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

Game 100 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (3 of 3)

Game Chat Jason Marquis vs. Braden Looper Lineups:
Soriano LF Eckstein SS
Theriot SS Edmonds CF
Lee 1B Pujols 1B
Ramirez 3B Duncan LF
Floyd RF Encarnacion RF
Fontenot 2B Rolen 3B
Jones CF Molina C
Kendall C Miles 2B
Marquis P Looper P

Comments

There has to be another slick-catching Moilna brother in someone's farm system, right??? Where is he? I mean, surley the family would not have stopped at four, would they???

Because Lou has obviously pulled out all the stops, putting Jason Kendall, his offensive powerhouse, in the lineup?

At least the lineup is stable. FOR ME TO POOP ON! This has been your Triumph insults the Cubs lineup moment of the day.

If I had a gene pool as good as that Molina family, I would make having a Molina on every MLB roster my goal....

what the...except for the rotating catchers, this is exactly the same lineup as yesterday...geez, that boring...I mean, what a lack of imagination. Marquis should bat 8th given who's catching (well anyone Lou has to put back there) by the way, we do play the Phils on Monday...so Utley breaking his 4th metacarpal affects us pretty quickly.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7063788 Costas vs Bonds...pistols ablazin' at 50 paces: A day after Barry Bonds called him a "little midget man who knows (nothing) about baseball," broadcaster Bob Costas said he wasn't upset with the San Francisco Giants slugger and responded with a jab of his own. "As anyone can plainly see, I'm 5 foot-6 1/2 inches tall and a strapping 150 lbs, and unlike some people, I came by all of it naturally," Costas said Thursday in a telephone interview.

Not getting the Cubs here tonight, but watching Chip call Barry vs. the Braves should be just as fu... Nevermind.

Cubs haven't swept a series in St. Louis since 1988... JJ hitting .361 since the break... Cubs starters have 54 quality starts, 60 all of last year Cubs ERA in July is 3.05 in July, best in the majors Aramis has 20 RBI's in July, 3rd in the NL JJ with a .571 BA against Looper, Kendall .500

we lost the first game of the series you're thinking about Chad, 2-1 in 11 innings

Fortune smiles upon the Cubs yet again. A pitch broke Utley's hand today. Guess who the Cubs play at home for 4 games starting Monday?

A Molina and Gramatica should mate,thus creating a swift kicking catching machine. They would probably take over the world of rugby. Or maybe a two sport PK/C

An ERA "split" like this demands an investigation.... Meet Francisco Cordero: Home 0.33 -- 28 games Away 7.20 -- 16 games

Our Staff: 3.65 3.46 3.92* 3.58 3.25 * pitching tonight

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-070726a… thank god Cubs fans aren't GM's... some trade scenarios proposed... Arod for Z Marquis, Rich Hill, Mateo for Aaron Harang Hill, Guzman for Willis Murton for Lofton JJ, Dempster, Moore for Gagne Rich Hill, JJ, Eyre for Garland Murton/Guzman for Griffey Jr. Fox/Gallagher for Adam Dunn more reasonsable offers Eyre and cash to Tigers for a PTBNL Dempster/Murton for Rowand Marshall, E-Pat/Fox for Griffey Guzman, Murton for Marte/Nady

#16 Costas: ZING! Go Cubs! Go Costas! Next thing you know, he'll be doing an in-depth interview with Zambrano with that feel-good Olympics music in the background.

Haha, Santo fawning all over Cedeno even though he's on the bench tonight. Called him "big boy."

Eckstein in the process of manufacturing a run after golfing a ball that was several inches below worm level into the OF for a hit. Then stealing second after putting on a cloak of invisibility....at least Marquis didn't see him. And then taking third on a ball hit to JJ...who just doesn't have enough arm even if it mattered. But, Derrek Lee steals a foul ball from a fan for the second out. And Duncan taps one to Theriot at SS who throws him out at first. All is well. The Town Crier

i love santo, but he is really annoying tonight - did he catch marquis w/ his wife or something? i think ronnie is lost without pat...

And in a dimly lit hotel room, Wade Miller smiles, puts a beer to his lips, and daydreams about a start in late August at Wrigley Field.

I don't know if it means anything, but Felix Pie and Josh Kroeger were both pulled early from the Iowa Cubs' game, and I don't believe it's injury related, as far as I know. Something *might* be up.

Wonderful, we might have Pie's .216 avg back and in effect. Awwwwwwww, yeah!!! I'm getting out some Foo Fighters "Hero" and blasting it on my woofers.

LNL: "Any word on Wood?" Please use TCR naming conventions for the Cub pitchers who were formerly highly touted yet have yet to pitch in a MLB game for nearly a year, until such time as they actually pitch in MLB regular season game. Presented and seconded previously. "W" or "P" Thank you.

The E-Man — July 26, 2007 @ 4:57 pm KENDALL BUSTS OUT! 3-4, 2RBI, BB, 2b HA HA! right… Ummm (frog in throat) SEE - I CALLED IT!

i refer back to a previously stated post marquis is a cooler weather pitcher this is why he did so well in april, does any one else know he was going to implode there,i bet alot of us could see it coming

also was interesting that lou put cedeno at third and did not put him at at short and move theriot to 3rd.

Wow, they make it sound like if Pie/Kroger are traded then we got a solid player, otherwise the other theory is that we traded JJ for someone else and Pie is being brought up to fill the other spot. BTW, I f'ing HATE the format of those discussion boards, so God Bless Chifan for putting up with that. Good catch as well ...

Apparently Pie and Kroger were both injured the inning before, hence they were taken out of the game

In light of the Pie/Kroeger speculations... Lou says: "We're looking at Murton" ??? --------- http://tinyurl.com/2m9u52 Piniella said the Cubs aren't in the market for any big-name hitters. "I don't think we're going to make a trade just to make a trade," Piniella said. "We're looking at [Matt] Murton. He's starting to swing the bat well at Triple-A again."

what uke said.. Pie with a sore squad, Kroeger hurt himself on a swing it sounds like.

Uke, I have to agree with some of the guys over at NSBB that it would seem odd for 2 guys to have mild injuries like this. IF, and I mean IF, Hendry were working on a blockbuster he would probably have said to the AAA manager to come up with some backstory on why you gave them the hook.

they wouldn't pull anybody unless a deal was finalized. And if it's finalized they wouldn't make up a story. From our wonderful minor league site, Hoffpauir is out for the year and Moore on the DL, hurt his ankle on a slide.

and Iowa was losing 7-1 at the time they were both pulled. That would be the time to pull them.

The D'backs are the new Wild Card leaders. We would have been co-leaders if it wasn't for Marquis who is worse than Estes was in 03. God I cant believe were going to be paying 10 million in 09. Hopefully he pulls a Denny Neagle number.

Penny left the game tonight with a groin injury. So apparently the Dodgers are trying to be the 85 Cubs. Needless to say if he and Lowe are out for awhile then the Dodgers are done. The Cy Young race looks to be down to a 3 horse bewteen Hamels, Peavy and Z then.

I put the Whammy on Marquis and Rob G put the Whammy on Theriot. I take full responsibility for the pummelin (but not the loss since we only scored one run). Marquis who is worse than Estes was in 03. In Bizzaro Cub Land I guess 8-11 with a 5.17 ERA us better than 7-6 with a 4.20 ERA? If Marquis goes 1-5 and allows 40 earned runs over the next 30.1 innings, then he would be Estes of 2003. As I recall, Estes threw a complete game shut-out in his last start of the year for that '03 team. One loss does not a season end.

If I were dating Eliza Dushku I would probably be on the 60 day DL with a groin injury. Dodgers management should put an end to that relationship ASAP.

We need to make another trade like this one. August 15, 2003: Bobby Hill Sent by the Chicago Cubs to the Pittsburgh Pirates to complete an earlier deal made on July 23, 2003. The Chicago Cubs sent a player to be named later, Jose Hernandez, and Matt Bruback (minors) to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Aramis Ramirez, Kenny Lofton, and cash. The Chicago Cubs sent Bobby Hill (August 15, 2003) to the Pittsburgh Pirates to complete the trade.

Cedano,Pagan,Jones. = A Rod To Much? Not enough? ahh who am I kidding, The only move we will end up making is swapping Right fielders with the W Sox.

Marquis' splits are pretty interesting. In wins, his ERA is 1.40. In losses, his ERA is 8.02. Either way, his post All-Star numbers are pretty bad, partially because his BAbip has come back to earth. I have a feeling if we make it to the playoffs, he will be the odd man out again, which has gotta suck for him. Of course, that all depends on Hill, Marshall and Lilly keeping on keeping on.

Rosenthal is reporting a too good to turn down offer from the Braves for Texiera. Salty and two other real prospects. If that's the case, the Wild Card just got a bit tougher.

Atlanta plays AZ this weekend. If we take 2 of 3 we gain on one of them!!!

Will Carroll wrote about Pie and kroeger over at BP- "Felix Pie was pulled in the fourth inning of the Iowa Cubs game in Colorado Springs, along with outfield/first base-type Josh Kroeger. All I know thus far is that neither player left due to injury."

from today's Sun-Times: Mark DeRosa, out of the lineup the last two nights because of soreness in his hamstring near his left knee, was available off the bench Thursday and was optimistic he could return to the lineup tonight against Cincinnati.

What?!?! I thought LouPa hated Murton, and that he would never be called up by the Cubs again!

Ugh... bad tag. Lets try that again. “I don’t think we’re going to make a trade just to make a trade,” Piniella said. “We’re looking at [Matt] Murton. He’s starting to swing the bat well at Triple-A again.” What?!?! I thought LouPa hated Murton, and that he would never be called up by the Cubs again!

Go Cards Go Go Cards Go Hey St. Louis whaddya say The Cards are going to win today (Friday, Sat, Sun)

This morning the Des Moines Register confirms that PIE and KROEGER were injured... "Iowa lost star center fielder and top Chicago Cubs prospect Felix Pie to a quad injury and first baseman Josh Kroeger with oblique trouble. Both players were listed as day-to-day."

The Real Neal: If I were dating Eliza Dushku I would probably be on the 60 day DL with a groin injury. Comment of the day.

Raise your hand if you thought that in July the Cubs would be playing the Cardinals and having an infield of Fox, Fontenot, Theriot, and Cedeno. If you would have heard that would happen in July, you would have thought that the Cubs would be 15 games back.

Just looking at team stats this morning and sure enough the Cubs hitters have reverted to form in one prominent category--- taking walks. We rank 15th in the National League after 100 games. So we're right back to being a team that hits for good average, doesn't strike out much but doesn't take many walks either. One team stat surprised me though (but perhaps it's explained by the lack of Cub HR power this year). The Cubs are last in the NL in being hit by the pitcher (18). The league leaders in that category are the Phillies who've been hit 56 times already.

One team stat surprised me though (but perhaps it’s explained by the lack of Cub HR power this year). The Cubs are last in the NL in being hit by the pitcher (18). You would think that all the posing the Cubs do, they would be hit more often!

I haven't been keeping track, who are we blaming this week? Can Barret or Izturis still be responsible for anything that makes a Cub fan angry at this point, or have the merry bloggers picked a new target for Cub fan angst?

Barrett - definitely still responsible. But Matt Murton is doing everything he can to help the Cubs lose.

The only reason they're not higher in hit batsmen is because Aram gets out of the way of the high and tight pitches he knows are coming.

Some projections after 100 games. Aramis Ramirez .320 26 HR 68 R 105 RBI Derrek Lee .335 15 HR 87 R 81 RBI Alfonso Soriano .297 26 HR 109 R 60 RBI Mark DeRosa .284 11 HR 55 R 81 RBI Ryan Theriot .276 4 HR 79 R 44 RBI

I'd like to see more production from Soriano, especially considering the money involved.

Wow... those are some pretty lousy home run numbers (and no, I am not being sarcastic). While I don't think that home runs are the only way to get to the playoffs (as I have made clear in other threads), the lack of power is confusing. Lost in Lee's power drought is the fact that both A-Ram and Soriano are significantly below where they should be in terms of home runs. Soriano has averaged about 34 home runs a season (in full seasons) and 36 home runs over his last three years. A-Ram has averaged about 31 home runs a season (in full seasons), and 35 home runs over his last three years.

I know some people hate to say it. But the lack of walks directly coincide with the recent offensive ineptitude. Lack of walks and pitchers who outhit your catchers.

Normally I'd be happy about a pitcher outhitting a catcher. While we have some excellent hitting pitchers I think this particular stat is more a testament to our overly-lousy hitting catchers than it is to the hitting ability of the pitchers.

Murton, Cherry coming up:
The Cubs are turning to Iowa for reinforcements again and plan to call up right-fielder Matt Murton and right-hander Rocky Cherry Friday. ... Lou Piniella said Thursday that the Cubs would probably stand pat at the trading deadline, with Murton's hot hitting at Iowa one reason for the decision.
HAHAHAHA! I laugh at all of you have said in recent weeks that Murton would not see the big leagues this year with the Cubs. No word on who is going down... I would think it would be Petrick and Fox.

Alright. I was wrong, smartass. Bask in your awesomeness. Good lord. You really are an arrogant ass.

dave - I was one of those who did not think Murton would be back, but I have always wanted them to give him another chance... This makes me happy. Now, if they would just play him in some games, I would be even happier...

Good lord. You really are an arrogant ass. Right... because everyone else didn't act like arrogant asses about Murton saying that there was no way that he would be back with the Cubs? Come on... And honestly, that wasn't directed to you as much as others who were very adamant about wrong me, Johann, and others were about Murton having a future with the Cubs. You were mild compared to others.

dave - do you think Lou will play Murton consistently? I really hope so. I am afraid that if he doesn't, Murt will not really be able to perform... I would guess that Lou will play him, possibly tonight, and if he doesn't get a hit or help significantly, he'll be riding the pine for awhile... I hope he's able to step up...

dave - do you think Lou will play Murton consistently? I have no idea... I would hope that he gets some decent playing time, and I would think that he plays against all LHP. Of course, with all of the injuries that Floyd finds, Murton may get some time against RHP too.

I have read today in the Daily Southtown, that "...barring any additions at the deadline (Ty Wigg.), it is likely that Murton would get called up." We will have to wait until Tuesday to find out, imo.

Yeah, dave. I think that's the problem right there. I don't think Murton is the answer as a platoon player hitting against LHP. I think we saw that earlier in the year, with Floyd or Jones getting the RHP games (75%), and Murton playing every 4 days or so. I think either he plays almost every day, or he fails... So, I think he better be ready to really bring it on that first day he gets...

Enough with the personal attacks. Everybody here is entitled to state their opinions without being attacked or called names. It's fine to disagree with a comment or opinion about a particular player, but it isn't necessary to turn a disagreement it into an in-your-face personal argument, or to bait others into making nasty replies to your comment. If you feel you can't do that, then don't post here. There are a lot of other Cubs forums that welcome that crap. Go there and have fun.

Dave- Of course, ARAM did miss some significant time with the quad injury, right? So 26 HR's wouldn't be so bad... Anytime DLEE-Uncle Cliffy, Soriano, and Jacque Strapp want to hit a few HR's, it's fine with me. I am aware of Jacque's hitting the last 2 weeks, but it would still be nice if he'd hit a homer or 2. Zero since June 1?

AZ PHIL - What are your thoughts on the cubs farm system right now. As we get to the trade deadline, who in your mind are our top 10 prospects?

I don't know, I love all this rearranging of the deck chairs at Iowa and Chicago. Seriously, to me it's almost as good as making trades at the deadline, which the Cubs may not get involved in after all. So that's it: Murton back, Fox probably going back to Tennessee where they desperately need him. At Iowa, Craig on first (or switching with Moore, whoever plays third better), Kroeger in right, Pie in center and Coats in left. Craig has had a terrific year under the radar and deserves Iowa more than Fox. This was nothing personal between Piniella and Fox. The Cubs were just waiting for Murton to make some noise with his bat, which he finally started to. Fox would probably have started a game in right if we had faced a lefty while he was up. He didn't put many dents in the scoreboard in that one at-bat at Wrigley.

AZ Phil stepping it up!! Nice....and while I'm here: What do you think of Kyler Burke's improvement at Boise? It seems maybe that the Padres were a little over-aggressive in pushing him to A ball at 19?

murton/cherry... probably safe to assume petrick's going down...fox/cedeno/pagan? my loot's on fox but hendry's gone weird before with the callups (remember the theriot callups last year...even one with the sending down of a pitcher in an already full IF/IF-bench?).

Of course, ARAM did miss some significant time with the quad injury, right? Yea... that is true. So A-Ram is probably pretty close to his normal pace. Well... now that I look, he is still not quite there either. A-Ram, ABs/HR 2004-2006: 15.28 2007: 19.75

"Craig has had a terrific year under the radar and deserves Iowa more than Fox." a terrific year in the minors means jack. craig was barely on the radar until this season and has been REWARDED with swift movement.

Lee had a hit a HR last night! If he steps it up at all in the second half as he's shown signs if doing, he might not his career #s, but he will still look much better. I still don't want to see AVG sacrificed for HRs though. Hopefully he can do both. And yes, Murton! I love me some red heads.

I interpret the paraphrased statement by Lou that the Cubs will probably stand pat on trades to be a bit of a poker face. What team would advertise and bemoan their needs with four days left before the deadline? It seems that just about every team is waiting to see if any of their competitors makes a key move. If the Braves decide to trade Saltamacchia to Texas for Texeira, that could cause a chain reaction in which the Mets, Dodgers, Brewers and Cubs all look for upgrades. Baseball Prospectus yesterday said that the Cubs might be hovering over the Texeira deal and may trade for Gerald Laird at C if the Rangers end up with Salty. I can see that trade if Blanco is not ready to come back. ESPN Rumors column today says Yankees are shopping Damon, possibly to the Braves. Now that is "subtraction by addition." It's too bad we're not talking about the 2004-2006 Damon and not the pale ghost of Johnny Damon we've seen this year.

re: craig... at least he's held his power since being busted for roids, but his power wasnt that impressive to begin with...middle of the road line-drive stuff. craig's not much of a 3rd baseman, either...but neither is scott moore...they both got decent arms (last i heard about craig's anyway). fox has a chance to be a real power hitter, but craig's stilll got that line-drive thing going on. not that's he's trash or no chance, etc...its just mroe likely too see craig as a bench 1st/3rd type at this point. he's a little old, too...like 25/26....he's gotta move up eventually, he's done with what he can exploit in AA and he should be in AAA soon enough...maybe really soon with the 2 new injuries cuz he can also cover 1st.

I'd probably agree with Lou the Cubs should just stand pat. Outside of catcher, they don't have any real needs, and there's not a lot out there we could get at catcher. Our infield is set, our outfield looks pretty good if Jones keeps hitting and if Murton is brought up, our bench could look decent if Ward comes back and with possibly Floyd, our pitching is good outside of Marquis and he can get dropped in the playoffs and our bullpen is certainly one of the better ones. Of course I'd like to have another big time bat, but I really doubt that could happen right now without some serious names traded, and do we really have the debth to pull off a trade like that? So, catcher is a big time need, but I doubt that's a possibility.

this is a really good break for jones...pagan slowed down his bat (and isnt much of a CF to begin with)...jones discovered a few holes between fielders enough to earn a legit shot at starting again... i kinda highly doubt jones is gonna be around next year and wouldnt be surprised at all to see him leave for next to nothing during the waiver-wire-trade period past the official deadline if he doesnt start elevating the ball (esp. over the fence) soon.

I would have liked to see us make a run at Lofton for CF or Griffey for RF. I wonder if like the troubles against lefty starters has ruled out consideration of trading for a lefty hitter right now. I do think that if we see Atlanta, LA, the Mets and the Brewers make moves, we may respond. Right now, unless the Texeira deal happens, about the only thing we may see moving are bullpen arms like Wheeler, Dotel, Qualls, Chad Cordero, and middling starters like Lohse, Traschel, and Contreras. Outside of Chad Cordero, nothing I'd be interested in.

Hi from Cincy! The first person I met at the hotel was Pat Hughes. It was a brief conversation and I was able to thank him for the Harry Caray voices CD. Apparently he ate something that didn't agree with him in StL (Ronnie keeps warning him about the tuna sandwich). He missed last night's broadcast and looked a bit gaunt...he's probably day to day (grin). Last night's broadcast had Corey P. telling Ronnie about lunch with Pat and Len and that they split the check (CP didn't have to pay). Ron then said something to the effect that play by play guys don't spring for dinners. It's the color analysts that are the big spenders. Hopefully CP didn't sabotage Pat's lunch.

crunch, I wasn't pushing Craig for promotion. I don't know anything about him except for his good numbers at AA and the fact that he plays positions that don't give him a future with the Cubs. But he's already at Iowa. He played in his first game yesterday. He pinch-hit for Pie and then replaced Kroeger at first. I suppose that Craig was called up a day early to fill Murton's roster spot.

craig's earning his way. he's not trash...he just doesnt project like fox does. not like either are expected to be the next coming of pujols or anything close, anyway. he's just never developed anything but gap power...it worked for mark grace, but craig dont have grace's eye. if healthy he'll probably get a shot on someone's bench someday and if he adjusts up the ladder he could be someone's regular...dont think he's ever played above AA.

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.