John Antonoff / For the Sun-Times
MESA, Ariz. — Cubs manager Craig Counsell got right to the point: Gage Workman is going to Japan with the team.
‘‘It was crazy,’’ Workman said. ‘‘Shocked. Just like, ‘I can’t believe this is happening.’ ’’
Just three months ago, the Cubs selected Workman in the Rule 5 Draft from the Tigers. The 25-year-old third baseman never had played above Double-A or even been invited to major-league spring training before. Now he’s expected to make the Cubs’ Opening Day roster in Tokyo.