Matt Shaw is going to Japan.

The Cubs top prospect has made the Cubs 31-man travel roster that departs for Tokyo on Tuesday afternoon, manager Craig Counsell told reporters in Mesa, Ariz. on Tuesday morning. He’ll presumptively be the team’s Opening Day third baseman after a whirlwind winter and spring.

“Matt Shaw’s going to Japan,” Counsell told reporters. “That’s probably the news — the big news.”

Shaw, 23, is not on the team’s 40-man roster, so they will have to make a move to clear a spot in order to have him on their 26-man active roster against the Dodgers. The team will have a 5-man travel squad with them in Japan to help cover the two exhibition games, in addition to the two-game set against Los Angeles.

The complete 31-man roster has not been announced yet, although Shaw’s inclusion was arguably the biggest question mark.

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As the offseason began back in November, Shaw’s fit on the Cubs’ roster wasn’t clear. The team had Isaac Paredes at third base, Dansby Swanson at shortstop and Nico Hoerner at second. But, with the team’s blockbuster trade to acquire Kyle Tucker from Houston shipping Paredes to the Astros, there became an opening at the hot corner.

“I think making room for young players is really important,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said after acquiring Tucker. “I mean, [Shaw] has to earn that job. I’m not going to gift him that job on a conference call in the middle of December.

“But, certainly, with what he’s done in the minor leagues since we’ve had him, he’s played really well.”

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Then, as spring training began to start, a pair of issues threw everything in the air. First, the Cubs pursued and ultimately failed in landing All-Star free agent Alex Bregman. Then, Shaw was a non-participant on the first day of full-squad workouts with an oblique injury. He worked his way back and made his Cactus League debut on March 2.

In 5 games since, Shaw has gone 4-for-14 (.286) with 3 RBI and a stolen base. He is scheduled to be in the lineup on Tuesday against the Brewers before the team boards their charter for Tokyo. That would represent his first time playing in back-to-back games this spring, a massive hurdle to clear.

A full analysis of the Cubs’ 31-man travel squad to Japan will be released later today on marqueesportsnetwork.com.