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

Cubs & Giants Kiss Their Sisters at Fitch Park

Seven Cub pitchers combined to throw a five-hitter, as the EXST Cubs and EXST Giants played to a 1-1 12-inning tie before a Memorial Day Weekend packed house at Fitch Park Field #3 in Mesa this morning.

Skies remained overcast and game-time temperatures were in the low 80's after an all-night rain Thursday into Friday, as the two teams took the field for an early (9 AM) first-pitch.   

2008 17h round draft pick RHP Jon Nagel got the start for the Cubs and threw three perfect innings. An EXTREME ground ball pitcher (and a good ol' country boy from the Ozarks), Nagel (as usual) pounded the bottom of the strike zone with a hard sinker, getting most-all of the opposition hitters to either strike out, or chop the ball into the ground in front of home plate.

Now 22, Nagel (6'4 230+) was drafted by the Cubs despite undergoing Tommy John elbow ligament transplant surgery prior to last June's draft, and it looks like the Cubs made an astute selection. He spent last summer rehabbing at Fitch Park before finally making his on-field debut this season, and he looks like he could pitch at Peoria right now. He has all the ear-marks of a rotation horse.  .

Recently demoted RHP Josh Whitlock (2008 26th round pick out of U. of West Virginia) threw two inings of shutout ball in relief of Nagel, and looked much better than he did last Monday when he made his first appearance for the EXST Cubs after getting sent down from Peoria a week ago. 

20-year old Venezuelan RHP Robert Hernandez (at Fitch Park rehabing from a spriained ankle suffered the last week of Minor League Camp) also threw two innings of shutout ball this morning, and appears ready to move up and out of Fitch Park whenever there is a roster opening at Daytona or Peoria. He has pitched very well every time out (so far). Hernandez went 2-4 with a 5.14 ERA in 17 games (15 starts) at Peoria in 2008, after missing the first two months of the season while serving a 50-game PED suspension. 

21-year old LHP Melvin Vasquez (signed last August by Cubs chief Dominican scout Jose Serra) worked the next two innings, and although he blew the save by allowing a single and an RBI double in the top off the 9th, the little lefty also struck out four. 

20-year olld lanky Dominican RHP George Pineda, LHP Ryan Sontag (2008 23rd round pick out of Arizona State who is being converted from OF to pitcher at EXST), and 18-year old Australian RHP Adam Spencer each threw one inning of shutout, hitless ball in the extra frames.

While the Cubs pitchers were shutting down the Giants, the Cubs bats were mostly silent, the only run scoring in the bottom of the 3rd when 18-year old Korean bonus baby Hak-Ju Lee lined a single into right-center after speedy (but normally light-hitting) Robert Bautista laced a two-out triple into the RF corner. The Cubs might have scored more runs in the inning, but lumbering Jericho Jones was thrown out trying to stretch a sure-thing double into a highly-speculative AIG triple after smashing a near-HR off the "green monster" batter's eye in dead CF.  

Hak-Ju Lee, who had been limited to DH duty while rehabbing from 2008 Tommy John surgery, played shortstop for five innings today, and handled five chances hit his way seemlessly, making strong throws to 1st base each time. He showed no ill effects from the TJS.   

While Lee played only five innings, other Cubs position players moved around the field like a game of musical chairs throughout the contest, allowing several players to get PT at more than one position.   

In EXST Cubs roster news, RHP Marco Carrillo has been assigned to Daytona after completing his rehab at Fitch Park.

Here is today's abridged box score (Cubs players only):

LINEUP
1a. Hak-Ju Lee, SS:  1-2 (4-3, 1B - 1 RBI)
1b. Jose Guevara, C:  0-2  (BB, K, K)
2. Jose Valdez, CF-DH-RF:  2-4  (1B, 4-3, 4-3, 1B - 1 SB, 1 CS, 1 PO)
3a. Matt Cerda, C-2B:  1-3  (1B, K, F-9)
3b. Logan Watkins, 2B:  0-1  (K)
4. Sean Hoorelbeke, LF-DH-1B:  0-4  (F-8, 5-3, K, K)
5. Jae-Hoon Ha, RF-CF-DH:  0-4  (4-3, 1-3, F-8, K)
6. Chris Weimer, DH-1B-LF:  0-4  (4-3, F-8, 5-3, L-7)
7. Kevin Soto, DH-RF-CF:  0-4  (6-3, 5-3, F-7, K)
8. George Matheus, 2B-3B:  0-4  (F-8, 6-3, 4-3, K)
9a. Jericho Jones, 1B-LF-DH:  2-4  (2B, K, 6-3, 1B)
9b. Jose Made, PR:  0-0 
10. Robert Bautista, 3B-SS: 1-4  (3B, 4-3, K, 6-4 FC - 1 R)

PITCHERS:
1. Jon Nagel - 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 6/1 GO/FO
2. Josh Whitlock - 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 2/2 GO/FO
3. Robert Hernandez - 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0/4 GO/FO
4. Melvin Vasquez - 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 4 K, 2/0 GO/FO
5. George Pineda - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 0/2 GO/FO
6. Ryan Sontag - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO/FO
7. Adam Spencer - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 2/1 GO/FO

ERRORS: NONE

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Jose Guevara - 1 PB

ATTENDANCE: 21 

Comments

I sthere ay realistic chance we could get DeRosa back? I'm not kidding. It's not even his (righty-bad) bat, it;s the clubhouse atmosphere which seems morguelike. Bad trades Hendry. Miles? really?

Oops let me retry. I'm not even drunk yet. Is there any realistic chance we could get Derosa? I plan on being drunk, drunker if the Cubs blow this game. Actually who am I kidding? Drunker if they actually win. F-this losing crap.Fixed.

Submitted by The Real Neal on Sat, 05/23/2009 - 3:21pm.
How did Hak-Ju Lee move when he was playing short? Does he look like a guy who can stay there?

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

REAL NEAL: Hak-Ju Lee moved very well at SS today. He showed good range on the balls that were hit his way, although he didn't have to turn a DP or go out into the OF for a pop up. He has grown maybe an inch and put on some weight since last October (what with the TJS, he probably had a lot of time available to spend in the weight room), so it's possible he could conceivably outgrow SS at some point, since he's only 18. But so far he looks like he can stay at SS.

With his frame, it looks like he could develop power at some point in the future as he matures. He is pulling the ball a lot more and hitting the ball harder this year than he did when I saw him at Instructs last Fall (when he was mainly an opposite-field slap hitter). He has plus-speed, too, and he is a good baserunner and base stealer.

Matt Cerda is another young guy who is pulling the ball fairly regularly, and he hits the ball VERY hard and could develop some HR pop if he starts to elevate his swing a bit. He set a HR record in HS (albeit with an aluminum bat). He just needs to find a position, because I don't think the Cubs are sold on him as a catcher, and he has shown some signs of having latent Steve Sax Disease when he plays 2B (he played SS in HS). So he could end up in a corner OF spot eventually if he doesn't make it at catcher, but if that happens, he will definitely have to hit home runs. Cerda really can work the count, and he isn't afraid to hit with two strikes and/or take a walk. Hitting-wise, he reminds me more and more of a young Brian Giles.

Logan Watkins is the one who looks like a true second-baseman to me. He is very athletic and has a strong arm, but he throws with an almost Nomar-ish sidearm slot that probably would befit a 2B more than a SS. While he handles himself OK at SS when he plays there, he's just probably better-suited to be a second-baseman.

And I like Dwayne Kemps's athleticism and energy more as a utility infielder than as an everyday second-baseman. He's out with a quad injury this week, but the Cubs started playing him at SS and 3B the week before he got hurt, and he handled himself OK at all three positions (2B-SS-3B). And he can play LF (and probably CF), too, so he projects as an offensive-first super-sub with good speed, and he has plus-power for a little guy. He's another one who looks like he has spent some time in the weight room.

As for Robert Bautista, he physically resembles Junior Lake, runs like Junior Lake, and plays shortstop like Junior Lake, but he hits like Veronica Lake.

Wow ! A crowd of 21 fans today ! It must've had something to do with the cooldown in temperatures the last two days.Jericho Jones double off the centerfield green monster on field #3 would've been a homerun in any minor league ball park.I bet he's tired of hitting the ball off the walls & fences at Fitch.He may seem like he's "lumbering" when he's running the bases but he is actually covering a lot of real estate with each "lumbering" stride.I think the coaches purposely try to stretch the defenses and are sending the runners to force throwing errors.

Theriot, Fukudome, Bradley, Lee, Hoffpauir, Soto, Fontenot, Scales, Wells vs. Gwynn Jr., E. Gonzalez, A. Gonzalez, Hairston, Giles, Kouzmanoff, Hundley, Burke, Geer at least they finally get a shitty pitcher...

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Is Sca!es really a better option than Miles or Freel? Sca!es is quickly going to become Neif!. Neif!'s good month gave him playing time with the Cubs for two (?) years. Sca!es good first week is going to give him way too much playing time this year.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

Scales is Neifi? He's been in one game this month he hasn't been on base and his May OPS is .934. Neifi's career OPS was .672. Making statements on small statistical samples would have doomed Ryne Sandberg. Can we wait till Scales' OPS touches, oh, .800 or so before making Neifi comparisons?

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

Making statements on small statistical samples would have doomed Ryne Sandberg. When Bobby Scales becomes a highly touted 22-year old prospect, then you can start making Sandberg comparisons. Further... you are the one making the statement on a small sample size, not me. If I were making a statement on a small sample size, I would be praising the guy. Instead I am looking at his very large sample size of 11 minor league seasons of mediocre numbers. My point is that Neifi had a great month or so, and it "earned" him way too much playing time. And I am hoping that the same thing doesn't happen with Scales.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

Lou and Ryno probably are coming to realize that goose is cooked. Unfortunately when they look in the yard the only other fowl available are Miles and Freel.

cubs were in the dugout wearing rally caps in the top 2nd...pretty much everyone inside out and worn "cap-bill mohawk" style. dlee hits a homer to lead off the 2nd and the dugout turns into 8 year olds.

Recent comments

  • 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.

  • crunch (view)

    dbacks are signing j.montgomery to a 1/25m with a vesting 20m player option.

    i dunno when the ink officially dries, but i believe if he signs once the season begins he can't be offered a QO...and i'm not sure if that thing with SD/LAD in korea was the season beginning, either.

  • crunch (view)

    sut says imanaga getting the home opener at wrigley (game 4 of the season).

  • crunch (view)

    cubs rolling out the who's who of "who the hell is this guy?" in the last spring game.

  • videographer (view)

    AZ Phil, speaking of Jordan Wicks having better command when he tires a bit, I remember reading about Dennis Lamp 40 years ago and his sinker that was better after 3 or 4 innings when he would tire a bit and get more sink with a little less speed on the pitch.  The key for Lamp was getting to the 4th inning.