediction: We Win Behind Pitching
Final Score: Cubs 6, Royals 4
Tyler Glasnow throws four scoreless innings, striking out five and looking every bit like the ace we paid for. Jackson Merrill goes 2-for-3 with a double and a stolen base, showing he can hang with elite competition.
Pete Crow-Armstrong makes a ridiculous diving catch in center field and legs out an infield single. Matt Shaw comes off the bench and drives in two runs with a clutch double.
Bobby Witt Jr. launches a solo homer because that’s what superstars do. Vinnie Pasquantino adds another. But our pitching depth—led by guys fighting for roster spots—holds them in check, and we win a competitive spring training game.
It’s February, so the result doesn’t technically count. But beating a team with Bobby Witt Jr. feels good regardless.
Why This Game Matters (Even in Spring Training)
We’re not chasing a Cactus League championship. We’re chasing validation that the offseason moves actually improved the roster.
Can Tyler Glasnow stay healthy and dominate? Will Jackson Merrill become the franchise shortstop we desperately need? Can Pete Crow-Armstrong hit enough to be an everyday player? Are our prospects ready to contribute?
The Royals are asking similar questions about their young core. But they already have their answer at shortstop—Bobby Witt Jr. is that guy. We’re still hoping Jackson Merrill becomes ours.
Last season, 78–84 wasn’t good enough. Cubs fans are tired of “rebuilding” and “developing.” We want to win. And spring training is where we start proving that 2026 will be different.
Go Cubs Go. Let’s keep building momentum.
The post Cubs vs Royals Spring Training Game Today February 23: Merrill vs Witt Jr. Highlight Matchup appeared first on UrbanMatter.
