Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

39 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (one slot is open), plus two players are on the 60-DAY IL and one player has been DESIGNATED FOR ASSIGNMENT (DFA)   

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and eight players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, three players are on the 15-DAY IL, and two players is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-24-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Hector Neris 
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Pete Crow-Armstrong 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 8 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Miles Mastrobuoni, INF
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 2
* Cody Bellinger, OF  
Seiya Suzuki, OF

15-DAY IL: 3
Kyle Hendricks, P 
* Drew Smyly, P 
* Justin Steele, P   

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P

DFA: 1 
Garrett Cooper, 1B 
 





Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Cubs 2010 AZ Instructional League - Final Stats

Here are the FINAL unofficial statistics for the Cubs AZ Instructional League team. (There is no Official Scorer at Instructs games, so the stats are not official).

2010 Cubs AZ Instructional League record: 7-9-4 (20 GAMES)

* Bats or throws left
* Bats both

POSITION PLAYERS:

Slash line = AVG/OBP/SLUG

CATCHERS:

* Sergio Burruel (age 19) - 2010 at AZL Cubs (2009 19th Round - Trevor Browne HS - Phoenix, AZ)
144/343/185
13 GAMES – 35 PA (4-27, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 R, 7 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 2 GIDP, 1 PO)
DEFENSE: 3-5 CS (60%), 1 E, 0 PB

# Micah Gibbs (age 22) - 2010 at AZL Cubs & Boise (2010 3rd Round - LSU)
194/356/308
13 GAMES – 45 PA (7-36, 1 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 3 R, 8 BB, 8 K, 1 HBP)
DEFENSE: 7-10 CS (70%), 0 E, 0 PB

Max Kwan (age 23) – Pro debut (2010 NDFA - U. of Washington)
185/258/222
14 GAMES – 31 PA (5-27, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 1 R, 2 BB, 13 K, 1 HBP, 1 SH, 1 CS, 1 PO)
DEFENSE: 0-6 CS (0%), 1 E, 1 PB

Chad Noble (age 22) – 2010 at AZL Cubs & Boise (2010 37th Round - Northwestern)
250/500/250
3 GAMES – 6 PA (1-4, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K)
DEFENSE: 0-1 CS (0%), 0 E, 0 PB

# Engel Santana (age 21) – U. S. debut - 2010 at DSL Cubs #1 (2010 FA - Dominican Republic)
167/200/167
9 GAMES – 20 PA (3-18, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 GIDP, 1 SF)
DEFENSE: 1-3 CS (33%), 1 E, 4 PB

INFIELDERS:

Gioskar Amaya (age 17) – U. S. debut – 2010 at DSL Cubs #1 (2010 FA - Venezuela)
282/293/411
16 GAMES – 41 PA (11-39, 1 2B, 2 3B, 0 HR, 7 RBI, 4 R, 1 BB, 12 K, 2 GIDP, 1 SH)
DEFENSE (2B, 3B, SS): 1 E

* Justin Bour (age 22) – 2010 at Peoria (2009 25th Round - George Mason U.)
289/317/342
13 GAMES – 41 PA (11-38, 2 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 8 RBI, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 K, 2 GIDP, 1 HBP, 1 SF)
DEFENSE (1B): 1 E

Willson Contreras (age 18) – U. S. debut – 2010 at DSL Cubs #2 (2009 FA - Venezuela)
219/264/375
14 GAMES - 34 PA (7-32, 2 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 5 R, 0 BB, 6 K, 2 HBP, 1 GIDP)
DEFENSE (3B-2B-1B): 2 E

* Ryan Cuneo (age 22) – 2010 at AZL Cubs & Boise (2010 20th Round - U. of Delaware)
195/350/361
16 GAMES – 46 PA (7-36, 4 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, 7 BB, 6 K, 2 HBP, 1 SF)
DEFENSE: (1B-LF-3B): 1 E

* Pin-Chieh Chen ( age 19) – 2010 at AZL Cubs & Boise (2009 FA - Taiwan)
000/286/000
4 GAMES – 7 PA (0-5, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 0 SB, 1 CS)
DEFENSE (2B): 0 E

* Wes Darvill (age 19) – 2010 at Boise & AZL Cubs (2009 5th Round - Canadian Junior National Team)
000/154/000
5 GAMES – 13 PA (0-11, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 GIDP, 1 SB, 0 CS)
DEFENSE (SS-2B): 0 E

Dustin Geiger (age 18) – 2010 at AZL Cubs (2010 24th Round - Merritt Island HS - Brevard County, FL)
152/257/182
15 GAMES – 39 PA (5-33, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 5 R, 3 BB, 9 K, 2 HBP, 1 SF, 2 SB, 1 CS)
DEFENSE (3B-1B): 8 E

# Marco Hernandez (age 18) – U. S. debut – 2010 at DSL Cubs #2 & DSL Cubs #1 (2010 FA - Dominican Republic)
250/275/278
14 GAMES – 40 PA (9-36, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 8 R, 2 BB, 9 K, 1 GIDP, 1 SH, 1 SF, 0 SB, 1 CS, 2 PO)
DEFENSE (SS-2B): 4 E

* Hak-Ju Lee (age 19) – 2010 at Peoria (2008 FA - South Korea)
294/368/383
11 GAMES - 38 PA (10-34, 1 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 7 RBI, 7 R, 4 BB, 7 K, 1 GIDP, 3 SB, 1 CS, 1 PO)
DEFENSE (SS): 0 E

Josh Vitters (age 21) – 2010 at Daytona & Tennessee (2007 1st round - Cypress HS - Cypress, CA)
333/300/444
3 GAMES – 10 PA (3-9, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 SF)
DEFENSE (3B-1B): 0 E

* Logan Watkins (age 21) – 2010 at Peoria (2008 21st Round - Goddard HS - Goddard, KS)
231/324/308
12 GAMES – 34 PA (6-26, 2 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 4 R, 3 BB, 2 K, 2 HBP, 1 GIDP, 3 SH, 1 SB, 0 CS, 1 PO)
DEFENSE (2B-CF): 1 E

OUTFIELDERS

* Delbis Arcila (age 17) – U. S. debut – 2010 at DSL Cubs #2 & DSL Cubs #1 (2010 FA - Venezuela)
084/214/125
9 GAMES – 28 PA (2-24, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 3 R, 3 BB, 10 K, 1 HBP)
DEFENSE (LF-RF): 0 E, 0 ASSISTS

Xavier Batista (age 18) – 2010 at AZL Cubs (2009 FA - Dominican Republic)
225/326/375
15 GAMES – 46 PA (9-40, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 5 R, 5 BB, 14 K, 1 HBP, 1 SB, 1 CS)
DEFENSE (RF-LF): 0 E, 2 ASSISTS

Evan Crawford (age 22) – 2010 at Augusta & Daytona (SF Giants 2009 9th Round - Indiana U.)
385/400/641
10 GAMES – 40 PA (15-39, 4 2B, 3 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 8 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 1 GIDP, 4 SB, 1 CS)
DEFENSE (CF-RF): 0 E, 0 ASSISTS

Reggie Golden (age19) – 2010 at AZL Cubs (2010 2nd Round - Wetumpka HS - Wetumpka, AL)
263/364/500
14 GAMES – 44 PA (10-38, 3 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1 R, 5 BB, 14 K, 1 HBP, 1 SB, 3 CS, 1 PO)
DEFENSE (RF-CF-LF): 3 E, 2 ASSISTS

Jae-Hoon Ha (age 19) – 2010 at Peoria (2008 FA - South Korea)
313/303/563
9 GAMES – 33 PA (10-32, 2 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 8 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 2 GIDP, 1 SF, 5 SB, 0 CS)
DEFENSE (CF-RF): 0 E, 1 ASSIST

Chris Huseby (age 22) – ex-RHP – 2010 at Daytona (RHP) & Boise (OF) - (2006 11th Round - Martin County HS - Stuart, FL)
179/214/205
15 GAMES – 42 PA (7-39, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB, 16 K, 1 HBP, 1 SF)
DEFENSE (LF-RF): 1 E, 0 ASSISTS

* Kyung-Min Na (age 18) – 2010 at Boise (2009 FA - South Korea)
PINCH-RUNNER
1 GAME

# Oliver Zapata (age 18) – U. S. debut - 2010 at DSL Cubs #1 (2010 FA - Domincan Republic)
371/439/572
16 GAMES – 41 PA (13-35, 2 2B, 2 3B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 10 R, 5 BB, 9 K, 1 SH, 1 SB, 0 CS)
DEFENSE (RF-CF-LF): 3 E, 2 ASSISTS

========================================================

PITCHERS:

* Hunter Ackerman (age 19) – 2010 at AZL Cubs (2010 4th Round - Louisburg JC)
8.00 ERA - 2.00 WHIP - .381 Opp BA
9.0 IP, 16 H, 8 R (8 ER), 2 BB, 8 K, 3 WP, 1 GIDP, 12/7 GO/FO, 5 GAMES (0 GS), 1 E

* Brent Ebinger (age 22) – 2010 at AZL Cubs & Boise (2010 32nd Round - Lambuth U.)
6.35 ERA – 1.59 WHIP - .261 Opp BA
5.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R (4 ER), 3 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP, 5/8 GO/FO, 3 GAMES (2 GS)

Dustin Fitzgerald (age 20) – 2010 at AZL Cubs & Boise (2010 19th Round - Hill JC)
7.45 ERA – 1.55 WHIP - .317 Opp BA
9.2 IP, 13 H, 8 R (8 ER), 2 BB, 5 K, 1 GIDP, 11/12 GO/FO, 5 GAMES (1 GS)

* Cam Greathouse (age 20) – 2010 at AZL Cubs & Boise (2010 8th Round - Gulf Coast CC)
10.13 ERA – 2.25 WHIP - .364 Opp BA
5.1 IP, 8 H, 7 R (6 ER), 4 BB, 6 K, 1 HR, 2 HBP, 1 WP, 2 GIDP, 2 BALK, 10/0 GO/FO, 3 GAMES (1 GS)

* Casey Harman (age 21) – Pro debut (2010 29th Round - Clemson)
8.64 ERA – 2.04 WHIP - .359 Opp BA
8.1 IP, 14 H, 8 R (8 ER), 3 BB, 8 K, 1 WP, 2 PO, 3/7 GO/FO, 7 GAMES (0 GS)

Ryan Hartman (age 18) – 2010 at AZL Cubs (2010 16th Round - Mt Zion HS -Mt. Zion, IL)
4.82 ERA – 1.18 WHIP - .212 Opp BA
9.1 IP, 7 H, 6 R (5 ER), 4 BB, 6 K, 2 HR, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 2 GIDP, 1 BALK, 9/12GO/FO, 5 GAMES (0 GS)

Jin-Yeong Kim (age 18) – Pro debut (2010 FA - South Korea)
7.20 ERA – 1.30 WHIP - .286 Opp BA
10.0 IP, 12 H, 8 R (8 ER), 1 BB, 12 K, 1 HR, 1 WP, 8/8 GO/FO, 4 GAMES (3 GS)

Aaron Kurcz (age 20) – 2010 at AZL Cubs & Boise (2010 10th Round - College of Southern Nevada)
0.77 ERA – 0.43 WHIP - .079 Opp BA
11.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 20 K, 6/8 GO/FO, 5 GAMES (3 GS)

Luis Liria (age 20) – 2010 at Boise & Peoria (2007 FA - Dominican Republic) 
5.79 ERA – 1.61 WHIP - .282 Opp BA
9.1 IP, 11 H, 8 R (6 ER), 4 BB, 10 K, 2 HR, 1 WP, 12/6 GO/FO, 5 GAMES (0 GS), 1 E

Matt Loosen (age 21) – 2010 at AZL Cubs & Boise (2010 23rd Round - Jacksonville U.)
1.23 ERA – 1.36 WHIP - .276 Opp BA
7.1 IP, 8 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 1 GIDP, 4/8 GO/FO, 4 GAMES (2 GS)

Robinson Lopez (age 19) – 2010 at Rome & Peoria (Atlanta Braves 2008 FA - Dominican Republic)
3.60 ERA – 1.40 WHIP - .211 Opp BA
5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 3 K, 1 PO, 6/4 GO/FO, 3 GAMES (2 GS)

* Jeff Lorick (age 22) – 2010 at Rome, Myrtle Beach, and Peoria (Atlanta Braves 2009 20th Round - U. of Virginia)
1.74 ERA – 0.87 WHIP - .189 Opp BA
10.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 8 K, 1 HR, 1 HBP, 1 GIDP, 15/8 GO/FO, 5 GAMES (3 GS)

Tarlandus Mitchell (age 20) – 2010 at Boise (2008 22nd Round - Alto HS - Alto, TX)
5.73 ERA – 1.64 WHIP - .250 Opp BA
11.0 IP, 11 H, 9 R (7 ER), 7 BB, 9 K, 1 HR, 2 WP, 1 BALK, 18/4 GO/FO, 6 GAMES (0 GS)

Amaury Paulino (age 19) – U. S. debut – 2010 at DSL Cubs #2 & DSL Cubs #1 (2009 FA - Dominican Republic)
6.00 ERA – 1.83 WHIP - .273 Opp BA
6.0 IP, 6 H, 6 R (4 ER), 5 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 1 HBP, 2 GIDP, 1 PO, 9/3 GO/FO, 5 GAMES (0 GS)

Starling Peralta (age 19) – U. S. debut – 2010 at DSL Cubs #2 & DSL Cubs #1 (2008 FA - Dominican Republic) 
4.15 ERA – 1.15 WHIP - .265 Opp BA
8.2 IP, 9 H, 5 R (4 ER), 1 BB, 10 K, 2 HR, 2 WP, 1 GIDP, 8/6 GO/FO, 6 GAMES (0 GS)

Austin Reed (age 18) – 2010 at AZL Cubs (2010 12th Round - Rancho Cucamonga HS - Rancho Cucamonga, CA)
1.86 ERA – 0.93 WHIP - .235 Opp BA
9.2 IP, 8 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 3 WP, 1 GIDP, 6/11 GO/FO, 5 GAMES (1 GS)

Kevin Rhoderick (age 22) – Pro debut (2010 9th Round - Oregon State)
2.57 ERA – 1.71 WHIP - .240 Opp BA
7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R (2 ER), 6 BB, 10 K, 2 GIDP, 9/2 GO/FO, 7 GAMES (0 GS)

Jhon Rodriguez (age 20) – 2010 at AZL Cubs (2008 FA - Venezuela)
4.50 ERA – 1.60 WHIP – 317 Opp BA
10.0 IP, 13 H, 6 R (5 ER), 3 BB, 7 K, 2 HBP, 1 WP, 2 GIDP, 1 PO, 14/6 GO/FO, 4 GAMES (0 GS)

* Brian Smith (age 17) – Pro debut (2010 40th Round- Canadian Junior National Team)
30.00 ERA – 4.33 WHIP - .527 Opp BA
3.0 IP, 10 H, 12 R (10 ER), 3 BB, 4 K, 2 HBP, 3 WP, 1 BALK, 3/2 GO/FO, 4 GAMES (0 GS)

Alvaro Sosa (age 24) – ex-C – 2010 at Boise & AZL Cubs (2004 FA - Dominican Republic)
5.06 ERA – 1.59 WHIP - .304 Opp BA
10.2 IP, 14 H, 6 R (6 ER), 3 BB, 6 K, 2 WP, 2 HBP, 10/15 GO/FO, 6 GAMES (1 GS)

Charles Thomas (age 22) - ex-3B – 2010 at Peoria (3B) and AZL Cubs (RHP) - (2009 10th Round - Edward Waters College)
1.50 ERA – 0.67 WHIP - .143 Opp BA
6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 2/11 GO/FO, 5 GAMES (0 GS)

Ben Wells (age 18) – Pro debut (2010 7th Round - Bryant HS - Bryant, AR)
0.00 ERA – 0.55 WHIP - .120 Opp BA
7.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K, 1 BALK, 6/7 GO/FO, 4 GAMES (2 GS)

Comments

I assume there's a few Simpsons fans around here. I finally got around to cueing up the MoneyBart episode from last week ... not a bad spotlight for sabermetrics. The "money" quote, courtesy of Moe: “The only thing I know about strategy is that whatever the manager does, it’s wrong. Unless it works, in that case he’s a button-pusher.”

I'm a Sandberg fan, but why do people keep exaggerating his success in the minors? Here is Phil Rogers a couple of hours ago:
Sandberg . . . has earned the job with his combination of a Hall of Fame standing and four successful years managing in the Cubs' system
How successful was Sandberg's second year at Peoria, when they ended up 60-78? How hard is it to look this stuff up? As I noted once before, at the end of four seasons as manager in the Cub minors, Sandberg was seven games over .500. Quade was eleven over in 5-6 weeks! And Quade was managing the not-so-hot Cubs in the major leagues. According to Rogers, by the way, "Wedge has been telling his confidantes that Jim Hendry was going to hire him to manage the Cubs if Joe Girardi wasn't available."

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

let's try apples to apples at least Quade's minor league record: 1985 56-82 (A ball, Pirates) 1986 54-84 (A Ball, Pirates) 1989 74-59 (A Ball, Expos) 1990 56-80 (A Ball, Expos) 1991 87-53 (AA, Expos - Minor League Manager of the Year) 1992 78-59 (AA, Expos) 1993 73-59 (AAA, Expos - Minor League Manager of the Year) 1994 62-80 (AAA, Phillies) 1995 70-72 (AAA, Phillies) 1996 77-61 (A ball, Athletics - League Champions) 1997 77-62 (AA, Athletics) 1998 76-67 (AAA, Athletics) 1999 84-58 (AAA, won AAA championship) 2003 70-72 (AAA, Cubs) 2004 79-64 (AAA, Cubs) 2005 64-75 (AAA, Cubs) 2006 76-68 (AAA, Cubs - lost tiebreaker and didn't make playoffs) 1213 - 1155 (.512%) (hope my math is right) Sandberg 2007 71-68 (A), tied for 1st place in 2nd half but lost tiebreaker 2008 60-78 (A), finished 7th in both halves 2009 71-69 (AA), won 2nd half and first round of playoffs, lost in finals 2010 82-62 (AAA), lost tiebreaker and didn't make playoffs, named PCL Manager of Year 284-277 (.506%)

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

When Sandberg is involved in "the big game"--as, for example, when a playoff berth is at stake--I'd be happy if he just hung around past the second inning. Right now I'm rooting for the Yankees to finish up their season, one way or another, as quickly as possible. If, as likely, it comes down to Sandberg and Quade, I will probably be disappointed if Quade gets the nod, but not because he isn't a better big-league manager right now. I take what Quade did with the Cubs seriously. Wins don't just happen. Real Neal told us a long time ago that Piniella was incompetent; but Quade proved it.

OF Brandon Guyer at 360/429/520 with one HR and one double so far in Venezuela (six games), while teammate 3B Marquez Smith is at 174/240/391 with one HR and two doubles. Guyer is a lock to get added to the 40-man roster by the 11/20 deadline, but Marquez Smith is on the bubble and probably will need a strong showing in the VWL to get a slot on the 40. RHP Kyle Smit (a long-shot candidate to get added to the 40) has pitched well in his first two outings with the Mesa Solar Sox in the AFL (four innings of shutout ball, allowing two hits and a walk with four strikeouts). Smit was one of the players acquired by the Cubs from the Dodgers in July for Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot.

WSCR just announced its Mike Quade with a 2 year contract. Press conference at 3pm Chicago time today.

sandberg on espn 1000 no bench job offer digesting all of it now next job will be mlb manager not thinking about aaa job for next year, will listen on all calls probably not heading back to cubs interviewed by ricketts,bush and kinney ugh

Recent comments

  • CubbyBlue (view)

    Incredible moment. Huge part of the fun of working there is when something magic like that happens, and you get to interact with baseball fans. 

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    That bear hug was indeed awesome. Word is that Dansby has become an outstanding clubhouse leader and that moment really demonstrated it. That reaction was one of a proud coach/mentor who’s student just excelled. I’m not even sure who was more overjoyed, Dansby or PCA. A veteran expressing that kind of unabashed support and enthusiasm for a struggling rookie is beyond fantastic to see.

  • CubbyBlue (view)

    BAHAHA! I've actually not seen a single fight, but can't wait to see 70 degrees for sure!

  • crunch (view)

    next time i roll up into wrigley i'll try to start a fist fight and maybe we'll meet.

    be prepared.  i'm gonna make you earn your money.

    seriously, though...that's a cool as hell "retirement" assignment.  i imagine it will be better with warmer nights.

  • Cubster (view)

    I was there for the PCA homer as well. 50 degree baseball is no longer fun when sitting in the shade (knit hats, scarves and gloves are football gear) but I agree it’s one of those really cool moments. I loved the bear hug given by Swanson at home plate and of course the added impact that the PCA homer became a game winner.

     

  • Cubster (view)

    Holy Screaming Bananas

  • CubbyBlue (view)

    In honor of dispatching with the Astros, this painting is titled “The Sweep”. 
    I retired a couple years ago, and took a job at Wrigley as a security guy. SO cool having Wrigley as your office. SO cool being there when PCA got his first hit. 
    “The Sweep” happens at the end of every game - the security staff sweeps through the ballpark making sure it’s empty.
    (Hopefully I’ll be putting this painting up often this year.)
    Lastly, because working for the Cubs, they understandably don’t want you voicing opinions on social, which is why I’m only painting the banners here. 

  • First.Pitch.120 (view)

    Honorable mention to Jim Bullinger via BleedCubbieBlue: 

    Bullinger, a converted shortstop, had pitched in three games before he came to the plate. He had entered the game to relieve starter Shawn Boskie after four innings, and came to the plate to lead off the fifth, and hit Rheal Cormier's first pitch over the left-field wall to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead; they eventually won the game 5-2 in 14 innings. Of the 129players to homer in their first MLB at-bat, Bullinger is one of just 32 to hit that blast on the first big-league pitch he saw (including Contreras) and one of just six pitchers to do so.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Most of this activity will lead nowhere, of course, but it is fantastic that they’re looking for talent in every nook and cranny. You never know where that can lead, and virtually nothing is lost if if leads nowhere, as long as no one of superior talent and potential is losing an opportunity.

  • First.Pitch.120 (view)

    Fun 1st Hit / HR Fact…


    Recent Cubs players to have HR as 1st MLB hit:

    PCA

    Morel

    Happ

    Contreras

    Baez

    Soler

    Castro