Cubs MLB Roster

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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

Dong Dinger Slams Door on Angel Comeback Bid

Dong-Yub Kim blasted a grand slam to cap at five-run 8th, as the Cubs outlasted the Angels 11-8 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning at Fitch Park Field #3 in Mesa, AZ  

DY Kim was one of seven highly-regarded Korean teenagers signed by the Cubs during the years 2007-10 (RHP Dae-Eun Rhee, OF Jae-Hoon Ha, SS Hak-Ju Lee, OF Kyung-Min Na, RHP Su-Min Jung, and RHP Jin-Young Kim were the others), receiving a $550K bonus as an 18-year old in February 2009. (The Cubs spent a total of $4M+ worth of signing bonuses on the Korean prospects).

Kim made his U. S. debut at AZ Instructs post-2009 as a raw, multi-tool outfielder, showing plus-speed, HR power, and a RF cannon-arm. He reminded me of a young, teenaged, Korean Jose Canseco. However, he sustained a torn labrum in his right shoulder at Instructs, causing him to miss the 2010 season, before finally returning to full active status in 2011.

Because of his shoulder injury, he no longer has a RF arm, and so he has been relegated to playing LF and occasionally 1st base. Although he has improved some defensively over the past couple of years, he still struggles to track high fly balls and hard-hit liners, and his outfield defense can best be described as below-average.

While his arm is not what it was when he signed, he still has plus-speed and is a good base stealer, and he will occasionally show-off his BP HR power (as he did today), although he does not hit as many home runs in games as he probably should because he is not a good hitter (he struggles to hit breaking balls, he strikes out a ton, and he rarely walks).

Cub fans will sometimes talk about this prospect or that prospect being at the crossroads and that this is a make-or-break year, but for Dong-Yub Kim, it probably is.

Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only):

CUBS LINEUP:
1. Danny Lockhart, 2B: 1-4 (K, 1B, 1-3, 4-3, R)
2. Carlos Penalver, SS: 1-4 (K, 1B, 6-3, 4-3, R)
3a. Jeimer Candelario, 3B: 1-3 (4-3, E-5, 1B, RBI)
3b. Mark Malave, 3B: 1-1 (1B, R)
4. Dan Vogelbach, 1B: 1-4 (2B, 3-6-3 DP, K, K, R)
5a. Gioskar Amaya, DH #1: 1-2 (F-9, 2B, BB, R)
5b. Wilfredo Petit, C: 0-0 (BB, R)
6. Trey Martin, CF-DH: 1-3 (P-4, L-4, 1B, F-9 SF, RBI)
7. Xavier Batista, RF: 1-2 (2B, BB, L-8, BB, 2 R, RBI)
8a. SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TWO TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER
8b. Trevor Gretzky, DH #2: 1-2 (K, 1B, R)
9. Dong-Yub Kim, LF: 1-4 (6-3, K+WP, F-8, HR, R, 4 RBI, SB)
10. Wilson Contreras, C-DH: 1-3 (4-3, 1B, E-6, 2 RBI)
11. Garrett Schlecht, DH-CF: 0-2 (HBP, K, P-5, R)

CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Ian Dickson: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 50 pitches (33 strikes), 5/2 GO/FO
2. Sheldon McDonald: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 23 pitches (19 strikes), 4/1 GO/FO
3. Pete Levitt: 2.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 26 pitches (19 strikes), 4/0 GO/FO
4. Felix Pena: 2.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R (5 ER), 2 BB, 0 K, 39 pitches (23 strikes), 2/4 GO/FO

CUBS ERRORS: 1
SS Carlos Penalver - E-6 (errant throw on attempted force play at 2nd base allowed runner to advance to 3rd base - eventually scored unearned run)

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Wilson Contreras: 1-1 CS, 1 PB
Wilfredo Petit: 0-1 CS

CUBS OUTFIELD ASSISTS:
RF Xavier Batista - threw out batter-runner 9-6 trying to stretch single into double

ATTENDANCE: 19

WEATHER: Sunny and a bit breezy at times with temperatures in the 80’s

Comments

Looks like another solid outing for the leftie, Sheldon McDonald. Even with all the offense in today's game a couple of innings of effective shut down offense. Interesting he pitched earlier in the game than in previous outings last week.

[ ]

In reply to by Raisin101

Tue, 04/17/2012 - 10:20pm — Raisin101 Re: Dong Dinger Slams Door on Angel Comeback Bid Hi Phil, How has Ian Dickson looked so far? ================================ RAISIN: Ian Dickson has looked very good. He looked OK at Instructs last fall, too (1.69 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, and a .211 Opp BA), except his control is better now than it was then. Dickson is a big kid (6'5 with long arms) but he doesn't throw hard. He has been throwing strikes, though, and he is good at changing eye levels with his fastball. He also has a solid change-up and a curve that he throws for strikes, and he mixes up his pitches very well. He seems to be a bright bulb. When the Cubs drafted Dickson (2011 35th round - $100K "over-slot" bonus), they were kind of taking a chance because he hadn't pitched in almost a year after suffering a torn ACL shortly after throwing a no-hitter in the Valley League (a summer collegiate wood bat league) following his sophomore year at Lafayette. I remember him strapping a big old ice bag around his knee after every outing last fall at Instructs, but I haven't seen him do that this year. He actualy might be a decent starting pitcher prospect. Nothing special or eye-popping about him to this point, but he could be effective if he can continue to throw strikes. He reminds me a bit of Randy Wells.

[ ]

In reply to by bartlettcubsfan

Tue, 04/17/2012 - 11:22pm — bartlettcubsfan hey phil, how about the other korean kid, jin young kim, doing? heard that he gained some weight... ================================== BARTLETT: Jin-Young Kim has put on some weight. (Not a good thing, BTW). For a kid who got a reported $850K bonus, he has not been impressive. He gets hit fairly hard (sometimes very hard) almost every time he pitches, and that's going back a couple of years now. I liked Taiwanese RHP Yao-Lin Wang better when they were both at EXST last year, and I haven't changed my mind. JY Kim has a long ways to go to become a legitimate MLB prospect.

Recent comments

  • 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. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Javier Assad started the Lo-A game (Myrtle Beach versus Stockton) on the Cubs backfields on Wednesday as his final Spring Training tune-up. He was supposed to throw five innings / 75 pitches. However, I was at the minor league road games at Fitch so I didn't see Assad pitch. 

  • crunch (view)

    cards put j.young on waivers.

    they really tried to make it happen this spring, but he put up a crazy bad slash of .081/.244/.108 in 45PA.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Seconded!!!

  • crunch (view)

    another awesome spring of pitching reports.  thanks a lot, appreciated.

  • 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...

  • crunch (view)

    pablo sandoval played 3rd and got a couple ABs (strikeout, single!) in the OAK@SF "exhibition"

    mlb officially authenticated the ball of the single he hit.  nice.

    he's in surprisingly good shape considering his poor body condition in his last playing seasons.  he's not lean, but he looks healthier.  good for him.