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

Body Snatchers Doom Cubs

Torii Hunter crushed a lead-off first-pitch home run to ignite a seven-run 4th inning, propelling the Angels to an 8-4 victory over the Cubs at Ho Ho Kam Park this afternoon in Mesa, as the Cubs set an all-time single-season Cactus League attendance record. (It probably helped that the 2009 Cactus League season was extended by a week and a few extra home games to accomodate the WBC).   

box score

Sean Marshall started for the Cubs, and breezed through the first three innings, allowing one run on two hits, a walk, and a wild pitch, while striking out five (fanning four out of five batters at one point)  The run scored as the result of a Marshall wild pitch on strike three to Angels lead-off hitter Chone Figgins in the top of the 1st, who then advanced around the diamond on a walk and two ground outs.

But when Marshall took the mound to start the 4th, it was as if he was suddenly a completely different pitcher. After allowing just one run on 43 pitches (30 strikes) through three innings and looking sharp in the process, Marshall threw 28 pitches (only 14 strikes) while allowing seven runs on six hits (including two doubles and a home run) and a walk (pitcher Nick Adenhart on five pitches) in the inning, while retiring only one batter.  

Torii Hunter crushed the first pitch of the inning for a long home run, the ball sailing over the LF fence to the base of the scoreboard. Kendry Morales then doubled off the LF fence (a near HR), and Maicer Izturis grounded a single to right, advancing Morales to 3rd. Jeff Mathis then doubled into the LF corner to score Morales with the second run of the inning, sending Izuris to 3rd.

With pitcher Nick Adenhart due up, Marshall had a chance to stem the tide and perhaps turn the inning around, but the Cub lefty walked Adenhart on five pitches to load the bases, thus proving to all but the most skeptical faces in the crowd that he must have been possessed by an alien life-form between the 3rd and 4th innings, probably a vegetable pod.

Chone Figgins was the next hitter, and he slapped a two-run RBI single to center to score Morales and Izturis, as Adenhart advanced to 2nd. With David Patton hurriedly getting ready in the bullpen, Marshall finally got an out (Howie Kendrick hit into a FC), but Bobby Abreu sliced a single to left to score Adenhart and move Kendrick up a base.

The Abreu RBI single was Pitch #28 in the inning, and so Marshall was yanked from the game, as Rule 5 RHP David Patton took the mound. Patton is competing for one of the two open jobs in the bullpen, and cannot afford to fail when given an opportunity to show that he has what it takes to "put out a fire."

Patton came into the game firing strikes (as per usual), but unfortunately the first two hitters he faced (Vladimir Guerrero and Torii Hunter) weren't too impressed, driving consecutive RBI singles to the outfield, as both inherited runners scored (both runs were charged to Marshall). 

Patton then retired the next five men he faced (including three of the five on strikeouts), but the damage was done. For the day, Patton worked 1.2 IP (22 pitches - 15 strikes), allowing no runs of his own, but allowing the two inherited runners to score,

The Cubs got on the board in the bottom of the 4th versus Angels starter Nick Adenhart (who went 6.2 IP today, BTW), when Derrek Lee smacked a one-out double to left-center (and showed no apparent ill effects from the quad problem that's been bothering him for three weeks) and scored on a two-out RBI single hammered through the box by Aramis Ramirez. Mike Fontenot followed with an almost identical single chopped over second base, and Geovany Soto worked a walk on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases for Ryan Theriot. But The Riot rolled out weakly to 1st base (3-U) to terminate the inning with just one run scored and the Cubs down 8-1.

The Cubs scored another run in the bottom of the 5th, when Kosuke Fukudome hammered a two-out triple into the right-centerfield alley, and scored on another double by D-Lee, this one roped into the LF corner. (Lee smoked three hard-hit line drives in three ABs today, resulting in two doubles and a single).

The Cubs finished their scoring in the bottom of the 8th against Angels reliever Scott Shields, as PH Aaron Miles lined a double down the RF line, and scored on a Micah Hoffpauir towering HR that landed beyond the upper (visitor's) bullpen beyond the RF fence.

Aaron Heilman, Luis Vizcaino, Chad Fox, and Kevin Gregg followed Patton to the hill, each throwing one inning of shutout ball in innings 6-7-8-9.

Heilman gave up a harmless one-out single in his inning, throwing 18 pitches (11 strikes) with a 1/2 GO/FO, and Vizcaino labored through a lengthy top of the 7th, loading the bases on a double and two walks, but getting out the jam with two clutch strikeouts and a 6-3 GO. Vizcaino took a lot of time between pitches once he had a baserunner, and ultimately needed 33 pitches to get out of the inning (he threw 15 balls and 18 strikes in the inning).  

Chad Fox worked the 8th, and allowed a walk (he threw 22 pitches, including nine balls and 13 strikes), and he also gave up several "loud" outs and line drive fouls, but he did survive with no real damage.

And then Kevin Gregg worked an impressive 1-2-3 9th, striking out the side on 16 pitches.   

The Cubs generally looked listless today, not only at the plate and on the mound, but also on the bases. Kosuke Fukudome got picked off 1st base by Angels catcher Jeff Mathis after rapping a single to left-center with one out in the bottom of the 1st inning (Kosuke appeared to beat the throw, but it looked like he tripped over the bag and fell off the base), and Ryan Theuiot was picked off 1st base (and he was out by a mile, too) by pitcher Nick Adenhart when he tried to get an extended secondary lead with Sean Marshall at bat in a bunt situation with no outs in the bottom of the 3rd.

The Cubs play the Oakland A's tomorrow at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. 

Comments

AZ Phil didn't mention Samjargia, probably doesn't like him. On a serious note, what did you make of the pickoffs? bad baserunning or nice defense?

Submitted by Bud on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 8:12pm.
On a serious note, what did you make of the pickoffs? bad baserunning or nice defense?

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

BUD: Bad baserunning. Kosuke was slow ro react and then stepped on the bag awkwardly & off-balance while trying to avoid the tag, and Theriot was overly aggressive trying to get a secondary lead on a bunt play and got hung out to dry.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

I was at the game, too. So I'd add, good defense, too -- that rookie pitcher seemed to have a nice pickoff move. Fuku's thing wasn't a baserunning gaffe it was just an athletic fart, like a wide receiver tripping on the field. I would put that one in the "shit happens" category. Theriot was hung up but it was still a good play, but he never stood a chance.

Phil, can you give us a scouting report on Gregg? I think most of us here were very unimpressed with the trade that brought him over, but it sounds like he may surprise us.

Submitted by Little Nate Lewis on Tue, 03/31/2009 - 8:44pm. Phil, can you give us a scouting report on Gregg? I think most of us here were very unimpressed with the trade that brought him over, but it sounds like he may surprise us.

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

LITTLE NATE: 92-94 MPH fastball, a slider, and a splitter. He seems to have the right stuff to get both RH and LH hitters out. He also has a chronic problem with tendinitis in his left knee, so he may not be able to pitch more than one inning per outing, and may not be able to work more than two days in a row. He possibly could go on the DL at some point during the seasion if it flares up.

A few observations from my 3 day spring training visit, if anybody cares: We all know Hoffpauir can hit, but he had a nice fielding day at first yesterday, and although not much came his way in right today he looked okay when I saw him make one catch. He didn't have to move much and just had to fight the sun, but that wouldn't stop Adam Dunn from somehow moving to the wrong part of the field and then dropping the ball. Yes, for some reason I was sort of under the impression Hoffpower was Adam Dunn-like in the field. And although he's not, umm, graceful, he does field his position cleanly as far as I can tell. Today he was in right and there was one ball hit out there that a faster guy would have gotten to, but he'll never learn speed so there's no way he'd ever get to a ball like that. I saw a bit of Gathright, and after watching him a bit I'm no longer in the "he's this year's Neifi Perez" camp. He's not completely idiotic at the plate and he seems to be an amazing fielder, based on a VERY small, beer-influenced sample size. I never noticed before but Ryan Theriot likes to pretend he's batting while waiting on deck. He took ball four today before walking up to the plate. It's hysterical but it makes you realize how seriously he takes his job and how difficult this game is to play. Even if Milton Bradley is criminally insane, if he stays healthy, I'm happy. My internet connection at the hotel is bad so I haven't checked the box score but I think he got a hit every time at the plate yesterday. The dude can rake. Some minor leaguer came up to the plate late in the game yesterday and looked just terrible. I was thinking, "what a weak assed swing this guy's got." He then proceeded to tie the game with a rope down the right field line. I *think* it tied the game. If not, it was a key hit at the time. Fukodome's first hit today was the kind of thing he corkscrewed into late last year, but today he just met the ball with his bat like he did the first month or so last year. It was (I think) an off speed pitch a little outside and last year he would have tried to pull it down the line while drilling himself half way to China. He looked real good today. Another solid hit he got, same story. Late last year that pitch would have been a disaster. For yesterday's game in Surprise, AZ I sat right behind home plate and I counted 15 scouts in front of me. They took up the first 4 or 5 rows. They seemed most interested in Hoffpauir. I hope that doesn't mean anything. They also seemed very interested in Harden, which is weird cuz I can't imagine he's trade bait. Maybe they were all trying to figure out why he suddenly can't get past 91 on the gun. His fastball was dead yesterday, too. Usually it sort of snaps in at the end but yesterday it seemed flat. Marmol, on the other hand, was a joy to behold. Watching his stuff yesterday was almost like watching a knuckleballer on steroids. The slider comes smoking in and then has insane movement just before it hits the catcher's mitt. I know you all know that but seeing it five or six rows back of the home plate just left me speechless. That's about it. I'm not much of an expert, just a hard core suffering fan who reads this site for the expertise and the occasional laugh.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

Thanks for the observations, O&B...while AZ Phil is clearly the Godfather of Spring Training, I think it's always good to get reports from as many sets of eyes as possible. Also FWIW being able to sit right behind home plate, no other perspective comes close. I got to see a Cubs-Pads game at the Murph from the 4th row, first seat left of center, back in 82 or 83. Best seat I'll ever have. First off, Terry Kennedy (Pads catcher at the time) was huge...looked like a 16-year old playing with 12-year olds. And seeing the movement of the pitches really was awesome. Even hearing the difference in sound as a pitch hit the mitt. I also remember the National Anthem. With all the current and former military in the area, it was the most heartfelt version I've ever heard. Rosanne Barr picked the wrong f'in crowd to do her clown version whenever that was.

[ ]

In reply to by Jackstraw

I was reluctant to even post something because AZ Phil is da man, but hey, had to say SOMETHING. Ya, the sound of ball hitting the catcher's mitt is quite a bit different when Harden is pitching than it is when Marshall is pitching. That's not a knock on Marshall of course, just a different style of pitching. I never understood the Roseanne thing. It seemed to me to be on purpose. And then laughing after fucking up? I'm a pretty hard core lefty but I just can't imagine doing something like that, especially in a place like San Diego where you KNOW there are a bunch of people who have put their lives on the line for us. Laughing? Ugh, it showed no respect for those vets.

An encouraging passage in this post: "Fukudome...after rapping a single to left center..."

Piniella pointed out yesterday that K-Fuk has to start hitting the ball to the opposite field, i.e., not pulling off every pitch, or he is going to be K-Fuk'd. (My paraphrasing.)

Thanks as always, Phil.

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

That just makes it more maddening. It was obvious on a lot of his second half swings he was trying to pull shit he shouldn't have been trying to pull. Still, that's a nice stat for us all to see because it shows maybe we're all freaked out about nothing. Today he looked like Pete Rose.

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

While your data is correct, all those nasty swings and misses due to swinging from his ass while he's stepping the bucket do not show up on your chart. When he makes contact he does spreads the ball. He'd make more contact if he'd stay back on his left foot and wait on the baseball.

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

Navigator,

I can't speak for Lou, but I did look at the charts before making the comment, and while he's not a dead pull hitter, his base-hits were overwhelmingly to the right-field side of second base. I don't see that as a true "hits to all fields" guy. The way he pulled off the ball last season is reflected in that hit pattern.

I caught a few minutes of the Baseball Tonight Dempster a few minutes ago. He didn't appear to be high, which was the first thing I listened for. What I did find entertaining, however, was his analysis of the Cardinal closer, Jason Motte. He essentially commented on how Motte was tough to hit, citing movement as the culprit. Maybe I should have reconsidered taking Beltran in the second round...

[ ]

In reply to by kmokeefe

That entire show was nothing but Ravich going ape shit over the Cardinals. It was pathetic.

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

Except for the 'sanctity of the clubhouse' argument - which I understand, it's been 5 years so why not own up to who ever did it (unless the person insists on not being identified). Besides, anybody who saw Sosa's 'act' up close like I did for 7 years of ST - who cares. Sammy said and says a lot of things but it was pretty obvious that Baker and Baylor had rules for 24 guys and rules for Sammy.

"he seems to be an amazing fielder, based on a VERY small, beer-influenced sample size." This is GREAT!

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.