MESA, Ariz. — Veteran infielder Tyler Austin projected to be an important bench piece for the Chicago Cubs this year.

That is now in flux. Austin underwent surgery Tuesday for a patellar tendon debridement in his right knee that will sideline him for months.

Photos: An inside look at Chicago Cubs spring training

Austin, who signed a one-year, $1.25 million contract in December, has a history of knee issues, manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday, and Austin’s right knee didn’t respond well early in camp, requiring surgery. The 34-year-old spent the last six years in Japan with Nippon Professional Baseball’s Yokohama DeNA BayStars.

“It’s opportunity for others — he had an inside track,” Counsell said of the Cubs bench. “So, it’s an option that’s off the table right now.”

Austin provided backup to Michael Busch at first base, and the Cubs still have other options they could use, though Busch will be getting the everyday playing time. Jonathon Long and Moisés Ballesteros are among the backup choices if needed at first as well as Miguel Amaya, who has some experience there. The Cubs could look to get Matt Shaw some reps at the position during camp, too, in case they need him there.

“You’ve got to go through this exercise in spring training of backup plans on top of backup plans, and you just can’t be covered ideally in every single situation,” Counsell said. “This may change where we are very deep to a place we’re not very deep.

“(Long), whether he’s with the big-league team or whether he’s in Triple A, he’s a day away, if that makes sense. Moisés, the catchers can play there in emergency situations. Basically I think everybody can play there in an emergency situation.”

Left-hander Jordan Wicks is also sidelined for what the Cubs hope will only be a few more days because of left forearm inflammation. An MRI showed no concerns about Wicks’ ulnar collateral ligament. The Cubs are still trying to get to the exact source of the pain and discomfort in his forearm, Counsell said, but Wicks’ arm has responded well to rest the last five days.

Counsell anticipates Wicks, 26, will be sidelined in terms of days rather than weeks.

“Hope to have a little more recovery time and then begin throwing shortly,” Counsell said.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/25/chicago-cubs-tyler-austin-surgery/