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 Sweep Giants at Fitch Park

Larry Suarez threw four shutouts innings and struck out seven, and Jose Made smacked a bases-loaded triple, leading the EXST Cubs to a 4-2 victory over the EXST Giants at Fitch Park Field #1, in one-half of an Extended Spring Training simultaneous doubleheader played this morning in Mesa under partly cloudy skies.

In the other game on Field #3, ex-OF (now RHP) Andres Quezada threw three shutout innings and the Cubs rode the extra-base hitting of John Contreras en route to an 8-3 victory over a second squad of EXST Giants.

By throwing four innings today, the 19-year old Suarez became the second Cubs pitcher at EXST to go beyond three innings (RHP Marco Carrillo was the other one, but he was at Fitch Park on an injury-rehab assignment from Daytona).

Throwing a two-seam fastball that breaks bats and is clocked consistently at 94-96 MPH, a nasty breaking ball, and an occasional change-up (just to keep the opposition honest), Suarez is unquestionably the top pitching prospect at EXST. And at 6'4 255+, he bears a resemblance to another Venezuelan Cubs pitcher by the name of Carlos Zambrano.

Signed by Cubs scout Hector Ortega as a 16-year old out of Venezuela for $350,000 the first day of the International Signing Period in 2006, Suarez has been held back a bit by injuries (he had elbow surgery a year ago, and spent most of 2008 rehabbing and getting back into pitching shape), but he's 100% now. He should be the ace of the Boise Hawks pitching staff, unless he gets promoted to Peoria before Boise's season starts next month.      

In EXST Cubs roster news, OF Jericho Jones (2008 20th round pick out of Louisiana Tech) finally got his Letter of Transit out of Casablanca and has been promoted to Daytona, meaning probably either Tyler Colvin or Jonathan Wyatt (or even both, if Brandon Guyer were to get demoted to Daytona) will be moving up to AA Tennessee. 

I was only able to catch bits & pieces of the game on Field #3, but here is the abridged box score for the game played on Field #1:

LINEUP:
1. Jose Valdez, CF:       0-5  (F-7, 4-3, K, 1-3, K)
2. Juan Medina, C:        2-4  (1-3, 5-3, 1B, 1B - 1 R)
3. Logan Watkins, 2B:   1-3  (3-U, 1B, BB, K - 1 PO)
4. Chris Weimer, LF:     1-4  (K, 1B, F-7, E-9 -  1 R, 1 SB)
5. Alvaro Sosa, 1B:        0-3  (5-3, BB, 4-3, E-6 - 1 R)
6. Robert Bautista, SS:  3-4  (1B, 1B, 1B, K - 1 R, 1 SB)
7. Jose Made, 3B:          1-4  (K, 3B, 5-4 FC, 6-3 - 3 RBI, 1 PO)
8. Jae-Hoon Ha, RF:       0-0 (BB - 1 PO)  
9. NO DH - SLOT SKIPPED
NOTE: Jae-Hoon Ha is nursing a sore wrist, so although he played RF for the entire game, he took only one AB (and his left wrist was heavily taped). Also, what with Jericho Jones having departed for Florida, the Cubs didn't have enough position players available to have a DH in the game on Field #1, so the #9 spot in the batting order was skipped entirely.  

PITCHERS:
1. Jeffry Antigua -  3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 1 BALK, 1/5 GO/FO
2. Larry Suarez -    4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 4/0 GO/FO 

ERRORS (1):
Throw bounced off the glove of 2B Logan Watkins on an attempted pick-off play at 2nd base for an E-4, allowing the runner to advance to 3rd base (runner did not score, however).

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Juan Medina:  0-3 CS

Comments

So glad to hear that Jericho Jones got this long overdue promotion and will get his career jump started in Daytona Beach. The Cubs minor league system is lacking in young righthand hitting power hitting outfielders, and hitting co-ordinator Dave Keller is pulling for this young man to succeed.Wish him the best.

AzPhil - How has Antigua looked this year? What was his velo today? IIRC, he was a low 90's fastball guy last year, but with some expectation that he might build up some more as he gets older? Daytona sure could use any sort of offense. I gotta think it's the Colvin bump - he's been in the field already, and has had enough time since, um, whatever his injury was a few weeks ago. If it's a Wyatt bump, I guess it might be a last chance to succeed bump, because Campana's been more intriguing and at least has the plus speed. Funny how 2 years ago Wyatt was about to break with AA, IIRC, but since then has struggled in A ball. Well, Cales got sent back to Daytona. He was struggling in Tennessee. Is there any news on our pursuit of the DR kid? Sano (sp?)?

Submitted by toonsterwu on Sat, 05/30/2009 - 3:13pm.
AzPhil - How has Antigua looked this year? What was his velo today? IIRC, he was a low 90's fastball guy last year, but with some expectation that he might build up some more as he gets older?

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

TOONSTER: Jeffry Antigua still throws in the low 90's, but his breaking ball has improved a lot. He struggled with his command today, though, but last time out he was just unhittable. Of course he's only 18, so I hardly expect to see a polished pitcher throw when Antigua is out there, but he does have unusual poise for kid that young. He should be a rotation starter at Boise in 2009.

BTW, the Cubs have a nice collection of pitching prospects at EXST this year. Besides Suarez and Antigua, there's Su-Min Jung, Jon Nagel (looks like he's going to be a rotation "horse"), ex-OF Andres Quezada (three more shutout innings today), and hard-throwing Julio Pena, and I like what I have seen of Melvin Vasquez as a lefty reliever. And as I mentioned yesterday, ex-OF (now LHP) Ryan Sontag is looking VERY good, and ex-INF (now RHP) Gian Guzman is showing some promise, too.

And don't rule out The Animal (Julio Castillo). He has more lives than a cat, and I could see him morphing into a really nasty power-closer (presuming he can stay out of jail).

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

I'm really pleased with our develop pitching depth up and down the system. I'd like to see a few more power arms, and our lefties seem to be thinned out a bit right now (relatively speaking). Here's hoping some of those bats develop. I had been thinking that this draft would be more like 2007 for us due to our developing pitching depth, but considering this is a draft that's stronger on pitching, I'm not sure anymore. AzPhil - Here's a question for you, or anyone else for that matter. How close do you think we are to replicating our 2003 pitching depth, if that can be quantified? IIRC, several publications had us as one of the top 3 pitching systems that year, even though most of the talent was, like it is now, in the lower levels. I'm really pleased with our developing arms, though I'm not crazy enough to think that we're actually near 2003. Actually, another question if you have the chance - considering how well Jay Jackson is pitching, is he getting to the point of being the top arm in the system? I tend to think so, but I'm curious what others think.

Great to hear about Sontag and the other pitching prospects in EXST. Animal definately has big league stuff. I heard that he grew up in a very poor backwoods invironment so is lacking in many social skills.I don't know if the Cubs system is set up to help this guy adapt here. Hope so.

In addition to signing minor league FA OF John-Ford Griffin to replace the released Richie Robnett at AAA Iowa, the Cubs have also acquired 28-year old veteran Venezuelan switch-hitting IF-OF Anderson Machado (the poor man's Jose Macias) from the Pirates for "future considerations" (which could be almost anything, like maybe cash, or perhaps a PTBNL, or possibly a Best Buy gift card or a dinner for two at Olive Garden).

Machado has been assigned to Iowa, where an additional infielder was needed after Andres Blanco and Bobby Scales got called up to Chicago. Machado has hit 221/333/324 in 24 big league games over several seasons (PHI, CIN, and COL 2003-05).

our leadoff hitter with the bum leg for the 3rd season in a row who happens to be the biggest power hitter on the team is nearing that .300 ob% mark. on the flip...he's only had 1 xbase hit (double) the past 2 weeks.

best offense in the league has scored 2,1 and 0 so far this series...go pitching. Bullpen hasn't given up a run since Monday.

It did irk me when Heilman pitched the 9th and was untrustworthy again even in a 7-0 game. He let the first two men on, including a walk...which in itself wasn't what pissed me off...Heilman is the lead candidate for the 2009 Bob Howry Sucking Sound Replacement Award. What upset me is that Heilman's badness led to Marmol getting up and throwing 20 + pitches in the pen, in a game he clearly didn't need to warm up Marmol warming up in the 9th with a 7-0 lead... and the bullpen hasn't given up a run since monday. Something just doesn't seem right.

Submitted by toonsterwu on Sat, 05/30/2009 - 3:56pm.
AzPhil - Here's a question for you, or anyone else for that matter. How close do you think we are to replicating our 2003 pitching depth, if that can be quantified? IIRC, several publications had us as one of the top 3 pitching systems that year, even though most of the talent was, like it is now, in the lower levels. I'm really pleased with our developing arms, though I'm not crazy enough to think that we're actually near 2003.

Actually, another question if you have the chance - considering how well Jay Jackson is pitching, is he getting to the point of being the top arm in the system? I tend to think so, but I'm curious what others think.

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

TOONSTER: I have Josh Vitters, Jay Jackson, Jeff Samardzija, Andrew Cashner, Jose Ascanio, Jake Fox, Dan McDaniel, Casey Coleman, Welington Castillo, Larry Suarez, Chris Carpenter, Darwin Barney, Randy Wells, Esmailin Caridad, and Steve Clevenger (in that order) in my Cubs Top 15 Prospects for June (using the Baseball America criteria for "prospect" which is 50 MLB IP cut-off for pitchers and 130 MLB AB cut-off for position players, disregarding service time, so for instance Micah Hoffpauir no longer qualifies), so that's ten pitchers in my Top 15.

Interesting. Same top 3 for me, but I imagine it's that way for most Cubs fans. I was having a debate with someone, forget who, about where to place Dan McDaniel. I thought a case could be made for him to be top 5, although anywhere from 4-8 or so was fine for me. I just love the arsenal, production, performance, and upside, and think he's the type of arm that could have a shot to develop into a solid "2" type guy. Coleman in the top 8 is interesting. I had him on the outside, 11 I think, last time I went through it a couple days back. I was having a tough time with him. I really like him, but unless he develops that cutter/slider he was working on, he seems like an end of the rotation arm. My question with Barney is, what's up with the errors? He just isn't consistent enough, it seems. With Caridad, his walks concern me. A couple weeks ago, Tony Thomas would've been close to a top 10 slam dunk, but since then, his plate discipline has horribly collapsed. Has Flaherty disappointed you that much, or are there things you are hearing? From statistics alone, doesn't seem like a huge concern, although disappointing. But if there's something else going on ... As a side note, I wouldn't be surprised if Randy Wells passes the 50 ip mark by July. He has to be one of the better stories this year, going from a possible rubber/all-purpose arm to an effective end of the rotation option. Oh, no Starlin Castro?

It is time for soriano to sit on sunday then a off day monday lou needs to give him a rest and there is no way that rest should be in atlanta where he has hit at a .362 clip. He has had a 3 homer game there and i do believe was hit in first next night, in which ted lilly retaliated and got kicked out, on a sunday nite

Dempster dealing with blister all season according to South Bend Tribune, (I'm on vacation). 10 points if you can name the Beatle who screamed that at the end of "Helter Skelter".

if Veal goes on the 60 day DL...we can hope boy scout badge winner for mastery of the 60 day DL (Hendry for his use of Chad Fox) can find this option appealing for young Jedi, D. Patton Leathershoes. In fact, it might lead to consideration for an Eagle Scout badge.

Soriano is looking really shitty in the field. He is throwing a leg to the side when fielding grounders. Either his knee must be bothering him

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.