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

From the TCR E-mailbag

It's time once again to check the email inbox, and answer questions submitted by you, the loyal readers of TCR.
Dear Transmission, I am a former child star who is trying to regain a normal life. At a very young age, I was thrust into the limelight for all to gawk at this gangly, slightly awkward, annoyingly precocious kid. Not unlike Wil Wheaton. Like so many, I quickly flamed out from over-exposure. I ran through a series of talent-managers, each of whom made very questionable decisions on when and how to cast me. I burned out, and have spent the last several years in therapy and seeing one doc after another. I'm back in the business now, and have landed a modest but recurring role back on TV, with room for my character's role to grow. Yet I can't help but feel that the joke is on me, that my appearances are treated as something as a novelty act. Do I have any chance of regaining my early glory and being treated as a serious performer again, or am I doomed to halcyon recollections of glory years long past?

Kid Wonderful

Dear KW,

For all the talk about the world being littered with the careers of former child phenoms, there are plenty who go on to make respectable lives for themselves. Doogie Howser has reinvented himself into a new leading role. Wil Wheaton has... well... a very nice blog. You can't expect to regain your past prominence overnight. Use whatever bit work you can find, now, ignoring the gawkers and whisperers. Consider it an extended audition for a leading role some time down the road. Best Wishes!

 

 

Behold! Lo! I am Zeus, greatest of the Gods, son and dispatcher of Chronus, Ruler of Mount Olympus, God of Thunder! Tremble before me in awe of my abundant powers! Cower at the thought of my dreadful thunderbolts, sent from above to smite my foes!

Zeus

Nice try, Carlos. Stick to pitching the 7th inning, for now. Demand deity status when you're arbitration eligible. Zeus's nearest comparable deities, Hera, Poseidon, and Apollo, made about 4 million in their first arb. year plus options on dalliances with two mortals.
To the purported contributing authors and purported readers of the purported The Cub Reporter; We regret to inform you that you don't exist. Much like Tinkerbell, The Bogeyman, and brotherly love, you don't live until our consciousness wills you into existence.

The Tribune Corporation

 

Dear Tribune,

 

So I take it your consciousness willed this: "~neener, neener!!~"

 

Dear Transmission
I don't understand why TCR hasn't given more attention to Sam Fuld! Now, here's a young man who seems so well-mannered, always tries his hardest, respects his elders, eats his vegetables and does what he's told without having to be told twice. And he's such a handsome young man, especially when he decides to flash that winning style! I'm telling you, he's going to be a real catch for some lucky ball club and some luckier woman, some day, just you see!

Might One Modestly Make A Fuld Ultimatum? Let's Discuss.

 

Dear MOMMA FULD,

You're in luck! Cubnut and Rob G already have in the works a seven-piece biographical series on everybody's favorite pinch-runner, due to appear this November. It will be following by a comprehensive medical biography authored by Dr. Hecht, and recaps of Fuld's ten greatest minor league games, by AZ Phil. As always, TCR is committed to being your authoritative source for all things Sam Fuld.

Dear TCR,

We're getting tired of Wade Miller. Will you please take him back?

Limbo.

 

Dear Limbo,

Evidently, you haven't gotten the news.

 

Transmission

I am the man that BIG Z is discussing in the email you answered from your last column. It's interesting that BIG Z wants to make up, after all that he has done to ruin my life, which is why I'm writing to you. After the abusiveness, I did the right thing and got out quickly, going far away. I bummed around southern California for awhile, struggling to find regular work, or a pitcher who would treat me right. Eventually I found my way to Arizona, got involved with a guy named Livan, only to learn that he, too, had a history of battery. I got out before it ever got to the point of becoming his long-term battery-mate, and eventually found my way to Detroit, and a guy named Kenny. That didn't work out too well, either. Neither of these guys are half the pitchers BIG Z was, and I have grown accustomed to catching only the best.

I hear that BIG Z hasn't really been the same since I left, either, and now I'm wondering if maybe we really should get back together, if it might not help both of us be better than what we are, apart?

Buddies Are Rather Rare. Exiting Takes Time.

Dear BARRETT,

The most passionate relationships are always the hardest to get over. Right now, you need to break this pattern of looking for new pitchers who wind up treating you just like BIG Z did. This might mean taking a hiatus from catching, entirely, and consider, say, just working at getting to first base, instead? Whatever you do, you can't be looking to reunite with Z this year. No good could possibly come of it.

 

Dear Transmisison,

WTF? I mean, seriously, WTF?

My Ass. Relief Sucks. How About Liberation, Lou?

Dear MARSHALL,

I hear Matt Murton is looking for a roommate in Free Jason Duboistown. I can give you his number, if you need.

 

(Received via carrier pigeon from an undisclosed location......)

Transmission,

If the Cubs get to the playoffs, do you expect the television networks to have the good sense to not trot out the tired storyline of redemption for 2003 and Game 6 against the Marlins? I mean, that was 4 years ago! There are only three players on the Cubs left from that team! That ball-club played David Kelton, for Pete's sake. KELTON! You'd think that the networks would have something better to do than show replays of certain unfortunate, entirely regrettable and completely unintended events from four years ago, events that everyone has forgotten and forgiven, anyways, when there's exciting Cubs baseball with a brand new team in a brand new year, to discuss. Right? RIGHT?!?!?!?!?!

Being A Recluse Takes Mostly Anonymity, Namelessness

Dear BARTMAN,

Sadly, if the Cubs make the playoffs we can expect unending reminders of the Event That Shall Remain Unspoken. Playoff baseball, to the networks, is just another form of entertainment for the masses, requiring hackneyed storylines of tragedy and redemption in order to lure in the ignorant and stupid. We're going to see so many replays of the Event that our best hopes of ending it will be getting an injunction in court on the grounds that it's a form of cruel and unusual punishment. Sorry, and please say hi to Osama, Amelia Earhart, Bigfoot and Kevin Orie.

 

 

Comments

Better than the first one, Trans. Excellent stuff. Let's hope this goes better than the last time.

~ducks~

Trans - you seem to know just about everything - can you tell me the origin of that song that is heard after every Cub win at home. You know the one...Go Cubs Go!

Dear Transmission, My son and daughter in law just named their baby "Wrigley." How do I stop them before they name their next son "Marshall?" Sincerely, Paul Fields Sr.

HAHHAHAH Dear Mr. Fields. Two words for ya: "snip, snip." If you can't convince either your son or daughter in law to go that route, you could just stand outside their bedroom window each night, playing the tape of Kellie Pickler's 7th inning appearance and interview. That too should do the trick. Gotta run to class, feel free to start the flame war now that I'm not here to read it... :)

In Dusty We Trusty!!!!!! I think we should put Manny Trillo in charge of the Cubs. He'd hire back Dusty for us.

Craig Monroe: "In Dusty We Trusty!!!!!! I think we should put Manny Trillo in charge of the Cubs. He’d hire back Dusty for us." Go TCR!!!!!!!!!!

Doug D: "Good luck with that, since frigging TBS is broadcasting the playoffs, and I don’t believe they even have an HD channel (if they do, Comcast in Chicago doesn’t pick it up)." Well back in June Time Warner said TBS was going HD in September. Has anyone heard anything official? http://www.timewarner.com/corp/newsroom/pr/0,20812,1637248,00.html In fact, I just called Turner Broadcasting and they said TBS HD has launched and it is up to the cable systems to pick it up.

In Dusty We Trusty!!!!!! I think we should put Manny Trillo in charge of the Cubs. He’d hire back Dusty for us. Where did this come from? Attack manny's ideas when it is relevant to the conversation. Don't just attack manny or his ideas out of nowhere.

Trans- I believe he recorded that song before Sutcliffe got there as he was gravely ill the summer of 1984. The song with the Cub players is "Here's to you,Men in Blue" Sutcliffe, Jody Davis and Keith Moreland I believe are on it.

dave: "Where did this come from?" This same poster has been doing this for weeks now and nothing has been done, but thanks!!

Wes- Wow about Bradley. One less hitter the Padres could afford to lose. This last week is going to be very interesting for the races.

Charter Communications, the cable company I will be using when I buy my new house next week, will not be getting TBSHD this year at least, so I will be shit out of luck for the first round in HD. Go Selig!!!!!!! Doesn't look like DirecTv has it listed in its HD channels either.

A Soto moment you might have missed -- Top of the sixth, two out, Cubs up 3-0, LaRoche safe at first on a checked-swing hit. The first two pitches to Nady miss by a wide margin. Zambrano walks of the mound toward first, obviously trying to gather himself. Soto trots out and gets up on the mound to where he at Z's level--gets a fistful of the front of Zambrano's shirt in his right hand--and says something into his ear. If I'm making it sound threatening, it wasn't. It was subtle, friendly, firm--all good stuff.

So, I just got two SRO tickets for the second home game of the NLDS (game 4). How early do I need to get to the ballpark to get a decent place to stand? 2 hours before gates open (4 hours prior to gametime)? Also, I have gone SRO in the past and stood behind the first section on third base side and leaned (but not sat on, as this is against the Wrigley rules) the railing. Is there a better SRO place at Wrigley? Any help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!

So, I just got two SRO tickets for the second home game of the NLDS (game 4). How early do I need to get to the ballpark to get a decent place to stand? 2 hours before gates open (4 hours prior to gametime)? Also, I have gone SRO in the past and stood behind the first section on third base side and leaned (but not sat on, as this is against the Wrigley rules) the railing. Is there a better SRO place at Wrigley? Any help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!

Manny I called Directv and they told me that have it. BTW, if you sign up for Directv (and you should) tell em i sent you and we each get like $50.

Comcast not listing tbs hd yet. Sucks. Encouraging tidbit from ESPN Jayson Stark0 " And no team since World War II has blown a lead as large as the Cubs' lead with a week left. The biggest lead to disappear in the final week in all that time: three games, by the 1962 Dodgers and 1951 Dodgers -- both to the Giants, and both requiring memorable playoffs after the regular season because the teams finished those seasons tied. "

Chad: "Manny I called Directv and they told me that have it." Lucky bastard!!! They don't have it on their channel list, so I figured they didn't. Can I come over to watch it?

I have heard that most cable companies will have added TBSHD by the start of the playoffs, though I don't recall where I read it. Even if they dont have it now, they may have it very soon.

Go TCR!!!!!!!!!! Manny, Don't be upset. I just think you need a new calling card. Perhaps something about Lou: Cubbie Swagger!!!!! What do you think?

Why oh why did you have to say that Jacos? (or repeat it) Brings back memories of 84 and hearing the announcers say "No team has ever lost after going up 2 - 0 in a best of 5 series." I wont rest comfortably with team until the Brewers are eliminated. (and I might even worry then)

*” And no team since World War II has blown a lead as large as the Cubs’ lead with a week left. The biggest lead to disappear in the final week in all that time: three games, by the 1962 Dodgers and 1951 Dodgers — both to the Giants, and both requiring memorable playoffs after the regular season because the teams finished those seasons tied. “* Jayson Stark just had to go and find something the Cubs have never done in their spectacular history of failure--thanks, dude.

I put up the list of TBS HD stations in the last thread. I guess that's why it's still such a mystery where it's available.

The NL's hottest teams Rockies W8 8-2 Cubs W4 8-2 Braves W2 8-2 Phils L1 8-2 and the nottest teams Pirates L9 1-9 Marlins L3 3-7 Florida up next. Let's do to the Marlins what we did to Pirates. Keep their streak alive!

Dear Transmission, I'm a very underrated payment method. Perhaps you could enforce that every Internet transaction gets made through me? -- Hey, Oh, Take Kegs And Rarely Lose

"Yea… just say, “Chad sent me. You know, the guy from TCR?”" You'd be surprised. "Lucky bastard!!! They don’t have it on their channel list, so I figured they didn’t. Can I come over to watch it?" Anytime. "No doubt Wes. HD to me means a color TV. :-p" You guys know that just about any tv you would buy today is and HDTV, right? I mean you could buy one that isn't but I don't know why. TVs are actually cheaper than they were even a few years ago. I bought a floor model 27' Zenith for like $500 10 years ago. Today you can buy a 37" HDTV for $600. While $600 bucks in nothing to sneeze at, its quite cheap when you factor in all the hours of use you get out of it.

"Encouraging tidbit from ESPN Jayson Stark" Funny, I read stats like that and get a sense of impending doom. I remember stats before game 6 in 2003 about how Prior and Wood never lose back to back starts, and how there is a 95% chance of winning when you are up by "A Score Not To Be Spoken Of" and have "Number Of Outs Left Not To Be Spoken Of" Bottom Line, those stats are only good until someone breaks the streak. Obviously I am extremely confident we'll pull it out with room to spare, but I still get a pit when I read stats like that and see the playoff odds reports from BP.

"You guys know that just about any tv you would buy today is and HDTV, right?: I am guessing the key is, they have to go out and actually purchase a new TV...that's the key part. TV's are down dramatically in the last 6 months, let alone the last few years. The funny part is, while flat panel prices keep heading down, CRT TV's haven't seemed to drop much in the last 8 years or so. I saw a 27" standard CRT for $299 the other day...about the same price I spent for a good one in 2000. However, my 50" Rear Projection 3LCD TV is about 1/3rd the price I paid 4 years ago.

Dear Trans, I might have been the only dumb bastard in the whole wide world smart enough to sell out of the dot-com bubble just in the nick of time. Therefore, I am a genius and possibly the second coming of Christ, even though I haven't done shit of consequence since then. But I wanted to ask you: Why don't they take me seriously? Just because I berate officials and constantly anger my current co-investors with hair-brained schemes, I should be very MARKetable. After all, I'm just like a regular guy. I don't pay more than $12 for a haircut either. What can I do to convince the other billionaires that I'm all growed up? Might Actually Really Kinda Could Undertaking Buying A Northsideclub

From previous thread: Rob G.: "so TBS has exclusive rights to the NLDS right? And they don’t have secondary channe to go to I believe (well maybe TNT). That means if one games bleeds into the other, everyone’s going to miss the 2nd game until the first one ends?" TBS (with TNT) is carrying all MLB Division Series Games (Both NL and AL) and they are carrying all the NLCS games, with FOX carrying the ALCS and the WS. So Cubs fans might not be able to see the Cubs in WS until the World Series. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/schedule/ps_07.jsp It is going to be interesting to see how they handle overlapping games rain delays, etc. Hopefully TNT gets more than just one day of use as I have that channel in HD.

I've already burned up two HDTVs neither of which ever was privileged to display an HDTV signal. Luckily I bought them at Costco before they changed their return policy. But this waiting for HDTV to be commonly available is something akin to waiting for the cubs(to)winthepennant.

Dear Trans, Not only am I the best player in the big leagues, now I want to own the team I play for, so maybe my rabbit ears won't be so active. As the owner I would make myself the highest paid athlete in sports with so many perks, my agent Scott Boras will have to use 3 trees just to print my contract. Move over Tiger and Jordan and Oprah, Chicago here I come. A Really Outrageous Dick

So there are going to be 3 games on some days carried on TBS only (not TNT)? 2 day games, 1 night game? That sucks.

More likely Adam it will be 1 day game and 2 night games (1 East Coast and 1 West Coast).

Going for the kill by playing the hot hands.....According to the Trib, starting again Tuesday for the Cubs Ronny Cedeno Geovany Soto I really think Soto's success with the Cubs has rubbed off on his former AAA mate Cedeno.

"Going for the kill by playing the hot hands" Ehh, I would think Cedeno is all about giving Theriot more rest, versus Lou going with Cedeno because he had 1 good game. Soto is obviously a different story.

For the love of your diety of choice, ctwp, I sure hope so. When you're in a sprint in the final week, which we are, I also agree with playing the guys who are swinging it well. No reason to try to work guys out of slumps. Put the kid in there if he's going to hit. Sounds like a 180 from me, I know, but the situation is a little different than it was even at the beginning of the month.

IF (big If) the Cubs were to sign ARod during the off-season, wouldn't he have to play SS until Ramirez is traded or his contract expires? Lineup would probably be: 1b - Lee 2b - Theriot 3b - Ramirez ss - ARod lf - Soriano cf - Jones rf - DeRosa c - Soto Pretty awesome on paper.

But Cedeno IS hot. Theriot was supposedly available Sunday, we're talking TUESDAY. He's getting more rest only because Cedeno is doing well in September. 7/14, 1 K, 1 BB, 2/2 pinch hitting, 1 HR, 6 RBI and clearly is being considered for the playoff roster.

Cedeno . . . had 1 good game. Cedeno is 7 for 14 since his recall at the beginning of the month. He hit .359 in a lot of at bats, almost 300, at Iowa. We all hated him last year but he may have reinvented himself. What I like is the wristy swing where the ball just flies out of the park, like yesterday.

"available" doesn't mean he's 100%. He was available to pinch hit Sunday, doesn't mean he's close I just can't imagine that if Theriot was 100% that Cedeno would get more playing time based on 7/14 in a month. I was a big proponent of moving Theriot down the order, but I would trust him over Cedeno at this point of the season. It's great that Cedeno has a hot bat, but that's just too small of a sample size to overide his .175 BA for the year. (My opinion, of course).

We all hated him last year but he may have reinvented himself. Actually, I think we all hated him for a very large percentage of this year, too.

cedeno looks better this time around. he looks like he's got a clue up there, not so antsy. I dunno what he looked like in the minors, but he looked uncomfortable his other times in the bigs.

A Soto moment you might have missed -- Top of the sixth, two out, Cubs up 3-0, LaRoche safe at first on a checked-swing infield single. The first two pitches to Nady miss by a wide margin. Zambrano walks off the mound toward first, obviously trying to gather himself. Soto trots out and walks up the mound to where he at Z's level. He gets a fistful of the front of Zambrano's shirt in his right hand, and says something into his ear. I think Len and Bob were busy looking at replays of LaRoche, and Derrek Lee stretching for the throw at first. They missed the shirt-grabbing incident. Zambrano and Soto aren't going to fight. This was subtle, friendly, firm--all good stuff.

I've been trying to post an item about Soto being very firm with Zambrano with two outs in the top of the 6th yesterday--to the point of grabbing the front of his shirt. If you missed it, and you have mlb.com or a recording of game, check out Soto's visit to the mound with Nady at bat in the sixth. When I try to describe the incident, I seem to use a word that lands me in arbitration or moderation or whatever it is.

Sorry, was away again, but love both the MARK CUBAN and AROD messages, WBION and Manny. Gotta run, however, so I don't think I can help Mr. CUBAN.

re 56 Lucky his parents aren't Bears fans? Soldier Fields would be the baddest most hard assed named ever! that kid would be born ass kicker. I would love that name!!! re 57 I saw that myself and pointed it out to my wife. I was really impressed with Soto right there. Thank you for what you have given us this year, and what you still may give us this year but, Mr. Jason Kendall, good luck with another team in 08 cause we have a starting catcher.

"We all hated him last year but he may have reinvented himself. " marmolaide? seriously, though...not even trying to compare the two. everyday? gimmie theriot. more upside? gimmie cedeno and a little more time.

I'm with Chad on this one, Soldier Fields is a name to die for. Although a lot of people would call you "Soldiers Fields" or even worse, "Soldier's Fields", so the poor kid would have to do a lot of correcting of the less-educated. Soto as the starting catcher next year? It looks to me like he's our starting catcher right now. When was the last time Kendall picked up the tools of ignorance? September 18. And not even a pinch-hit appearance. If he doesn't make any dumb defensive plays and the pitchers seem to like him, it seems like the switch has been made and Kendall may only be used situationally in the playoffs.

I thought Soto wasn't eligible for the playoff roster unless Kendall/Blanco is "hurt" (I'll bust one of em up if I have to). Is that false?

Wrigley, the position restriction on playoff roster substitutes only applies to injuries that occur during a series. Before a series begins, the Cubs pretty much can designate anyone in their organization to the playoff roster as the substitute for any injured player (in our case, Prior, Pagan, Novoa or Guzman) regardless of what position he plays at. Coincidentally, in the second-most-interesting "mailbag" column of the day, Cubs.com has this tidbit on Soto and indicates that there might be a platoon. [snip] The Cubs will likely keep Soto and Jason Kendall [on the playoff roster]. Soto is batting .444 (16-for-36) this month, including a .524 average against left-handers. Kendall is hitting .295 against right-handers. [end snip] What's interesting is what is unstated in the story. Soto is hitting .273/.351/.545 against righties, while Kendall is .297/.374/.387 against righties. That's a candidate for a platoon? I will gladly give 23 points in OBP to take 160 points in slugging. I regard Cubs.com stories as a thinly-veiled club press release, so the very fact that the story mentions Soto starting playoff games is important. You don't announce a change in starting catcher in the middle of a pennant race with two weeks to go. What happens is that the other guy (Kendall) simply. stops. playing. http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070924&content_id=22…

No reason to worry about Kendall's feelings. He's as gone as Troy O'Leary next year.

fallout from the Milton Bradley/Mike Cameron injuries: ] Padres acquired outfielder Jason Lane from the Astros for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

SD Falling apart in a hurry. About to lose 4th straight and drop into WC tie with Philly. Young pounded for 7 ER in start before Brewers. Cubs need to take care of business on their own. SD joining the Cards in the ranks of Dead Men Walking.

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.