Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full) 

28 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 

Last updated 3-26-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 15
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
Alexander Canario
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Draft Pick 2015 Watch Begins

It was fun while it lasted, a 4-game win streak and a run of 18-13 since May 30th had visions of Cubs' relevance dancing in my head. But then TheJedi receivedt the the quality and depth of prospects they hoped for from Billy Beane and that Cubs 2014 ballon deflated and whizzed off into the darkness. Don't get me wrong, it's not that they really had a chance of doing much in 2014, but it was fun watching winning baseball over the last month.

And sure, maybe Hendricks and Wada provide a close fascimile of the two dearly departed hurlers or Wood and Jackson will make their inevitable improvements and it's all a wash, but more likely, more trades will be made and the Cubs make another run at a top 5 pick. And it had to be a bit of a hit to the team morale when two of your better players get moved. But we all know what was expected this year, although Theo did mention seeing a "light at the end of tunnel", so hopefully 2014 marks the end of the asset gathering and 2015 marks the beginning of the time to try and win some games.

On that note, here is where things stand now...

Team.PCTGB
Astros.400--
DBacks.4111
Rockies.4161.5
Phillies.4202
Rangers.4323
Cubs.4424
Red Sox.4434
Padres.4434
Mets.4434
Twins.4484.5
Rays.4514.5

It's quite the pack at the moment, although if I were a betting man, i'd go Astros, DBacks, Phillies, Rockies, Padres and then Cubs.

As for Theo's tunnel light, I think it's a safe bet that Bryant and Alcantara will be regulars in the 2015 lineup along with Rizzo, Castro and Castillo, with an outside shot of Baez breaking camp. Baez's overall numbers may be a bit lacking at the moment, but the improvement is important (OPS numbers by month: .617, .738, .815, .938). Whether he breaks camp next year or joins the team at some point is certainly a fluid situation. They talked about adding vets and certainly starting pitching would be the obvious position, although I would guess they may look at some outfielders. I don't think we'll know when Russell and Schwarber will show up, but I'm guessing 2016 is a more likely ETA along with Almora arriving around then or 2017. There's also Jorge Soler of course, and if he can ever stay healthy should be in the mix as well for 2015 and certainly by 2016.

And then there's the trade front, they have enough high end prospects to start considering using them to acquire high end talent in trades. Now who will be available and worth the cost is nearly impossible to answer. There's been some talk of Giancarlo Stanton, but I think there was a better shot of getting him last year or last offseason when he was nursing injuries and upset at the organization. It doesn't mean the Marlins won't deal with him, but I don't know if there in such a rush with how well they've played this year, seemingly on the cusp of another run. Other names will pop-up in the offseason as they tend to do and the Cubs are well-poised to strike in the right situation.

As for starting pitching, the big names will be Max Scherzer, Jon Lester and James Shields and we'll see if the Cubs go over 5 years and offer any type of no-trade clauses as all 3 will have plenty of suitors. Tier B includes the likes of Justin Masterson, Ervin Santana, and maybe Yovani Gallardo if the Brewers don't exercise his $13M club option. I'm of course working off the premise that the Cubs will go after players closer to 30 than 35 and that's not a particularly long list of availables.

All in all, we're pretty close to a fresh from the farm picked club and that's going to be darn fun to watch. And I certainly look forward to the days of posting playoff watch versus draft pick watch.

Comments

hope this is the last one of these threads for a decade or so... sick of knowing the season is a close-as-you-can-get-to-100% total punt season before spring training even ends. let's see how good this front office is at drafting with late round 1 picks + later round picks...without trading away a slew of players mid-season...etc.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

I'm hoping cubs can draft a ss next year. Remember when the Cubs cornered the market on talentless no hit middle infielders back in 2000's?

Almora 2 run HR, 3 RBI, 2-3 Javy Baez 3 run HR Straily 4 unearned runs in the 1st (welcome to the Cubs) Edwin being Edwin (after 4 innings)

Hey you guys: Barney can still play D and not hit and Valbuena can still work a count and get on base without any RBI. Just like the last two years. 9-3 Reds. Super educational Ricky we are learning so much about these mysterious players while we get blown out. Thank you! PS - bring back Neifi!!

So sad that Junior Lake and Mike Olt were reassigned to bullpen catcher duty -- we had clearly seen enough of them to know they are not everyday players. Coughlin and Barney -- now, they have high ceilings, and their make-up?? Off the charts!! Edwin -- just take your money and go home. Please. For the love of God -- just go away. We'll pay you.

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

I have seen enough of Lake. He played in 67 of the Cubs first 75 games, and had 235 PAs in that time. He struck out in 78 of them and put up a .243/.274/.428 line. He was hitting .280 on May 23rd and then the league just decided not to throw him fastballs anymore and now he's at .223. In his last 20 plate appearances he is 0-20 with 10 Ks. If it spins, he can't hit it. Lake to me is the epitome of the old regime's guys. He is clearly athletic, can run and steal some bases, and has some nice power when he runs into a fastball. The tools like good. But he swings at everything, makes silly errors, etc. He's like the outfield version of Ronny Cedeno. I don't think he fits with the new "control the strike zone" and play fundamentally sound baseball the new regime wants to see. He'll be gone soon I would think. He'll be swapped in the off-season to another team for something in a low key deal like Bogusevic for Ruggiano.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

He's like the outfield version of Ronny Cedeno.
Ouch. Yeah, I don't think Lake fits the Olt complaint thing so much. As loathe as I am to say it, he may have been brought up a little too fast, too. Ruggiano is fine in center for now. I agree that Lake doesn't fit the new mold. I doubt Baez does, either, but Baez has such huge power that it overcomes that a bit, and it sounds like he's really making strides down in triple A on, as you say, learning how to control the strike zone.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

I completely agree regarding lake, and add that he's not a good defender at any position. I'll kind of will miss his perplexed stumble after any swing that doesn't enter the field of play. He still has both hands on that bat and just looks like he's never missed before and can't believe it ...

I truly hope 2015 brings me Cubs baseball sans Shierholtz, Barney, Baker, Sweeney, EJax, and Olt & Lake for that matter. I could live with Watkins/Valbuena as back up IF/Utility as long as Valbuena was limited to < 200 ABs. I want to watch Bryant, Alcantara, & Baez get as many ABs as Rizzo & Castro. If Soler can stay healthy and finish AA hitting like this week, I would let him play here in September and the AFL again to make up for lost PAs in May/June. I'd rather watch him in June, 2015 than Ruggiano or Coughlin.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob Richardson

BOB R: Yes. 

There are no real payroll, service time (arbitration or free-agency), or 40-man roster slot issues involved with bringing Jorge Soler up to Chicago in September, since he's already on the 40-man roster and is signed to a nine-year major league contract (runs through 2020, with "club control" extending through the 2021 season).  

He does have a player option to "opt out" of his contract if and when he is eligible for salary arbitration (likely post-2018, and that's whether or not he gets called up in September), but that only would mean he can file for salary arbitration once he opts out, not that he would become a free-agent. So even if Soler opts out post-2018, the Cubs would still retain "club control" through the 2021 season.  

Soler will be out of minor league options in 2016 (he gets a 4th minor league option next season), and so any time he can spend on the field getting reps would be a positive thing, including a call-up to Chicago once the AA Southern League season ends, a stint in the AFL in October-November, and then winter ball in Mexico, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, or the Dominican Republic after that 

So unless he pulls another hamstring, I would say it's very possible that Soler will get a September call-up. 

 

[ ]

In reply to by Rob Richardson

BOB R: Similar but slightly different.

The MLB season is 183 days in length, but 172 days on an MLB 40-man roster constitutes a "full season" for Service Time purposes. That's why the Cubs would want to wait at least 12 days to call Kris Bryant or Javier Baez up in 2015, so they can't accrue a full season next year, and so the Cubs can retain club control through the 2021 season even if Bryant and/or Baez become an MLB Article XX-B FA at first opportunity.

If a player is already on the 40-man roster (like Arismendy Alcantara), the player accrues a full season if he spends fewer than 20 days on Optional Assignment to the minors in a given season. So if the Cubs call-up Alcantara this season but want to buy an extra year of club control, they would want to wait at least 20 days (not 12) plus as many days as he spends on an MLB Active List in 2014 before calling him up in 2015.

Tier B may be a stretch the way Masterson is pitching this season. He might become the buy low reclamation project that TheoJed have done so well identifying the past couple seasons. The past 3 starts he's pitched a total of 9 innings and allowed 13 earned runs and his spot in the rotation may be in jeopardy. Talk of a knee issue bothering him.

Mark Gonzales/Tribune says Hendricks will pitch Wednesday, Beeler Thursday.
After the game, Renteria announced that Dallas Beeler and Kyle Hendricks would be promoted from Triple-A Iowa to start Wednesday and Thursday's games.
probably will send Rusin/Parker back on the Des Moines shuttle

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

So Wada will just get the one start in the double header then and be sent back, and Villanueva will not be stretched out but will remain the long man. I guess we get 3 months to see if Hendricks and Beeler have an major league potential. A nice audition for them. And Parker frustrates me. He dominates AAA, but seems to struggle in the bigs. I hope he "figures it out" at some point like Schlitter seems to have done and becomes useful.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

I won't mind if that's a one way ticket for Rusin. I'm interested in seeing Beeler - missed the last start. And I'm very interested in Hendricks, who some have compared - in pitching style - to Greg Maddux. Although I hate seeing people compared to once in a generation players, I think the reference is in the way he throws the ball. I am reading here and elsewhere he has excellent command of the plate. Cubbery being what it is, he'll walk 5 guys early.

Looks like Straily pitched pretty well for Iowa last night (key error by Bryant at 3B tho) but what's with Vizcaino getting lit up? Anyone know how his velocity and wicked curve ball are looking?

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

why you gotta keep bringing him up? this is the 10th time you've done this! it's like you're focused on him. that's probably why you've brought him up 15 times now. this team is crap and it doesn't matter who's leading off. bringing him up for the 20th time like you just did isn't helping. besides, mentioning him for the 25th time isn't going to keep him from leading off. i wonder what the cubs ob% out of the leadoff spot is this year. at least coghlan is inching closer to .280 ob% out of the leadoff spot.

Kris Bryant has a .110 HRPct in AAA. I'm not sure if that's a real stat, but I think it should be.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

Good news though on Stanton and Miami not being able to reach an extension. Maybe he will be available this offseason afterall. Baez and Soler would be a great start to the talks. I still like Almora a lot, especially because of his D, but if Alcantara can acclimate himself there, I presume the left-handed bat would be preferred by Cubs, although Almora was their first pick.

How is Rizzo supposed to compete with Morneau when Rockies fans are high enough to sit and vote for hours without getting bored? #VoteRizzo

Kris Bryant ejection arguing balls & strikes. First base coach also ejected. Manny running out to coach first base.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

Bryant appeared to get ejected, then mgr Pevey, who was coaching 3rd came in to talk to ump. I think he thought he'd talked the ump out of it. When Bryant left the dugout (1st base side) to go to the clubhouse (3rd base side) Pevey roared back in from 3B coaches box and got tossed as well. 1st base coach moved to 3rd, Manny took over at 1st. Bryant had issues with a call mid way through his 3rd at bat. First pitch of his last AB was questionable as well. After he struck out he said something over his shoulder as he was crossing the plate to head to the Cubs dugout and got thumbed. Alcantara led off the ball game with a rope double to left. Next batter (2nd batter of the game), bunted him to third. Hopefully that is not part of the new Cubs way. Baez had hardest hit ball of the day, never more than 6 inches off the ground 'til it hit the pitcher on the instep and ricocheted out to SS. Brett Jackson with no-doubt HR. Rhee pitched for Cubs and was unimpressive. Had about a dozen chances to help himself and let every one slip by....Cubs go up and he futzed around....needed a strikeout and turned an 0-2 count into a walk. Misplayed a bunt.

Olt with a HR / BB 2 RBI, 2 runs scored. Line drive to center field. Another BB earlier in the day in a PH role ... And captain asshole pinch hits for him with Valbuena in the 9th of a tied game. It's bordering on pathological.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

I was disgusted after the eighth inning and turned off the game for obvious reasons. Good thing, because I wouldn't have wanted to see that unfold. Why don't reporters ask Captain Happy tough questions during the pressers? Like, Why did you pinch hit for Olt in that situation??????

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

I knew we were in trouble when he brought Villenueva in ... I assume it was because of the double header that he have Villenueva the 7th inning. But I will say I was disappointed he pitched N Ramirez at the end of game one - would have liked to see the opposite. Ramirez in 7th of game 2.

Jesse Rogers‏@ESPNChiCubs· Breaking: Arismendy Alcantara getting called up to Cubs for Darwin Barney who's on paternity leave. 2 day call up. That's it What'over/under on PA's?

If Renteria is under orders to showcase the journeymen over Olt, does that mean they called Renteria in the dugout and told him to pinch hit for Olt in the ninth? Even one of Olt's outs was a sharply hit ball to right center that Hamilton made a nice catch on. As Carlito mentioned earlier up the thread, this is bordering on pathological. He had some really nice ABs yesterday. Play him for 30 days in a row goddammit or I stop watching you turds.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

I keep going back to that quote I posted a few weeks back. Renteria says 'people' wanted to see Olt play every day back in May when he got hot (reading between the lines: Renteria did NOT want to see him play every day). Gave him a cursory 9 days of playing time and then relegated him to exile. Beyond bizarre. Is it REALLY that hard to hire a manager in this day and age, and at the current salary structure, who is VERY sharp as a strategist and a good 'manager' of people. This guy is running at about 60% of what I would consider world class.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

The GM is not calling the dugout to micromanage pinch hitters. Jeez. People complain about manager pinch hitting decisions no matter what. If Olt hits and Ks people wonder why you let the righty with a .150 BA hit when you have a lefty hitting 100 points higher on the bench. Well, maybe not here since everyone is obsessed with Olt, but other fans would be complaining just as much.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

You can think of him as the righty batting .150 or you can think of him as the guy with enough power to tie the game in one swing and save Valbuena to bat for another righty (Barney) who can't hit it out if the park. You can also think of Olt as the righty batting .150 or you can think of him as the batter that same day who walked twice, hit a HR, scored 2R and knocked in 2RBI while hitting another ball on the nose to the CF. Versus Valbuena who is batting about .140 over his last 65 AB. The bottom line is no other manager makes that move. And he does it all the time to Olt despite the fact that he hits a HR better than once every 14AB. Since when don't you want a guy who can give you the lead with one swing in the 9th to bat when you can use Valbuena to bat two batters later for Barney? Let Olt finish a fucking game on a team going nowhere?

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

Also I admit that I am not accepting reality, which is that this guy is sitting on the pine regardless of my opinion. So I'll shut up cause it is tiring. But mark my words someday we'll hear what's really going on and there is something funky at work. And anyone who thinks we are swooning is missing the point. The point is why isn't he playing somewhere if we are in rebuild mode? Not that he is good. This treatment is unprecedented for a rookie. It just doesn't happen and not on a team that sucks in rebuild mode. Soooo anyone know why Addison sat out yesterday's AA game? Hopefully just an adjustment day off after the big move and not a hamstring issue?

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

I have a theory that people must have a certain number of things in their "no big deal" bucket, a certain number in their "kind of a big deal" bucket, and a certain number of things in their "big friggin deal" bucket. And no matter what's going on, regardless of how big of a deal everything is, they will fill these buckets with their preferred percentages of complaints. I guess what I'm saying is, there's not much that's happening on the Chicago Cubs that is a very big deal right now. Still, in Cub fandom there will be that percentage of things that are perceived as a really big deal. I'm not convinced that playing every day is even the best thing for Olt. I don't know him, but maybe he's got a confidence thing going on and Renteria wants to keep the pressure off him. I don't honestly know and really I just don't care. I think for a young guy, if he's not playing every day, he better be in the batting cage every day working on his approach- I guess that would be in my "kind of a big deal" bucket, but making sure he plays every day... meh..

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

From the dead horse troll department: Olt started 34 of the first 45 games. Does that constitute a chance to play? I want to get a baseline here. (That's 76 percent of the games.) He responded by hitting .165 with about a .250 OBP. Yes, with power, but nothing else.* *And I reiterate that I would've kept him in the lineup regardless, but I understand why any manager would see it otherwise.

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

For the record, I like Olt, which he had not been pinch hit for yesterday, and wish that he had been given and will be given more consistent playing time. I just don't think it is as terrible as others do or that it is a big conspiracy (and certainly on the latter I could be proven wrong). I posted along these lines last week: my guess is simply that goal is to get guys like Barney, Valbuena, Schierholtz, etc. as much trade value as possible. Some of them will be moved in a few weeks and then I would guess Olt gets 2 to 2.5 months of starts down the stretch to see what he can do. They were actually winning games in June and playing well, so it was hard to criticize the manager for his moves then. But now that the two starters are gone and the team is tanking and has no hope of any contention, full re-build mode should begin soon and they will play the youngsters to see what they will get next year. I think the plan to start Beeler and Hendricks rather than say move Villanueva into the rotation is a good sign. And I expect once some room is cleared in the infield we will see a similar approach. If not, and the same shit is going on in mid-August, I'll be annoyed too.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

Agreed! (and I don't believe it's a classic conspiracy. I feel like it's a combination of front office telling Ricky to play those other guys, combined with a natural (irrational) distrust of Olt on the part of Ricky. When I say we'll find out what's up - it'll be what you describe when players are traded, and/or we'll find out there were some additional personality things going on. I just fail to see how this game plan has much value and Ricky seems to be adding in a fairly awkward rigidity (matchups etc) that puts a cherry on the whole shit sundae. I REALLY wish Ricky was a little more cerebral - he strikes me as a sweet people person - but more of a transitional guy who is not terribly shrewd.)

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

i cannot buy into the "front office pulling the strings" thing only because it's a hell of a way to tank your managerial career. joe torre is the only manager in recent memory who's been able to pull this off without the locker room revolting against the manager. it nearly ruined the reds during the dave miley era and totally ruined miley's managerial career. sure, the front office does pull some strings...such as pitch count management...but if the front office is determining playing time then renteria's selling out his own career and possibly endangering the mood/attitude of the roster. this can effect not only the players in house, but potential free agents being sought to come over.

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

Also WISCGRAD, I don't think O&B thought anyone called Ricky literally, I think his point was that Ricky is making these decisions and we can't assume it was the front office. Btw I'm obnoxious because I'm a MICHGRAD! ;) PS - I have a Master's Degree in Social Work Research from Michigan which is why I'm so literate, never swear, am a baseball expert, and have such a deft diplomatic touch with my opinions!

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

Hah! I have a PhD in Political Science, so I am trained to see both sides of every issue and I often find myself naturally taking the opposite view of the group just for the sake of argument like I do in my classes (I play a damn good right-wing Republican in my lefty liberal classrooms).

I see Baez batting third and Bryant fourth today. I was wondering when they were going to put them back to back and stop having Valaika sandwiched between them. Also, continued good signs from Almora. 2-3 in the first game of a DH today, and he's hitting .349 over his last 30 games and .517(!!!) over his last 10 games. Also, Schwarber continues to hit. 3-5 last night with two doubles, .379 now at A. I'm excited about him. He signs right away for under slot, says all of the right things, and starts playing like two days later and keeps hitting the hell out of the ball. Seems like a kid who just likes to play ball.

Recent comments

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  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Here are the Cubs pitchers reports from Tuesday afternoon's Cardinals - Cubs game art Sloan Park in Mesa:

    SHOTA IMANAGA
    FB: 90-92 
    CUT: 87-89 
    SL: 82-83 
    SPLIT: 81-84
    CV: 73-74 
    COMMENT: Worked three innings plus two batters in the fourth... allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits (six singles and two doubles) walked one, and struck out six (four swinging), with a 1/2 GO/AO... he threw 73 pitches (52 strikes - 10 swing & miss - 19 foul balls)... surrendered one run in the top of the 1st on a one-out double off Cody Bellinger's glove in deep straight-away CF followed one out later by two consecutive two-out bloop singles, allowed two runs (one earned) in the 2nd after retiring the first two hitters (first batter had a nine-pitch AB with four consecutive two-strike foul balls before being retired 3 -U) on a two-out infield single (weak throw on the run by Nico Hoerner), a hard-contact line drive RBI double down the RF line, and an E-1 (missed catch) by Imanaga on what should been an inning-ending 3-1 GO, gave up another run in the 3rd on a two-out walk on a 3-2 pitch and an RBI double to LF, and two consecutive singles leading off the top of the 4th before being relieved (runners were ultimately left stranded)... threw 18 pitches in the 1st inning (14 strikes - two swing & miss, one on FB and the other on a SL - four foul balls), 24 pitches in the 2nd inning (17 strikes - three swing & miss, one on FB, two SPLIT - six foul balls), 19 pitches in the 3rd inning (13 strikes - seven swing & miss, three on SL, two on SPLIT, one on FB - three foul balls), and 12 pitches without retiring a batter in the top of the 4th (8 strikes - no swing & miss - four foul balls)... Imanaga throws a lot of pitches per inning, but it's not because he doesn't throw strikes...  if anything, he throws too many strikes (he threw 70% strikes on Tuesday)... while he gets a ton of swing & miss (and strikeouts), he also induces a lot of foul balls because he doesn't try to make hitters chase his pitches by throwing them out of the strike zone... rather, he uses his very diverse pitch mix to get swing & miss (and lots of foul balls as well)... he also is a fly ball pitcher who will give up more than his share of HR during the course of the season...   
     
    JOE NAHAS
    FB: 90-92 
    SL: 83-85 
    CV: 80-81 
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day... relieved Imanaga with runners at first and second and no outs in the top of the 4th, and after an E-2 catcher's interference committed by Miguel Amaya loaded he bases, Nahas struck out the side (one swinging & two looking)... threw 16 pitches (11 strikes - two swinging)...   

    YENCY ALMONTE
    FB: 89-92 
    CH: 86 
    SL: 79 
    COMMENT: Threw an eight-pitch 5th (five strikes - no swing & miss), with a 5-3 GO for the first out and an inning-ending 4-6-3 DP after a one-out single... command was a bit off but he worked through it...   

    FRANKIE SCALZO JR
    FB: 94-95
    CH: 88 
    SL: 83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 6th inning... got the first outs easily (a P-5 and a 4-3 GO) on just three pitches, before allowing three consecutive two-out hard-contact hits (a double and two singles), with the third hit on pitch # 9 resulting in a runner being thrown out at the plate by RF Christian Franklin for the third out of the inning... 

    MICHAEL ARIAS
    FB: 94-96
    CH: 87-89
    SL: 82-83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and allowed a hard-contact double on the third pitch of the 7th inning (a 96 MPH FB), and the runner came around to score on a 4-3 GO and a WP... gave up two other loud contact outs (an L-7 and an F-9)... threw 18 pitches (only 10 strikes - only one swing & miss)... stuff is electric but still very raw and he continues to have difficulty commanding it, and while he has the repertoire of a SP, he throws too many pitches-per-inning to be a SP and not enough strikes to be a closer... he is most definitely still a work-in-progress...   

    ZAC LEIGH: 
    FB: 93-94 
    CH: 89 
    SL: 81-83 
    CV: 78
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and tossed a 1-2-3 8th (4-3 GO, K-swinging on a sweeper, K-looking on another sweeper)... threw 14 pitches (11 strikes - one swing & miss - eight foul balls)... kept pumping pitches into the strike zone but had difficulty putting hitters away (ergo a ton of foul balls)... FB velo is nowhere near the 96-98 MPH it was a couple of years ago when he was a Top 30 prospect, but his secondaries are better...   

    JOSE ROMERO:  
    FB: 93-95
    SL: 82-84
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 9th (14 pitches - only six strikes- no swing & miss) and allowed a solo HR after two near-HR fly outs to the warning track, before getting a 3-1 GO to end the inning... it was like batting practice when he wasn't throwing pitches out of the strike zone...