Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer confirmed Monday that Bote will open the season on the injured list following offseason left shoulder surgery, Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hoyer implied that Bote will miss at least the first month of the season, as he merely said, "We'll see," when asked if the utility infielder would be ready to return by May. The Cubs' recent signing of Andrelton Simmons along with Nick Madrigal's return from a hamstring injury that prevented him from making his team debut in 2021 following his July acquisition from the White Sox likely means that Bote won't have a clear path to steady at-bats whenever he's healthy.