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

Inoa Hits for the Cycle at Talking Stick

Brian Inoa hit for the cycle and Dustin Geiger ripped two RBI doubles, leading a split squad of EXST Cubs to a 6-5 victory over the EXST Diamondbacks in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning at Whirlwind Field at Salt River Fields at the Talking Stick Resort east of Scottsdale, AZ.

Justin Hilt and Wagner Mateo homered for the Diamondbacks.

The game was extended an extra inning to allow all of the pitchers who were due to throw today to get their scheduled work.

I can’t remember the last time I saw somebody hit for the cycle in an Extended Spring Training game, so what Brian Inoa did today is quite rare. The 20-year old switch-hitting Dominican catcher tripled to right-center in the top of the 2nd inning, smacked a solo home run over the right-centerfield fence in the 4th, executed a picture-perfect hit & run single into the vacant "four-hole" in the 6th, and smoked a double off the LF fence in the 8th. On the negative side, Inoa also committed two errors (an overthrow on a stolen base attempt that led directly to an unearned run scoring, and a dropped foul pop-up).

This is Inoa’s first season in the U. S. after making his pro debut last year in the Dominican Summer League with DSL Cubs #2 (AKA the “Bad News Cubs”), where he hit 279/356/369 in 60 games (203 PA), mostly as a DH. In just 26 games behind the plate for DSL Cubs #2 in 2010, Inoa committed a whopping 11 errors and allowed ten passed balls. (He is what I guess you might call an "offensive-first" catcher).

Here is the abridged box score from today’s game (Cubs players only)

LINEUP:
1. Vismeldy Bieneme, 2B: 0-4 (3-U, F-7, F-7, 5-3 SH, K)
2. Eduardo Gonzalez, RF: 1-5 (K, 6-3, K, F-7, 2B, R)
3. Marco Hernandez, SS: 1-4 (3-U, 1B, 4-3, BB, P-1, SB)
4. Brandon May, 3B; 2-5 (P-4, K, 1B, 1B, 4-3, RBI)
5. Dong-Yub Kim, LF: 1-5 (K, 5-3, 4-6 FC, F-9, 1B, RBI)
6. Brian Inoa, C: 4-5 (3B, HR, 1B, 2B, 4-6 FC, 3 R, RBI)
7. Dustin Geiger, DH: 2-3 (2B, P-4, BB, 2B, R, 2 RBI)
8. Xavier Batista, 1B: 1-4 (1B, 5-3, F-9, 5-3, RBI)
9. Oliver Zapata, CF: 1-3 (P-6, K, BB, 1B, R, SB)

PITCHERS:
1. Austin Reed: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR, 1 PO, 42 pitches (29 strikes), 2/2 GO/FO
2. Colin Richardson: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 25 pitches (16 strikes), 2/3 GO/FO
3. Charles Thomas: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 17 pitches (12 strikes), 3/2 GO/FO
4. Ramon Garcia: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HR, 17 pitches (13 strikes), 2/3 GO/FO
5. Larry Suarez: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 18 pitches (15 strikes), 3/0 GO/FO

ERRORS: 2
1. C Brian Inoa - E2 (overthrow at 3rd base on stolen base allowed the runner to score an earned run)
2. C Brian Inoa - E2 (dropped pop fly in foul territory extending batter’s AB)

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Brian Inoa: 0-2 CS, 2 E (see above)

ATTENDANCE: 6

WEATHER: Sunny and breezy with temperatures in the 80’s

 

Comments

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

Submitted by navigator on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 11:50am. no response... Again, today, Bruce Miles reports, "As I tweeted yesterday from Boston, farm director Oneri Fleita tells me Brett Jackson is in Arizona rehabbing his left-hand injury and getting at-bats in a controlled situation. He should be ready to rejoin Class AA Tennessee later this week. Anyone know where Jackson would be doing this???? ================================================== NAVIGATOR: Probably in a "sim game" at Fitch Park. They had one today on Field #2 before the regularly-scheduled EXST game on Field #3. For those not familar with how a sim game works, it's a bit more than "live" BP, but something less than an intrasquad game. The batting cage is usually in place and sometimes the pitcher throws from behind a screen (especially if the pitcher is rehabbing from an injury). The pitcher throws a pre-determined number of pitches (usually 15 per "inning," although it could be as many as 20 or 25) and then sits down while the other pitcher throws a pre-determined number of pitches (again, usually 15 per "inning"). If only one pitcher is involved, he will throw his pre-determined number of pitches and then sit down on the bench for 10 minutes to replicate the time it would typically take his team to get through it's half inning of offense. The hitters (usually four) rotate into the cage and take an AB, remaining there until they either walk, strike out, or put the ball in play, or an AB could be terminated mid-count if the pitcher reaches his pre-determined pitch count before the batter has walked, struck out, or put the ball in play. If the batter walks or puts the ball in play, he takes 1st base and the pitcher throws out of the stretch, just like he would with a runner on base. The runners on base ahead of the hitter run the bases just like they would in a game, but the defense doesn't necessarily try to throw them out, although they might, depending on how many position players are available to play a position in the field. Pitchers who are not doing anything else usually shag balls hit to the outfield, flipping the ball to the pitcher or coach stationed behind 2nd base who collects balls and puts them in the ball collection bucket (like they do in batting practice). Then the bucket is brought to the mound when it's full and the balls are dumped into a shopping cart located behind the mound, where the coach assigned to supervise the pitcher will take a ball out of the shopping cart and toss it to the pitcher after a hitter has put a ball into play. In the case of a hitter rehabbing from an injury (like Brett Jackson), the sim game would be in the general form of a game, but the ABs would be controlled in the sense that B-Jax could hit first each "half-inning." And because he would be hitting in a group with maybe (at most) three other position players, he would get at least four ABs in just two full innings, but perhaps as many as five or six AB (depending on how many balls are put into play and how many hitters hit each half-inning), whereas it would take him at least four innings to get four AB in an Extended Spring Training game, even if he hits each half-inning. He can rest or maybe play CF for a half-innng if he doesn't want to take another AB right away, or he can lead-off one inning and maybe run the bases, or hit 2nd or 3rd in the next inning. And then maybe play CF again for an inning. And they don't keep score. So other than having a snack of cookies & milk mid-game, it's a lot like a tee-ball game for six-year olds.

DFA'd, pretty good numbers vs. lefties in his career, so he's sure to latch on somewhere.

[ ]

In reply to by Tito

Why Steve Swisher? In short, too many big names/great years from the 3B's and OF's and lousy competition at catcher. I wondered that myself at the time, even though he had a good first half (for him) that year -- was batting .268 at the All Star break (July 13), though only 3 HR & 25 RBI (his avg. was as high as .292 as late as June 19). Bob Boone, the other NL reserve catcher, had .308/4/40 at the break, so the competition at catcher wasn't particularly stiff. The other usual '70's All Star catchers weren't doing that well that year: Manny Sanguillén was .295/1/18 and Gary Carter was .239/4/21. Sanguillén was at the end of his All Star run ('71, '72 & '75) and Carter was only in his 2nd full season (although was an All-Star in '75, his rookie year). Even the starting catcher, Johnny Bench, was having a down year: only .234/9/45 at the break. Why not Bill Madlock (3B), Rick Monday (OF) or Jose Cardenal (OF)? The NL All-Star 3B's were Pete Rose (starter), Mike Schmidt and Ron Cey (who hit .319/12/46 in the 1st half that year) and Madlock was "only" hitting .309 at the break with less power -- he scalded the ball in the 2nd half at a .377 pace. How about the outfielders? The starters (voted in by the fans) were George Foster, Greg Luzinski & Dave Kingman. The reserve outfielders were: César Cedeño .297/14/48 & 142OPS+ (28 SB) Al Oliver .360/12/49 & 178OPS+ Ken Griffey, Sr. .340/4/50 & 152OPS+ Bake McBride .345/3/18 & 145OPS+ Rick Monday .286/15/47 & 152OPS+ (3 SB) Jose Cardenal .303/6/32 & 120OPS+ Clearly, Monday was hitting well enough from an OPS+ standpoint but his average was significantly lower than the competition and Cedeño (whose BA was closer) was a flashier & sexier pick at the time.

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    yeah, for me this isn't about who's better at 3rd.  it's madrigal, period.  for me it's about who's not hitting in the lineup because madrigal is in the lineup.

    occasional play at 3rd for madrigal, okay.  going with the steele/ground-ball matchup...meh, but okay, whatever.

    seeing madrigal get significant starting time...no thanks.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Yeah I am very disappointed Madrigal is starting. He has no business as a starter. He is AAA insurance, a back up at best. Sure his defense looks fine because he plays far enough in that his noodle arm isn’t totally exposed. It comes at the cost of 3B range.

    He’s garbage, and a team serious about winning would NOT have him starting opening day.

  • crunch (view)

    in other news, it took 3 PA before a.rizzo got his 1st HBP of the season.

  • Eric S (view)

    With two home runs (so far) and 5 rbi today … clearly Nick Martini is the straw that stirs the Reds drink 😳

  • crunch (view)

    madrigal at 3rd...morel at DH.

    making room for madrigal or/and masterboney to get a significant amount of ABs is a misuse of the roster.  if it needed to get taken care of this offseason, they had tons of time to figure that out.

    morel played almost exclusively at 3rd in winter ball and they had him almost exclusively there all spring when he wasn't DH'ing.

    madrigal doing a good job with the glove for a bit over 2 chances per game...is that worth more than what he brings with the bat 4-5 PA a game?  it's 2024 and we got glenn beckert 2.0 manning 3rd base.

    this is a tauchman or cooper DH situation based on bat, alone.  cooper is 3/7 with a double off eovaldi if you want to play the most successful matchup.

    anyway, i hope this is a temporary thing, not business as usual for the rest of the season.  it will be telling if morel is not used at 3rd when an extreme fly ball pitcher like imanaga is on the mound.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    18-year old SS Jefferson Rojas almost made the AA Tennessee Opening Day roster, and he is a legit shortstop, so I would expect him to be an MLB Top 100 prospect by mid-season. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Among the relievers in the system, I expect RHRP Hunter Bigge at AAA Iowa and RHRP Ty Johnson at South Bend to have breakout seasons on 2024, and among the starters I see LHP Drew Gray and RHP Will Sanders at South Bend and RHP Naz Mule at ACL Cubs as the guys who will make the biggest splash. Also, Jaxon Wiggins is throwing bullpen sides, so once he is ready for game action he could be making an impact at Myrtle Beach by June.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I expect OF Christian Franklin to have a breakout season at AA Tennessee in 2024. In another organization that doesn't have PCA, Caissie, K. Alcantara, and Canario in their system, C. Franklin would be a Top 10 prospect. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The Reds trading Joe Boyle for Sam Moll at last year's MLB Trade Deadline was like the Phillies trading Ben Brown to the Cubs for David Robertson at the MLB TD in 2022.