Zagunis finds himself in Chicago Cubs lineup for opener

ARLINGTON, Texas - Not only did Mark Zagunis make the Chicago Cubs' 25-man roster, he was in the starting lineup and playing left field on Opening Day.

The 26-year-old Zagunis, who had 12 games of major-league experience with the Cubs the past two seasons, went 1-for-2 with an RBI double in Thursday's 12-4 victory over the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park.

Zagunis has persevered since being selected by the Cubs in the third round of the 2014 draft.

"I just worked really hard this off-season to get back in shape," he said. "I had a couple nagging injuries the last couple years, and I think that's just kind of helped me a lot get through it. Just believing in myself."

Cubs manager Joe Maddon started Zagunis ahead of Kyle Schwarber. Ben Zobrist was the designated hitter. Schwarber later batted for Zagunis.

"I ran into him yesterday walking to dinner last night," Maddon said of Schwarber. "We spoke. He got it. He had no issues, obviously. It's something we've really been trying to hammer home this off-season and now, the buy-in from the whole group and that some days it's going to be somebody else.

"The conversations have been very transparent, and everybody's on board. So it was a very easy exchange between me and him."

Albert Almora Jr. made his first opening-day start, in center field.

"They've been around a little bit," Maddon said. "They've actually played here. Your Opening Day is a little bit different. Regardless of how many you've been through, there's always that butterfly effect going on in your stomach that's great. So I"m really happy for them and their families that they get this opportunity today. They've all earned that right to be there."

On the fast track:

The Cubs are starting last year's first-round draft choice, shortstop Nico Hoerner, at Class AA Tennessee, having him bypass Class A Myrtle Beach. Hoerner, played at Mesa (Rookie), Eugene (A) and South Bend (A) last year before a left-elbow injury ended his season early.

Team president Theo Epstein said the Cubs do not consider Hoerner as major-league depth for later this season.

"We think he deserves to be at Double-A," Epstein said. "It is an aggressive placement. He is uncommonly mature and advanced for his age, both with his game on the field and the way he handles things off the field. So we believe he can handle it. But we expect him to be at Double-A for, if not the whole year, the great, great majority of the year."

Duensing stays in organization:

The Cubs said veteran left-handed reliever Brian Duensing has cleared waivers and was outrighted to Class AAA Iowa. Duensing, who appeared in 48 games for the Cubs last year and 68 in 2017, had a rough spring.