Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full) 

42 players are at MLB Spring Training 

31 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE at MLB Spring Training, and nine players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 
11 players are MLB Spring Training NON-ROSTER INVITEES (NRI) 

Last updated 3-17-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 17
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
Daniel Palencia
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

NRI PITCHERS: 5 
Colten Brewer 
Carl Edwards Jr 
* Edwin Escobar 
* Richard Lovelady 
* Thomas Pannone 

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

NRI CATCHERS: 2  
Jorge Alfaro 
Joe Hudson 

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

NRI INFIELDERS: 3 
David Bote 
Garrett Cooper
* Dominic Smith

OUTFIELDERS: 5
* Cody Bellinger 
Alexander Canario
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

NRI OUTFIELDERS: 1 
* David Peralta

OPTIONED:
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, RHP 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, RHP 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

 



Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Socorro Pro Debut Should Make Marshall Proud

Making his professional debut, Cubs 2011 46th round draft pick Kenny Socorro (Marshall U.) had three hits and drove-in three runs, and Oliver Zapata drew four walks and scored twice, leading the AZL Cubs to an 8-5 victory over the AZL Athletics in Arizona League action at Connie Mack Field at the Papago Park Sports Complex in Phoenix this evening.

The AZL Athletics defense graciously committed five errors to aid the Cubs cause.

Cubs 2010 4th round draft pick LHP Hunter Ackerman got the start for the Cubs and continued to struggle to throw strikes, just as he has throughout his short pro career. He worked three innings (61 pitches - 35 strikes, including a 33-pitch first-inning), allowing three runs on three hits, three walks, and an HBP, while striking out four. Sometimes Ackerman will look like a world-beater against one hitter, and then can't throw strikes to next one. If he can't get his pitches-per-inning down to a reasonable number, he will likely be limited to being a minor league reliever (presuming he ever gets out of Arizona).

Cubs 2011 40th round draft pick RHP P. J. Francescon made his pro debut and had a much better night than Ackerman did, working two shutout innings (21 pitches - 14 strikes) to record the save. The 22-year old Francescon allowed a lead-off infield single to the first man he faced, and then easily retired the next five in a row (6-4-3 DP, K-swinging, F-7, K-swinging, and a 6-3 GO). Francescon does not appear to have anything exceptional in his repertoire, but he works fast and has four years of college experience (most recently at Trevecca Nazarene University, and at Middle Tennessee State before that) under his belt to aid him in his adjustment to pro ball.

box score

NOTE: There is one very obvious mistake in the box score as it presently appears in MiLB.com, and that is that Johan DeJesus PH for Jose Guevara in the top of the 8th and popped up to the second baseman, and then remained in the game as the catcher. The box score shows Guevara playing the entire game.

Also, Kenny Socorro hit an RBI double in the top of the 8th (Socorro's second double of the game) to drive-in Eduardo Gonzalez from 2nd base. I guess the official scorer could have called it a single where Socorro took second on the throw, except there was no throw home on the play, and in the play-by-play account (as it presently appears) it does not mention Socorro advancing to 2nd base at all.

And in the bottom of the 2nd inning, Boras grounded out 6-3, Baez walked, Solano struck out swinging, and Stafford grounded into a 6-4 FC to end the inning. (This is different than what presently appears in the "play-by-play").

And here is what happened in the top of the 7th on the pop-out by Hernandez that resulted in Zapata being thrown out at the plate: A's first-baseman Leyland caught an infield pop-up and tried to double Zapata (who broke with the pitch) off second-base, but instead threw the ball over the shortstop's head into left-center field. Zapata advanced to third on the overthrow, but then got greedy and tried to score, getting caught in a rundown between 3rd and home, before being tagged-out for the third out of the inning...

For those of you who religiously read the box scores and play-by-play at Milb.com and presume the stuff you read there to be accurate, here is how the information you read is transmitted...

The official scorer who is present at the park calls the milb office every half inning and verbally recites what happened the previous half-inning and notes any lineup changes that might have occurred. This call is often made after the next half-inning has started, and so (quite obviously) it can lead to mistakes being made due to the official scorer being distracted, and these mistakes are then reflected in both the "official" box score and in the "official" play-by-play. When the official scorer does get distracted and realizes he missed something, he will usually ask the player who is running the scoreboard to tell him what he missed, but that presumes the player was actually paying attention, and it also depends on the official scorer realizing he might have missed something.

There has to be a better way to do this. The way it's done now is not working. Incorrect information is appearing in what are supposed to be "official" box scores and play-by-play accounts. The practice of official scorers calling the milb.com office every half-inning to recount the previous half-inning must be stopped, because it distracts the official scorer from doing his job. Maybe the scorer could just wait until the game is over before making the call, or maybe the information could be transmitted contemporaneously-electronically as it occurs (after each AB) instead of verbally by phone after every half-inning.

Comments

[ ]

In reply to by Hagsag

Submitted by Hagsag on Wed, 06/22/2011 - 8:04am. Phil, Is the signing precess going a little slower this year? I believe some teams have about half their draftees signed already. Thanks. =================================== HAGSAG: Yes, the signing process has been slower this year (for the Cubs). So far the Cubs have signed just 12 of their 50 selections, but none of their top 15. (The highest pick signed so far is #16 pick Rafael Lopez, who was a 5th year senior). By this date last year, the Cubs had signed 19 of their 50 selections, including #1 (Hayden Simpson), #4 (Hunter Ackerman), #8 (Cam Greathouse), #10 (Austin Kurcz), #11 (Eric Jokisch), #12 (Austin Reed), #13 (Pierre LePage), #14 (Colin Richardson), #15 (Elliot Soto), #16 (Ryan Hartman), #19 (Dustin Fitzgerald), #20 (Ryan Cuneo), #22 (Jeff Vigurs), #23 (Matt Loosen), #25 (Eric Rice), #28 (Joe Zeller), #32 (Brent Ebinger), #34 (Dustin Harrington), and #37 (Chad Noble). They ended-up signing 29 (the fewest they had signed since signing just 24 in 2004), including four (#7 Ben Wells, #9 Kevin Rhoderick, #29 Casey Harman, and #40 Brian Smith) on the last day before negotiation rights expired (August 16th). In fact Rhoderick's was supposedly a last-minute deal where he called the Cubs (after previously maintaining that he was going back to Oregon State for his senior year) and asked them if their last offer was still on the table, and it took some phone calls to get that one approved in a hurry (because they didn't have much time to get it finalized). So they signed just six of their 2010 draft picks between June 22nd and August 16th, including #2 (Reggie Golden), #3 (Micah Gibbs), #5 (Matt Szczur), #24 (Dustin Geiger), #41 (Dallas Beeler), and #49 (Bryce Shafer). It's not unusual for negotiations with 2nd and 3rd round picks to drag a bit, and Szczur ($600K), Geiger ($150K), and Beeler ($150K) got over-slot bonuses that required some negotiation. (Szczur would not sign if he couldn't play his senior season of football at Villanova, Geiger had the leverage of a free-ride to Central Florida, and Beeler was coming off 2009 TJS).

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Submitted by The Real Neal on Wed, 06/22/2011 - 11:15am. I am sure I should know this, but what's goin on with Ben Wells? ==================================== REAL NEAL: Ben Wells was the Opening Night starter at Boise and pitched well: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP, 7/2 GO/FO He reportedly was working his fastball consistently at 91-93 MPH and topping out at 95, with a killer-splitter as his strikeout pitch. His velocity was only in the upper 80's at Instructs last year because he hadn't pitched for several months, but he worked himself into great shape this year at Minor League Camp (where he was assigned to the Peoria squad for most of the month) and then at Extended Spring Training. He probably is about due to pitch again tonight or tomorrow.

I assume these games aren't announced? Maybe the scorer should collect the managers lineup cards after the game and at least, see if he can't get the players correct then, rather than trying to do it mid-inning. Demand for short-season "real time" play by play has got to be pretty damned small. I would think that until at least High A, MILB.COM could get away with post-game boxes.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Submitted by The Real Neal on Wed, 06/22/2011 - 8:34am. I assume these games aren't announced? Maybe the scorer should collect the managers lineup cards after the game and at least, see if he can't get the players correct then, rather than trying to do it mid-inning. Demand for short-season "real time" play by play has got to be pretty damned small. I would think that until at least High A, MILB.COM could get away with post-game boxes. ================================== REAL NEAL: There is no Public Address Announcer, no music, no vendors (actually no concessions of any kind, so it's BYO), no contests between innings, and the game starts when the umpires arrive. But the game is "official" and it does have an Official Scorer, the Official Scorer does have a copy of the starting lineups and the updated numerical rosters for that day's game so he can see who is on the field, and the home plate umpire points to a substitute and then to the Official Scorer when a lineup change or pitching change is made, just like they do in MLB. The problem is that the person who calls the play-by-play game report into milb.com every half-inning is the Official Scorer, and there is no replay available in case the Official SCorer misses something because he is distracted. Which is why having to make a phone call after every half-inning can lead to mistakes in the box score and play-by-play.

Our right-handed HR-derby champ, Paul Hoilman, is 3 for 15 at Boise, but two of his hits are HRs. Speaking of home-run derbies, Justin Bour won the FSL HR derby prior to the all-star game.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

"Flaherty made more sense from pretty much every angle," etc. LeMahieu was called up when Baker went on the DL. Both were righty swingers who could play 2nd or 3rd. They already had DeWitt, who played those two positions and swung lefty. Like Flaherty, DeWitt could also migrate to LF. I'm not defending anything to do with DeWitt; just saying that according to "veteran rules" that always seem to be in force no matter who is managing, DeWitt would have played every time ahead of Flaherty, whereas LeMahieu would play against southpaw pitchers. The way for Flaherty to make sense on the current Cubs is to send DeWitt away somehow. I cherish a hope that that will happen.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Submitted by Dr. aaron b on Wed, 06/22/2011 - 3:05pm. Why burn up LeMath's options before you have to? Now he will be just another in a long line of Cubs prospects who will be out of options just as he becomes useful ================================================ DR AARON B: If the Cubs option D. J. LeMahieu to the minors sometime later this season, he will get a fourth minor league option (including the one used this season), as long as the 4th and final minor league option is used prior to the 2015 season (when he will have completed five "full seasons"). Whether or not he is optioned to the minors later this season, he will have three minor league options left as of Spring Training 2012. However, if the Cubs had left LeMahieu in the minors until the first year he would have been eligible for selection the Rule 5 Draft, the Cubs could have waited until 11-20-2012 before adding him to the 40-man roster (although he probably would have received a September call-up in 2012, since he was going to have to be added to the 40 by 11-20-2012 anyway). If the Cubs add Matt Szczur to the 40-man roster post-2011 (and he will be eligible for selection in the December 2011 Rule 5 Draft because the Cubs released him and then immediately signed him to a new contract this past March), he will get four minor league options (2012-15), as long as the 4th one is used prior to the 2016 season.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

Soriano and Dunn should just get together and work out a trade between themselves, with Soriano going to the White Sox and Dunn coming to the Cubs. That way, they both could stay in Chicago and maybe have a few days of peace before their new fans start booing them. There's a $16M differential in salaries between the two contracts over the four-years both have left (2011-14), and that could easily be equalized by the Cubs and Sox splitting the difference ($2M per team per year 2011-14) to cover the difference in salaries. Or the Cubs could take back Juan Pierre from the White Sox to help equalize the financials (Pierre's contract expires after this season). Soriano could DH full-time for the Sox, and Dunn could play LF for the Cubs the rest of this season, and then either stay in LF next year or move to 1B if the Cubs can't sign Fielder or Pujols (opening up LF for Josh Vitters). Bottom line is the Cubs would save $2M per year in salaries 2011-14 ($8M over four years).

OF Kyung-Min Na and LHP Cam Greathouse have been moved down to Boise from Peoria. No corresponding roster moves at Peoria yet. Na was hitting 258/333/303 at Peoria but he can't play CF there until Matt Szczur gets moved up to Daytona. Of course he might not get much PT in CF at Boise, either, with Pin-Chieh Chen blocking him. My guess is that Chen will get the promotion to Peoria when Szczur moves up to Daytona, and Na will be then be installed as the #1 CF at Boise. BTW, Chen's move from 2B to CF midway through Extended Spring Training has been very positive. Prior to the move he was struggling at the plate, but it was just like he was let out of jail when he was moved to CF. Same thing happened with Jae-Hoon Ha last year at Extended Spring Training when he was moved from catcher to RF and went on a hitting binge that got him a promotion to Peoria. And now he's a star CF at Daytona. While Kyung-Min Na is a younger version of Tony Campana, I would say Pin-Chieh Chen is probably the player in the Cubs system most like Hak-Ju Lee (offensively speaking). Of course Chen failed miserably as a middle-infielder, but at least offensively I see a lot of similarities with HJ Lee... BP HR power that could eventually show-up in games. Decent base-stealing technique. Good hitter. Makes all the plays in CF. Plus-arm. Chen also reminds me a bit of Eric Patterson (defensively at 2B), except the Cubs didn't move E-Pat to CF until much later in his career. Maybe they learned their lesson and decided to not waste anytime moving Chen to CF. Too bad the Cubs are loaded at CF. As for Greathouse (4.37 ERA and 1.63 WHIP), while he was a starting pitcher at Peoria (12 GS) and was sometimes close to unhittable, he just couldn't throw strikes, walking 53 in 57.2 IP. Both Greathouse (Cubs 2010 8th round draft pick) and fellow JC lefty Hunter Ackerman (Cubs 2010 4th round draft pick) have struggled to throw strikes. But that's the chance you take when you draft young lefties. They can't always find the strike zone. BTW, Boise has a 30-man Active List and they only had 27 players on their active roster prior to receiving Na and Greathouse, so no moves will be necessary at Boise at this time.

Things are bad, but at least we aren't dealing with this anymore: "Ronny Cedeno was benched for Wednesday's game after drawing the ire of Pirates manager Clint Hurdle for attempting to bunt with the bases loaded Tuesday. "The manager picked a day off for Ronny," Hurdle said. "[It's a] good day to regain focus." Although Hurdle didn't confirm that the benching was for the attempted bunt, it's pretty clear it was. "I've never seen a bunt with the bases loaded before," the manager said. It's the second time this season that Cedeno, who is batting just .232 with a .615 OPS this season, has been benched, as he sat out on April 27 after not running out a ground ball in a loss the previous night."

Recent comments

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    That’s a fantastic deal for SF

  • crunch (view)

    SF snags b.snell...2/62m

  • Cubster (view)

    AZ Phil: THAT is an awesome report worth multiple thanks. I’m sure it will be worth reposting in an “I told you so” in about 2-3 years.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The actual deadline to select a post-2023 Article XX-B MLB free agent signed to 2024 minor league contract (Cooper, Edwards, and Peralta) to the MLB 40-man roster is not MLB Opening Day, it is 12 PM (Eastern) this coming Sunday (3/24). 

    However, the Cubs could notify the player prior to the deadline that the player is not going to get added to the 40 on Sunday, which would allow the player to opt out early. Otherwise the player can opt out anytime after the Sunday deadline (if he was not added to the 40 by that time). 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Today is an off day for both the Cubs MLB players and the Cubs minor league players.  

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    For those of you keeping track, so far nine players have been called up to Mesa from the Cubs Dominican Academy for Minor League Camp and they will be playing in the ACL in 2024: 

    * bats or throws left 

    Angel Cepeda, INF 
    * Miguel Cruz, P
    Yidel Diaz, C 
    * Albert Gutierrez, 1B
    Fraiman Marte, P  
    Francis Reynoso, P (ex-1B) 
    Derniche Valdez, INF 
    Edward Vargas, OF 
    Jeral Vizcaino, P 

    And once again, despite what you might read at Baseball Reference and at milb.com, Albert Gutierrez is absolutely positively a left-handed hitter (only), NOT a right-handed hitter.

    Probably not too surprisingly, D. Valdez was the Cubs #1 prospect in the DSL last season, Cepeda was the DSL Cubs best all-around SS prospect not named Derniche Valdez, Gutierrez was the DSL Cubs top power hitting prospect not named Derniche Valdez, E. Vargas was the DSL Cubs top outfield prospect (and Cepeda and E. Vargas were also the DSL Cubs top two hitting prospects), Y. Diaz was the DSL Cubs top catching prospect, and M. Cruz was the DSL Cubs top pitching prospect. 

    F. Marte (ex-STL) and J. Vizcaino (ex-MIL) are older pitchers (both are 22) who were signed by the Cubs after being released by other organizations and then had really good years working out of the bullpen for the Cubs in the DSL last season. 

    The elephant in the room is 21-year old Francis Reynoso, a big dude (6'5) who was a position player (1B) at the Cardinals Dominican Academy for a couple of years, then was released by STL in 2022, and then signed by the Cubs and converted to a RHP at the Cubs Dominican Academy (and he projects as a high-velo "high-leverage" RP in the states). He had a monster year for the DSL Cubs last season (his first year as a pitcher). 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    DJL: The only players who definitely have opt outs are Cooper, Edwards, and Peralta (Opening Day, 5/1, and 6/1), and that's because they are post-2023 Article XX-B MLB free agents who signed 2024 minor league contracts and (by rule) they get those opt outs automatically. 

    Otherwise, any player signed to a 2024 minor league contract - MIGHT or - MIGHT NOT - have an opt out in their contract, but it is an individual thing, and if there are contractual opt outs the opt out(s) might not necessarily be Opening Day. It could be 5/1, or 6/1, or 7/1 (TBD).

    Because of their extensive pro experience, the players who most-likely have contractual opt outs are Alfaro, Escobar, and D. Smith, but (again), not necessarily Opening Day. 

    Also, just because a player has the right to opt out doesn't mean he will. 

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    I love the idea that Madrigal heads to Iowa in case Morel can’t handle third.

    The one point that intrigues me here is Cooper over Smith. I feel like the Cubs really like Smith and don’t want to lose him. Could be wrong. He def seems like an opt out if he misses the opening day roster

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Childersb3: Both Madrigal and Wisdom can be optioned without any restriction. Their consent is not required. 

    They both can be outrighted without restriction, too (presuming the player is not claimed off waivers), but if outrighted they can choose to elect free agency (immediately, or deferred until after the end of the MLB season).

    If the player is outrighted and elects free-agency immediately he forfeits what remains of his salary.

    If he accepts the assignment and defers free agency until after the conclusion of the season, he continues to get his salary, and he could be added back to the 40 anytime prior to becoming a free-agent (club option). 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Phil, 
    Madrigal and Wisdom can or cannot refuse being optioned to the Minors?
    If they can refuse it, wouldn't they elect to leave the Cubs org?