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

Grizzlies Like Marmolade for Lunch

Carlos Marmol allowed three first-inning runs, facing five batters and retiring only one (BB, 2B, HBP, F-7, 2B), and a four-run 8th inning Iowa Cubs rally fell one run short (the potential tying run was left stranded on 3rd base), as the Fresno Grizzlies (San Francisco Giants AAA affiliate) almost blew a 6-1 lead but held-on to edge the I-Cubs 7-6 on Field #3, while over on Field #2, Steve Clevenger “celebrated” his assignment to AA (for the third year in a row!) with an RBI single and a double, but two baserunners were thrown at key points in the game (Josh Vitters trying to advance from 1st to 3rd on a hit & run single to CF in the 4th, and D. J. Lemahieu trying to score from 1st on double in the 8th), as the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Giants AA affiliate) edged the Tennessee Smokies 4-3 in Cactus League Minor League action at Fitch Park this afternoon

Marmol was at Fitch Park to get work, as the Cubs obviously wanted him to throw two days in a row at least once prior to Opening Day (Marmol threw an inning yesterday at HoHoKam Park). The same thing was done with Sean Marshall on Saturday, throwing him in a minor league game the day after he had thrown in an MLB Cactus League game. Managers sometimes want their one-inning guys (set-up men and closer) to throw more than one inning once and throw in back-to-back games at least once toward the end of Spring Training.   

Tennessee RHP Rafael Dolis struggled once again with his control, laboring through a three-run 29-pitch 1st inning, before settling down to throw a bit better in his second and third innings. Dolis has quality stuff and he throws in the mid-upper 90’s, but he just throws too many pitches-per-inning to be an effective starting pitcher. While the Cubs may continue to use him as starter for a while longer (to get him more innings of experience and to force him to use his secondary stuff), I suspect his future probably lies in the bullpen.

Conversely, Iowa Cubs RHP Hung-Wen Chen threw three innings of one-hit shutout ball (following Marmol to the hill on Field #3), and he needed only 30 pitches to do it.

Tennessee Smokies IF-OF David Macias finally got to see some game action behind the plate, catching the 8th and 9th innings. And he looked every bit like a utility infielder back there, too, throwing himself at pitches in the dirt and catching balls like they were "live" hand grenades  

After playing a three-inning intrasquad "sim game" on Field #1 (with rehab pitchers including Angel Guzman and Jon Nagel throwing an inning a piece), several players from the Boise/Mesa (Extended Spring Training) squad (SS Wes Darvill, 3B Dustin Geiger, 2B Gioskar Amaya, catchers Johan DeJesus and Brian Inoa, and outfielders Blair Springfield and Xavier Batista) saw some late game action with Iowa. (Players from the Boise/Mesa Extended Spring Training group are often used as late inning replacements in Cactus League Minor League Spring Training games).

In Minor League Camp roster news, with catcher Welington Castillo getting optioned to Iowa today, Steve Clevenger was moved down from Iowa to Tennessee (for the third year in a row), Luis Flores was moved down from Tennessee to Daytona, and Sergio Burruel was moved down from Daytona to Peoria.

Also, infielder Marwin Gonzalez was moved down from Iowa to Tennessee, infielders Junior Lake, Jake Opitz, and Logan Watkins, and outfielder Nelson Perez were moved down from Tennessee to Daytona, infielders Pierre LePage and Elliot Soto were moved down to Peoria from Daytona, and infielder Dustin Harrington and RHP Ben Wells were assigned to Boise/Mesa (Extended Spring Training) from Peoria.

And finally, OF Kyler Burke has been moved from Tennessee to the Boise/Mesa squad, where he will be converted to a LHP at Extended Spring Training. This is really not too surprising, since Burke is considered to have the best outfield arm in the organization, he was two-way player (LHP/OF) in high school, and some clubs supposedly had him rated higher as a pitcher than as an outfielder going into the 2006 June Draft.

The San Diego Padres selected Burke in the Supplemental 1st round of the 2006 draft (35th overall) as an outfielder, and traded him to the Cubs (along with catcher Rob Bowen) for Michael Barrett in June 2007. Burke struggled to hit “A”-ball pitching for three years (2006-08), before finally having what appeared at the time to be a breakout season in 2009 at Peoria, when he hit 303/405/505 with 15 HR and 43 doubles, and was named Cubs 2009 Minor League Player of the Year. But he was unable to follow-up on his 2009 success at “Hi-A” Daytona in 2010, hitting a dismal 212/279/328 with only seven HR and 131 K, and there was just no room for him in the Tennessee Smokies outfield in 2011.

Burke will be joining the likes of Carlos Marmol, Randy Wells, Blake Parker, Luke Sommer, Jake Muyco, Adalberto Mendez, and Charles Thomas as position players successfully converted to pitchers by the Cubs. Burke is still only 23 years old (he will turn 24 next month), and he has the added advantage of having been a pitcher previously in his baseball career, so he may not require a lot of time to make the move and get comfortable.

Burke is eligible to be a Rule 55 Minor League Free-Agent (6YFA) after the 2012 season, so the Cubs will have two seasons to decide if Burke shows enough promise as a pitcher to get added to the club’s MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) before he has the option to leave as a minor league free-agent. (Burke became eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft for the first time post-2010, and he will continue to be eligible for selection until he becomes a 6YFA post-2012).   

Here are today’s abridged box scores (Cubs players only):

FIELD #2 (CLASS AA – Tennessee Smokies vs. Richmond Flying Squirrels)

LINEUP:
1a. Brett Jackson, CF: 1-4 (F-7, 3B, 4-3, 3-U, R)
1b. Smaily Borges, RF: 0-1 (6-3)
2. D. J. Lemahieu, 2B: 2-3 (1B, K, 1B, BB, R)
3. Steve Clevenger, DH: 2-4 (P-5, 1B, 4-6-3 DP, 2B, RBI)
4. Rebel Ridling, 1B: 1-4 (2B, K, K, 6-3, RBI)
5. Josh Vitters, 3B: 1-4 (6-3, 1B, 4-3, 5-3)
6. Ryan Flaherty, LF: 0-4 (K, F-7, 3-U, E-5)
7. Jae-Hoon Ha, RF-CF: 2-4 (5-3, 1B, 6-3, 1B, R)
8a. Michael Brenly, C: 1-3 (F-8, 1B, L-3)
8b. David Macias, C: 0-1 (E-5)
9. Marwin Gonzalez, SS: 1-4 (K, 1B, 5-3, L-6, RBI)

PITCHERS:
1. Rafael Dolis: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R (3 ER), 3 BB, 3K, 1 PO, 58 pitches (33 strikes), 2/3 GO/FO
2. Aaron Shafer: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 GIDP, 25 pitches (17 strikes), 3/1 GO/FO
3. Chris Siegfried: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 33 pitches (23 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO
4. Mike Perconte: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 8 pitches (6 strikes), 3/0 GO/FO
5. David Cales: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 11 pitches (8 strikes), 2/0 GO/FO

ERRORS: NONE

BASERUNNING MISADVENTURES:
1. Josh Vitters was thrown out 8-5 trying to advance from 1st to 3rd on hit & run single with one out in the 4th.
2. D. J. Lemahieu was thrown out 8-4-2 trying to score from 1st on a double with one out in the 8th.

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

FIELD #3 (CLASS AAA – Iowa Cubs vs Fresno Grizzlies)

LINEUP:
1a. Tony Campana, CF: 1-3 (4-3, F-9, 1B)
1b. Brandon Watson, CF: 2-2 (1B, 1B, RBI)
2. Fernando Perez, DH: 1-5 (K, 2B, K, K, 6-3, R)
3a. Lou Montanez, LF: 1-3 (F-9, 1-U, 3B, R)
3b. Xavier Batista, LF: 1-2 (1B, 6-3, R)
4a. Matt Spencer, 1B: 0-1 (K, BB)
4b. Blair Springfield, RF: 0-2 (K, F-7)
4c. Brian Inoa, PH: 0-1 (K)
5. Blake Lalli, C-1B: 1-5 (K, 6-3, 1B, 6-3, K, RBI)
6a. Ty Wright, RF: 1-1 (1B, BB, CS)
6b. Johan DeJesus, C: 1-2 (4-6-3 DP, 1B, R, RBI)
7a. Bobby Scales, 3B: 0-2 (F-8, F-8)
7b. Dustin Geiger, 3B: 1-1 (1B, BB, R)
8a. Matt Camp, SS: 1-1 (1B)
8b. Wes Darvill, PH-SS: 1-2 (1B, P-4, BB, R)
9a. Jonathan Mota, 2B: 0-2 (6-4-3 DP, F-9)
9b. Gioskar Amaya, 2B: 1-2 (F-8, 1B, 2 RBI)

PITCHERS:
1. Carlos Marmol: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP, 18 pitches (8 strikes), 0/1 GO/FO
2. Hung-Wen Chen: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 30 pitches (20 strikes), 2/6 GO/FO
3. Blake Parker: 2.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 2 GIDP, 24 pitches (17 strikes), 5/0 GO/FO
4. Jake Muyco: 1.0 IP,1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HR, 10 pitches (7 strikes), 1/2 GO/FO
5. John Gaub: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 32 pitches (19 strikes), 1/0 GO/FO
6. Jeff Stevens: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 10 pitches (4 strikes), 0/3 GO/FO
NOTE: 1st inning was terminated with runner on 2nd base and only one out ("Roll It!") when Marmol reached his pre-scheduled max pitch count

ERRORS: NONE

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Blake Lalli: 0-4 CS

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

ATTENDANCE: 97

WEATHER: Sunny, with temperatures in the 70’s

Comments

AZ Phil, Does Steve Clevenger have anything left to prove at the AA level? He seems destined to be a backup catcher that can also sub at 1st, 3rd, and even the middle infield positions in an emergency, and he has hit AA pitching pretty well the last two years. What does he have to do this year to be considered for the MLB backup gig in 2012 (or halfway through the season)? What do you think Kyler Burke would have to do this year to get himself placed on the 40-man as protection from the Rule V draft? Thanks as always!

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

Submitted by Charlie on Mon, 03/28/2011 - 8:56pm. AZ Phil, Does Steve Clevenger have anything left to prove at the AA level? He seems destined to be a backup catcher that can also sub at 1st, 3rd, and even the middle infield positions in an emergency, and he has hit AA pitching pretty well the last two years. What does he have to do this year to be considered for the MLB backup gig in 2012 (or halfway through the season)? What do you think Kyler Burke would have to do this year to get himself placed on the 40-man as protection from the Rule V draft? Thanks as always! ================================================= CHARLIE: Fact is, Steve Clevenger has nothing more to prove at AA, and Clev knows it and the Cubs know it, too. As disappointing as it certainly must be for him, Clevenger will probably get a lot more playing time (especially innings behind the plate) at AA Tennessee than he would have gotten at AAA Iowa, where the Cubs are going to want Welington Castillo to catch as many innings as possible. While Clevenger projects as an MLB back-up catcher, he really should get the playing time of a minor league #1 guy, at least until he reaches the bigs. Especially since he was a converted infielder with no catching experience prior to 2007. So Chris Robinson or Blake Lalli would really be the more appropriate back-up catcher at AAA, and while Michael Brenly will get PT at Tennessee, I would think Clevenger would get the lion's share (something he did not get so much last season, when he had to share the AA backstop job with Robinson Chirinos). As for what the Cubs will have to see in Kyler Burke before they consider adding him to their MLB 40-man roster, I would say whatever it is, it won't happen this year. Burke will almost certainly spend April-May at EXST, and then get assigned to either AZL Cubs or Boise (depending on how he is progressing), followed by an intense crash course at AZ Instructs post-2011. Then if he can make it to Daytona by the end of 2012, and show that he has the promise to improve and get better, I would say he would be a good candidate to get rostered post-2012, sometime before he has a chance to be a Minor League FA at the end of the World Series.

AZ Phil, Do you see any prospects skipping a level to start this year? It doesn't look like it from what you have given us in box scores. I did notice Ja Hoon-Ha still in AA, and he played in a major league game over the weekend. Also, it looks like Iowa won't have many under 24 prospects to start. No surprises? Thank you, sir.

[ ]

In reply to by Childersb3

Submitted by Childersb3 on Mon, 03/28/2011 - 9:27pm. AZ Phil, Do you see any prospects skipping a level to start this year? It doesn't look like it from what you have given us in box scores. I did notice Ja Hoon-Ha still in AA, and he played in a major league game over the weekend. Also, it looks like Iowa won't have many under 24 prospects to start. No surprises? Thank you, sir. ========================================= Submitted by Childersb3 on Mon, 03/28/2011 - 9:27pm. AZ Phil, Do you see any prospects skipping a level to start this year? It doesn't look like it from what you have given us in box scores. I did notice Ja Hoon-Ha still in AA, and he played in a major league game over the weekend. Also, it looks like Iowa won't have many under 24 prospects to start. No surprises? Thank you, sir. ============================================== CHILDERS: As of right now, Jae-Hoon Ha looks like he will open the season at AA Tennessee. However, because there are so many outfielders at Iowa, it's possible that a couple of them could get dropped down to AA just so the Cubs can keep them around (probably Matt Spencer for one, and maybe Jim Adduci, too), and if that happens, Ha could be a late cut to Daytona. Other guys who have skipped levels? Right now Micah Gibbs looks like he might get a slot at Daytona (he's still there and playing very well), although by the end of the week Mario Mercedes could be moved down to Daytona, so that the D-Cubs would go with Luis Flores (as the #1) and Mercedes (as the back-up), with Micah Gibbs (#1) and Chad Noble (back-up) moving down to Peoria. Where that puts Sergio Burruel (EXST again?), I do not know. There are several pitchers still with the Daytona squad who were signed out of the 2010 draft. RHP Aaron Kurcz will probably be the D-Cubs #1 starter (or closer), and RHPs Kevin Rhoderick and Dustin Fitzgerald and LHPs Eric Jokisch and Brent Ebinger are still assigned to Daytona, although those four would almost certainly be relievers (or maybe "piggyback" with a starter) if they open the season at Daytona. Rob Whitenack is still one of the starters at AA Tennessee, although there are six, so Whitenack could be a late cut to Daytona. But Whitenack has been outstanding so far, so he might stay at Tennessee no matter what. 2B Pin-Chieh Chen and OF Kyung-Min Na are still with Peoria. I would have have predicted that they would have been at EXST by now, and they still might end up there, but as of right now they are hanging in there with the Peoria squad. 2010 #1 draft pick RHP Hayden Simpson is also still with the Peoria squad. So are 2010 8th round pick LHP Cam Greathouse and the three Cuban defectors (Serrano, Silva, and Cabeza). But Ben Wells and Jin-Young Kim were sent to Boise/Mesa (EXST), which was a bit of a surprise (to me). And of course 2010 2nd round pick OF Reggie Golden was sent to Boise/Mesa as soon as that squad formed. Golden looks like the Pillsbury Doughboy.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Lest we forget- “We’re going to face two left-handers tomorrow and the next day, so Soto will be there,” Lou said. “We’re going to face a couple left-handers over the weekend against the Angels. We’re just trying to win baseball games right now. Hill’s been swinging the bat OK. He does a nice job behind (the plate). Actually, both catchers have done a nice job behind the plate. But I don’t know. We can go either way with that. Tonight, Hill’s catching because we won the other night. This is basically the same lineup that played the other night. We played a good ballgame. So we’re sticking with that, not changing it.”

[ ]

In reply to by Eagon

Submitted by Eagon on Tue, 03/29/2011 - 1:00pm. The last thing I remember reading about him, before seeing that, was the suggestion he could be stowed away on the DL for the season. ===================================== EAGON: That could be done only if Max Ramirez agreed to go along with it, and apparently he believes he can get ahead faster playing in MLB or AAA in 2011 instead of spending two or three months at Fitch Park playing EXST games with a bunch of 19 year olds and going out to dinner with Angel Guzman every night.

[ ]

In reply to by Eagon

Submitted by Eagon on Tue, 03/29/2011 - 5:01am. Max Ramirez is on waivers =============================================== EAGON: The Cubs should have kicked the Max Ramirez roster issue down the line by waiting until the Thursday roster deadline to place him on the Designated List (Designated for Assignment), such that they would not have to place him on Outright Waivers until Wednesday April 6th. By that time most club's will have firmed-up their 25-man roster for the first month of the season, and (more importantly) all MLB clubs will have already added veteran Non-Roster (NRI) players to their 40-man roster and 25-man roster (at which point the player gets an MLB guaranteed contract and probably won't get released, at least not in April). As things stand now, with M. Ramirez clearing waivers on Wednesday at 1 PM (EDT), a club can claim him and still have time to release a Spring Training NRI player who would have otherwise been added to that club's 25-man roster (and 40-man roster) on Thursday. The Cubs should have waited until Thursday, DFA M. Ramirez, and then wait to place him on Outright Waivers until a week from tomorrow. BTW, if the Cubs were to do that (DFA M. Ramirez on Thursday), they couldn't wait any later than Wednesday April 6th to place him on Outright Waivers, because if he is placed on Outright Waivers on Thursday April 7th, he would not clear waivers until Monday April 11th (Saturdays and Sundays are considered "business days" by MLB only during Spring Training), which would exceed the ten-day limit MLB clubs have to trade, outright,or release a player who has been Designated for Assignment. But of course this is all moot, since the Cubs have (apparently) already placed M. Ramirez on Outright Waivers.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

EAGON: The Cubs should have kicked the Max Ramirez roster issue down the line by waiting until the Thursday roster deadline to place him on the Designated List (Designated for Assignment), such that they would not have to place him on Outright Waivers until Wednesday April 6th. By that time most club's will have firmed-up their 25-man roster for the first month of the season, and (more importantly) all MLB clubs will have already added veteran Non-Roster (NRI) players to their 40-man roster and 25-man roster (at which point the player gets an MLB guaranteed contract and probably won't get released, at least not in April). Hendry plays checkers. AZ Phil plays chess.

Thanks Phil! There will be no equivalent for you at Wrigley, so will miss your daily recaps. Do you think SS Wes Darvill and former Cardinal Dal Maxvill are cousins? Maxvill's sparkling 14-year stats run .217 .293 .259 .552

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

it ranks up there with "i should be able to do whatever i want" forms of free speech. yes, you can do it, but do you want to deal with getting yourself or a teammate a fastball in the chest as a repercussion..."fair" or not? that said, he probably wasn't even thinking about it even though he's been playing the game a long time...but that's the kind of crap old bench guy types should know. doubt anyone will seek revenge for it unless fox says something stupid when asked about it...if asked about it.

Burke will be joining the likes of Carlos Marmol, Randy Wells, Blake Parker, Luke Sommer, and Charles Thomas as position players successfully converted to pitchers by the Cubs. I've been impressed by the Cubs success in this regard. Are they pioneers in this? Are other organizations doing this as well or better?

[ ]

In reply to by Stevens

Submitted by Stevens on Tue, 03/29/2011 - 11:27am. Burke will be joining the likes of Carlos Marmol, Randy Wells, Blake Parker, Luke Sommer, and Charles Thomas as position players successfully converted to pitchers by the Cubs. I've been impressed by the Cubs success in this regard. Are they pioneers in this? Are other organizations doing this as well or better? ============================================ STEVENS: Other teams occasionally will convert a position player to pitcher (the Angels converted ex-catcher Robert Coello to a RHP at AZ Instructs after he was released by the Reds in 2006, and the Padres converted one-time #1 overall pick Matt Bush to a RHP when he washed-out as a SS), but nobody does it better or more often than the Cubs. Cubs Player Development boss Oneri Fleita should be given props for this, because the Cubs started doing it only after Fleita took over as Farm Director in 2002. And sometimes it works the other way, like when RHP Chris Huseby was moved to OF last season when he no longer could continue as a pitcher. It might not work out, but why release a player if there is a chance he could maybe succeed at another position? If something were to happen where RHP Jay Jackson can't continue as a pitcher, I wouldn't be surprised to see him moved to OF, too. But keep in mind that for every Marmol, Wells, Parker, Sommer, et al, there is a Drew Rundle, a Dylan Johnston, a Gian Guzman, or an Andres Quezada, where the conversion does not work-out. But you can't expect 100% success, and even if it's only successfuil 50% of the time or even 25% of the time, that's a lot better than just releasing a position player who can't hit well enough to ever advance to MLB (or even to AAA). The Cubs also are very inclined to move position players around to different positions as they move through the system. The idea is that the more positions a player can play when he reaches MLB, the better chance he will have to help the big club. This is not done to produce a team-full of utility players, but rather because instead of forcing the big club to make room for a young player who plays just one certain position, the player can play wherever he is needed, fitting the current needs of the team rather than vice-versa.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

Submitted by jacos on Tue, 03/29/2011 - 12:26pm. Brooks Kieshnick? ============================== JACOS: Brooks Kieschnick was a lot like Kyler Burke, because going into the 1994 draft, there was a question about whether he would be selected as a RHP or as an OF. The Cubs selected him as an OF (Baseball America ranked Kieschnick as the Cubs #1 prospect 1994-96), and developed him as an OF, but he was moved to RHP by the White Sox (at AAA) in 2002. Then when he was with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2003-04, he was the rare RHRP/OF-1B/LHPH who could PH and then stay in the game as a reliever. He was the ultimate "25th man."

from cm @mlb.com "Cubs manager Mike Quade said Colvin had played well enough this spring at first that he wouldn't hesitate to use him there."

garza finishing off spring with a crap start...yeeesh...it's spring and all, but give us something to feel good about 3ip 10h 4er 0bb 7k yeah, 7K, but 10h? man...at least they were mostly singles. =p -edit- to start the 4th...double, walk, wild pitch, walk...bases loaded, 0 out. neat. scott maine in... ...and scott maine gives up a grand slam...to x.nady. neat.

Trevor Hoffman is probably the ultimate coverted hitter from this generation of ball player. The other side of the conversion, I heard Musial and Ted Williams started out as pitchers, and of course there is Babe Ruth. I can't think of too many recent conversions from pitcher to hitter, only Ankiel. Who is that Cub minor league pitcher that converted to hitter last year. Is he still with the organization?

Cleveland pitcher Bob Lemon was converted from third baseman to pitcher. The story was that his throws to first base had so much movement on them that the first basemen had trouble catching them. Musial started out as a pitcher. I don't think that Williams did. The Cubs has a young CF named Danny Murphy who came up around the same time Santo did. He played a little CF for the Cubs, but never made it there. he later resurfaced as a left handed pitcher, maybe with the White Sox. About a decade later the Cubs had a right fielder named Dunnegan. I think he played a little with the Cubs but with little success. He later made it to the majors as a pitcher, again possibly with the Sox, but I am not sure. The Cardinals had a young pitcher named Von McDaniel, (the brother of Lindy McDaniel) who looked like he would be an outstanding pitcher (I remember a two hit shutout) but then hurt his arm. He later became a decent third baseman. And, of course, there was the Cubs Doug Dascenzo, who played CF and pitcher with equal success.

Sergio Santos of the White Sox was a 2002 first round draft choice as a shortstop. Was #37 on Baseball America's top prospect list in 2004 and #61 in 2005 as a shortstop. Starting pitching in 2009 as a 25 year old. Made the White Sox in 2010 as a pitcher.

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    yeah, for me this isn't about who's better at 3rd.  it's madrigal, period.  for me it's about who's not hitting in the lineup because madrigal is in the lineup.

    occasional play at 3rd for madrigal, okay.  going with the steele/ground-ball matchup...meh, but okay, whatever.

    seeing madrigal get significant starting time...no thanks.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Yeah I am very disappointed Madrigal is starting. He has no business as a starter. He is AAA insurance, a back up at best. Sure his defense looks fine because he plays far enough in that his noodle arm isn’t totally exposed. It comes at the cost of 3B range.

    He’s garbage, and a team serious about winning would NOT have him starting opening day.

  • crunch (view)

    in other news, it took 3 PA before a.rizzo got his 1st HBP of the season.

  • Eric S (view)

    With two home runs (so far) and 5 rbi today … clearly Nick Martini is the straw that stirs the Reds drink 😳

  • crunch (view)

    madrigal at 3rd...morel at DH.

    making room for madrigal or/and masterboney to get a significant amount of ABs is a misuse of the roster.  if it needed to get taken care of this offseason, they had tons of time to figure that out.

    morel played almost exclusively at 3rd in winter ball and they had him almost exclusively there all spring when he wasn't DH'ing.

    madrigal doing a good job with the glove for a bit over 2 chances per game...is that worth more than what he brings with the bat 4-5 PA a game?  it's 2024 and we got glenn beckert 2.0 manning 3rd base.

    this is a tauchman or cooper DH situation based on bat, alone.  cooper is 3/7 with a double off eovaldi if you want to play the most successful matchup.

    anyway, i hope this is a temporary thing, not business as usual for the rest of the season.  it will be telling if morel is not used at 3rd when an extreme fly ball pitcher like imanaga is on the mound.

  • 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.