Opening Day is approaching for the Chicago Cubs a whole lot quicker than it is for the rest of the league. The Cubs will face the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers for a two-game set in Japan on March 18 before returning back to the United States to finish off spring training for another week to prepare for domestic Opening Day on March 27 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

"I’ve been preparing for this opportunity for my entire life," the 23-year-old Shaw said of making Chicago's travel roster.

The Cubs arrived at Spring Training with a pair of runways to Opening Day. The North Siders had to map out plans for the mid-March trip to Japan, while also weighing roster construction for the domestic opener at the end of the month.