TOKYO -- Being informed he had a seat on the plane to Japan was the first step in Matt Shaw’s path to the Opening Day roster. On Tuesday morning, the Cubs made it official: Shaw will be on the active roster for the Tokyo Series, setting up his much-anticipated Major League debut.

“Matt is a very talented young player who has really excelled at every challenge that we have given him as a professional player," Cubs manager Craig Counsell said this past weekend. "So he has earned the ability to be on this roster and he’s earned the right to be in the starting lineup. And we’re excited about what the future holds for him.”

Shaw -- MLB Pipeline’s top Cubs prospect and No. 19 on the Top 100 list – being selected headlined the 26-man roster revealed by the North Siders ahead of Tuesday’s Opening Day clash with the Dodgers at Tokyo Dome. To finalize the roster, the Cubs placed righty Javier Assad (strained left oblique) on the 15-day injured list, optioned Daniel Palencia to Triple-A Iowa and designated righty Keegan Thompson for assignment (vacating a 40-man roster spot for Shaw).

Here is the Cubs’ 26-man roster for Opening Day in Tokyo:

Catcher (2): Miguel Amaya, Carson Kelly
Amaya turned a corner in the second half in 2024 and gained trust from the pitching staff, but the Cubs wanted a veteran to pair with him behind the dish. Chicago signed Kelly on a two-year deal, giving the team two backstops capable of handling the starting role.

First baseman (1): Michael Busch
Busch was handed the keys to first base in 2024 and put together a solid rookie campaign both offensively and defensively. He will return as the starter at first, while veteran Justin Turner offers an experienced righty complement off the bench.

Second baseman (1): Jon Berti
Nico Hoerner (right flexor tendon surgery in October) stayed back in Arizona this week to begin playing in Minor League games in his build-up for the domestic opener on March 27 against the D-backs. With Hoerner inactive and temporarily out, the versatile Berti is the top choice to fill in at second.

Shortstop (1): Dansby Swanson
Swanson is entering the third season under the seven-year contract he signed with the Cubs. He had core muscle surgery in October -- addressing an issue he dealt with in parts of the past two seasons -- but is healthy and made a handful of acrobatic defensive plays this preseason.

Third baseman (1): Matt Shaw
The Cubs have parted ways with every player who made a start at third base last season and also traded Top 100 prospect Cam Smith to the Astros over the winter. It created a clear path to the Opening Day roster for the highly touted prospect, who impressed again this spring after a brief setback with an oblique issue.

Outfielders (3): Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ, Kyle Tucker
Tucker arrived at camp as the Cubs’ marquee addition this winter, adding star power to the middle of Chicago’s lineup. Crow-Armstrong is coming off a strong showing down the stretch last year, has a new number on his back and gives the Cubs an elite defender with plus speed and overflowing energy. Happ won his third consecutive Gold Glove in left last year and returns as a source of veteran leadership and offensive consistency.

DH (1): Seiya Suzuki
The addition of Tucker to man right field pushed Suzuki out of the regular rotation for the outfield. While Suzuki can be worked in for left and right field, he stands to get the majority of his at-bats as the Cubs’ DH right now, and he is on the same page with Counsell.

Bench/Utility (3): Vidal Bruján, Justin Turner, Gage Workman
Bruján offers the Cubs a versatile player who can fill in at multiple infield positions and currently is the main backup to Crow-Armstrong in center. Turner should mostly see time at first base, but can play third if needed. Workman (Rule 5 selection) had a standout showing this spring and gives Chicago another backup at multiple infield and outfield spots.

Starting Pitchers (2): Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele
Imanaga is coming off a brilliant rookie season with the Cubs in which he was named an All-Star and garnered consideration for both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award in the National League. He will take the ball in his native Japan for a historic Opening Day start. Steele -- the Cubs’ Opening Day starter a year ago -- has emerged as one of the top lefty arms in the game.

Relief Pitchers (11): Ryan Brasier, Ben Brown, Porter Hodge, Julian Merryweather, Tyson Miller, Eli Morgan, Nate Pearson, Ryan Pressly, Colin Rea, Caleb Thielbar, Jordan Wicks
With this being only a two-game series, the Cubs were able to load up their bullpen behind their two starters. Pressly was acquired over the winter to bring a veteran presence to the ninth inning, but Hodge and Pearson look poised to be main late-inning arms, as well. From there, Chicago amassed a much deeper group than at the start of 2024, hoping to be able to weather any injury or performance storms that arise.

Inactive travel squad (5): Matthew Boyd, Brad Keller, Reese McGuire, Daniel Palencia, Jameson Taillon
Boyd and Taillon will be in the rotation this season, but only pitched in the exhibition games in Japan. McGuire serves as Chicago’s third-string catcher. Keller (non-roster) and Palencia made the trip as extra bullpen arms.