Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner won't be going to Japan where the team opens the regular season next month, manager Craig Counsell announced on Thursday.
Hoerner, 27, is still recovering from offseason arm surgery and will miss the two games against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Tokyo.
"Its good news because we were very much tracking towards opening day -- domestic opening day," Counsell said. "So it stinks in terms of not getting to be part of the trip but his rehab in the last couple of weeks I think really took a step forward and he's starting to progress quicker.