Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cubs fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Earlier this week I asked you the following question in the SB Nation Reacts survey: Which two of these non-roster outfielders will make the Opening Day roster? That question referred to Dylan Carlson, Chas McCormick and Michael Conforto, all of whom are in Cubs Spring Training camp as non-roster players.
This seems like the right answer. Carlson is batting .421/.577/.526 (8-for-19) with five walks and Conforto is 2-for-5 with a pair of walks and a double in the two games he’s played so far. The Cubs could use someone who could play center field occasionally to rest Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Carlson has significant experience there, though he played only 14 games there in 2025. But again, this is just a “start a handful of games” situation, and 14 games might just about do it.
Carlson’s also a switch-hitter, and that should help out the bench.
Conforto has hit well in past years, hitting 20 home runs in 130 games for the Giants in 2024. He had a down year in 2025, but just turned 33 and likely has something left in the tank.
Two spots on the bench are probably open after the injury to Tyler Austin, which reportedly will keep him out for “months.” The Cubs have guys they can place on the 60-day injured list to open up 40-man roster spots for Carlson and Conforto, if that’s the way they choose to go.
Here are the results of the national questions asked in the SB Nation Reacts survey.
I’m actually surprised it’s “only” 82 percent. I think the ABS challenge system is fantastic. It will eliminate a fair number of bad calls, especially the ones Jim Deshaies loves to call “egregious.” Interestingly, Jayson Stark of The Athletic wrote an article the other day about whether this system would eliminate manager ejections. The consensus: Most of them — but not all:
“Oh, don’t worry,” one umpire predicted this spring. “We’ll still eject them. They’ll find something. They have to vent.”
I tend to agree with this one, too. In particular reference to the Cubs, it has appeared over Seiya Suzuki’s four seasons in MLB that he’s gotten jobbed on a lot of close calls. I would think he’ll be a major beneficiary of this system. So, for that matter, will be former Cub Kyle Schwarber.
Can you think of any other hitters this system will benefit?