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

Morelli Hit Streak at 18, But A's Edge Cubs

Cody Shields had three hits, an RBI, and an outfield assist, Wes Darvill reached base three times on two singles and a walk, and Jesus Morelli extended his hitting streak to 18 games, but Eduardo Figueroa and Jose Rosario were tagged to the tune of seven runs on ten hits (including two doubles and a HR) and four walks in five combined innings, as the EXST A’s edged the EXST Cubs 7-6 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action at Papago Park Field #2 in Phoenix this morning. The game was pre-planned as a ten-inning affair, to allow more pitchers to get work.

RHP Chris Huseby started the game for the Cubs and threw one inning (24 pitches – 12 strikes). He walked the first man he faced on four pitches, and the next batter on six pitches, and then the third hitter grounded a single to RF on a 2-0 pitch to load the bases. But then just like he did two days ago, Huseby somehow wiggled out of the jam, striking out the next two hitters on eight pitches, before getting the final out on a broken bat pop up to short on an 0-2 pitch, leaving the bases loaded.

Huseby still has trouble throwing his fastball for strikes (most all of them end up high & outside), but he is able to get his curve ball over the plate virtually at will, and so when he can get ahead of a hitter with his breaking ball, he can use his ultra-wild head-high fastball as a strikeout pitch (or at least that’s how he’s been doing it the last two times out).

The Cubs continue to have a problem with runners making the first or third out of an inning (especially the third out) at 3rd base. Today speedster Cody Shields ripped a two-out line-drive into the LF corner, but was thrown out trying to stretch the double into a triple, getting nailed at 3rd base just a split second after the slower Richard Jones scored. In previous games, the Cubs have actually had runs disallowed because a faster runner made a third out at 3rd base before the runner ahead had a chance to cross the plate.

While I realize that the Cubs have a lot of fast players at Extended Spring Training who like to be aggressive running the bases, there’s aggressive, and then there is stupid. This habit must be broken.

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

LINEUP:
1. Kyung-Min Na, CF: 1-4 (5-3, F-8, F-8, 1B, BB, R)
2. Arismendy Alcantara, SS: 1-5 (1B, E-4, K, E-4, 4-U FC, 2 R, CS)
3. Jesus Morelli, DH #1: 1-5 (F-8, 4-3, 5-3, 6-3, 1B, RBI, R)
4. Xavier Batista, RF: 1-4 (K, K, L-5, F-9 SF, 2B, 2 RBI)
5. Richard Jones, 1B: 2-4 (K, 1B, 1-3, 1B, F-9 SF, RBI, R)
6a. Sergio Burruel, C: 1-2 (1B, F-7)
6b. Jose Guevara, C: 0-2 (K, L-8)
7. Cody Shields, LF: 3-4 (1B, 2B, K, 1B, RBI)
8. George Matheus, 3B: 1-4 (K, K, E-6, 1B)
9. Blair Springfield, DH #2: 0-3 (K, HBP, K, 6-4-3 GIDP)
10. Wes Darvill, SS: 2-3 (BB, 1B, 1B, F-7, R)

PITCHERS:
1. Chris Huseby – 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K, 1/0 GO/FO, 24 pitches (12 strikes)
2. Eduardo Figueroa – 3.0 IP, 8 H, 5 R (5 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 1/5 GO/FO, 68 pitches (38 strikes)
3. Jose Rosario – 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 2/3 GO/FO, 37 pitches (18 strikes)
4. Rogelio Carmona - 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 3/1 GO/FO, 32 pitches (16 strikes)
5. Drew Rundle - 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 0/1 GO/FO, 17 pitches (11 strikes)
6. Corey Martin - 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 1/1 GO/FO, 15 strikes (9 strikes)

ERRORS: NONE

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
1. Sergio Burruel: 0-2 CS
2. Jose Guevara: 1-2 CS

OUTFIELD ASSIST:
Cody Shields threw out runner 7-5 trying advance from 1st to 3rd on a single to LF

ATTENDANCE: 7

WEATHER: Sunny, breezy, and hot, with temperatures in the 90’s

Comments

Az Phil , can you explain the significants of the July 2 International signing day? I see the Cubs have signed about 26 new players for the two DSL teams. Is there a differant group of players eligible at that time? Thanks.

[ ]

In reply to by Hagsag

Submitted by Hagsag on Wed, 06/02/2010 - 4:45pm. Az Phil , can you explain the significants of the July 2 International signing day? I see the Cubs have signed about 26 new players for the two DSL teams. Is there a differant group of players eligible at that time? Thanks. =================================== HAGSAG: The International Signing Period that begins on July 2 ONLY applies to International players (essentially Latin players from countries where compulsory education ends at age 16) who turn 16 during the period extending from the end of the previous International Signing Period up through August 31st. Players who turn 16 during the period extending from the end of the previous International Signing Period (August 31st) and July 2nd can sign beginning on July 2nd, and players who turn 16 after July 2nd can be signed starting on their birthday. All other International players can be signed at any time. Also, a player who turned 16 after the end of the previous International Signing Period can be signed prior to July 2nd IF the player turns 17 prior to the completion of his first minor league season. In other words, an MLB club can sign a 16-year old if the player is placed on the Reserve List of a minor league club whose regular season ends after the player turns 17, even if that date is after August 31st. Note that on the DSL Cubs #1 roster there is a player named Gabriel Jimenez, whose listed birthday is 9-26-93, which means he turned 16 AFTER the end of the last International Signing Period, and won't turn 17 until after all of the Cubs minor league teams have completed their 2010 regular season schedules, such that he can't be signed until July 2, 2010. The ONLY way the Cubs could have signed such a player prior to the start of the 2010 International Signing Period (July 2nd) is if Jimenez was signed to a Major League contract and was placed on the Cubs 40-man roster (which we know did not happen). Which means either the DOB listed for Jimenez is incorrect, or the rule was changed without any public announcement being made. As to why the Cubs signed so many Latin players over the past three months, the Cubs Dominican Academy at Boca Chica operates tryouts and Spring Training during that time (March through May), so that's when new players are most-likely to be signed (and when older Latin players are most-likely to get released).

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

AZ Phil, I just read in a Baseball America Update about a Dom. Rep. signing that Dominicans don't have to wait for MLB approval to start playing for any DSL team. If that's true, Jimenez would be able to play for us in the DR, but nowhere else for us. BTW: I hate to say it, but the Cubs need to breakup the roster if any clubs are willing to give back money and prospects. People might say it's too early, but our North-Siders are playing with no enthusiam at all. Rami and DLee are near their end, Lilly was throwing 78 MPH Fastballs last night (and I did not mistake those pitches for changeups), Grabow strained his "Lou", Samardzija is a rich I-Cub, Fukudome is beginning his normal summer snide, Theriot's pissed he lost his Arb case, Big Z is Big Z and Soto was possiby another Cub Rookie flash in the pan (Jerome Walton). Ricketts has to be thinking dump salary. These guys just aren't good to watch. No Life!!! All of this is a result of the sale of the team. We drove up the payroll in an attempt to raise interest and playoff possibilities. Now that that is all over, I think we'll see the Cubs tail-off a little. These guys had their run, and honestly we fans have been spoiled here of late. We have had five winning seasons in seven years. It sounds as though Ricketts is serious is about producing talent from within. That would be a drastic change from past years. We already had a game this year where we started four position players from our system and had three pitches play as well. I know I haven't seen that before. The perennially solid teams (NYY, STL, BOS, LAD, LAA, MIN) always have talent playing that have always worn the same cap. Anyway, go Cubs.

[ ]

In reply to by Childersb3

Submitted by Childersb3 on Wed, 06/02/2010 - 6:29pm. AZ Phil, I just read in a Baseball America Update about a Dom. Rep. signing that Dominicans don't have to wait for MLB approval to start playing for any DSL team. If that's true, Jimenez would be able to play for us in the DR, but nowhere else for us. ====================================== CHILDERS: But if Gabriel Jimenez's birthday really is indeed 9-26-93, the Cubs wouldn't be able to sign him until July 2, 2010, because he turns 17 AFTER all of the Cubs minor league teams have completed their 2010 regular season schedule. The only team in the organization still playing regular season games on September 26 is the Chicago Cubs, and Jimenez was not signed to a Major League Contract and he was not added to the Cubs 40-man roster.

[ ]

In reply to by Sweet Lou

Submitted by Sweet Lou on Wed, 06/02/2010 - 5:46pm. Phil -- Are you hearing anything new about Arizona's efforts to keep the Cubs in Mesa/Arizona? ======================================== SWEET LOU: Only that the Mesa mayor is talking to the other Maricopa County mayors with Spring Training clubs to try to find a way to get funding that by-passes the state legislature, which is dead in the water right now. Probably the only way the Cubs stay in Arizona (Mesa) is if the Cubs don't use the July 12th opt-out date to make a new deal with Naples. Mesa is going to need more time, and the Cubs might be smart to push this whole thing down the road, even if it means going year-to-year with Mesa beyond 2011. But if the Cubs decide in July that they want to go to Naples, they should be able to do so. Mesa is not presently in a position to do anything about it.

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicagocubs/post/_/id/1091/piniella-defends-dec…
"We were looking for two outs [from Lilly] then I was going to get [Carlos] Marmol in," Piniella said of Lilly, who had retired Walker in three previous at-bats on Tuesday. "I don't want to get in the habit of throwing Marmol 35 or 40 pitches to save a baseball game. I just don't."
~snip~
"I never dreamed home run," Piniella said. "Never gave it a thought."

I'm sure I'm the minority here, but I actually root against no-hitters unless it's a Cub pitching or some other pitcher I really like. The less there are in the game, the more special they are when do happen. apparently Joyce feels the same way...as did Froemming when he made that call against Pappas back in the day.

joyce quotes are starting to roll in... “I just cost that kid a perfect game,” Joyce said. “I thought he beat the throw. I was convinced he beat the throw, until I saw the replay.” “It was the biggest call of my career,” said Joyce, who became a full-time major league umpire in 1989. ----- “I don’t blame them a bit or anything that was said,” Joyce said. “I would’ve said it myself if I had been Galarraga. I would’ve been the first person in my face, and he never said a word to me.”

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100602&content_id=10… The storm, which included a brief tornado warning and excessive lightning for nearly two hours, had stopped by the time the game was called. However, there was so much water gathered on the warning track that both teams agreed the field was not suitable for play. There was more rain expected to arrive in Pittsburgh later in the evening, too. The Pirates' grounds crew spent over an hour trying to squeegee the water off the warning track before the final call was made. By that time, members of both organizations -- including managers John Russell and Lou Piniella -- had huddled together in center field after evaluating the outfield conditions. The call to postpone the game officially came at 10:17 p.m. ET. No makeup date has been announced yet.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days. 

  • 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...