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

Meet the Cubs Managerial Candidates: Mike Maddux

Mackanin is the first to interview and the first to be profiled. Next up is Greg Maddux's big brother, Mike Maddux who will interview sometime next week after he gets over a case of laryngitis. Gordon Wittenmeyer pegs him as the early favorite because he's a pitching coach and the Cubs need better pitching. I hope that makes as little sense to everyone else as it does to me.

Mike Maddux CardMike Maddux was a 5th round pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1982 draft out of UTEP. He managed 15 seasons in the big leagues, mostly as a reliever and played for 9 different organizations. He enjoyed his two best seasons in San Diego in 1991 (2.46 ERA) and 1992(2.37 ERA) and ended with a 39-37 career mark and a 4.05 ERA and 20 Saves.

He quickly moved into coaching once he retired in 2000, joining the Round Rock Express, a Houston Astros affiliate and the organization that he last pitched for...he acutally asked for the job and they gave it to him. That lasted until 2002. The Milwaukee Brewers must have heard and seen enough of him to offer him the big league pitching coach job in 2003 and he stayed on through 2008. That's when the Texas Rangers came a calling and he's been their pitching coach the last three seasons.

Some believe his presence would keep Greg Maddux within the organization and possibly convince him to take on pitching coach. I guess it wouldn't hurt, I guess it could, maybe they don't get along at all, but I doubt any of it will factor into naming Mike the manager. There's been a stigma that pitchers don't make good managers as well, but recent hires such as Bud Black and John Farrell are making that less of a taboo.

Baseball is all about results, so let's see how his teams fared under his tutelage starting with Milwaukee and including the year before he joined and the year after.

 

Year Team ERA ERA+ Team BB Team K W-L
2002 4.73 86 666 1026 56-106
2003 5.02 86 575 1034 69-94
2004 4.70 103 476 1098 67-94
2005 4.30 108 569 1173 81-81
2006 4.82 95 514 1145 75-87
2007 4.79 100 507 1174 83-79
2008 4.25 109 528 1110 90-72
2009 5.05 85 607 1104 80-82

And now with Texas...

Year
Team ERA
ERA+
Team BB
Team K
W-L
2008
5.37
83
625
963
79-83
2009
4.38
106
531
1016
87-75
2010
4.24
114
551
1181
90-72
2011
4.18
118
461
1179
96-66

The pitching coach is only as good as the talent he's coaching up, but certainly his tenure with Texas is encouraging.

To the quotables...

"I think the challenge is to put everybody on that mound with confidence to forget the ballparks and the negative things that come with a hitter's ballpark," Maddux said. "What I want to do is bring confidence for pitchers for them to pitch with confidence and conviction."

From Nolan Ryan...

"He's the hardest-working pitching coach I've ever been around, and with all of the knowledge and work ethic he brings, along with (bullpen coach) Andy Hawkins, you're seeing the results."

From Texas minor league pitchers Tim Murphy and Kasey Kiker after going through a mini-camp in 2009...

Murphy: Definitely. Fundamental stuff. He wants us to get ahead of hitters with first-pitch strikes. You have to be able to own your fastball. You have to have fastball command. The roots of pitching. You have to let your defense work behind you. As far as conditioning, he definitely wants to bring back long toss. He wants to implement long toss into all of our throwing programs -- something that we really didn't do before. He wants to get back to the basics.
Kiker: He wants to stress long toss. He also wants us to go deeper into games. He said that he was tired of us saying 100 pitches and we're done. He said if it takes 130 pitches to finish the game, then we're going to throw 130 pitches to finish the game. He said the hitters will tell us when we are done.

Pandering to Greg's fans...

"Even when I was 12, and he was just 7," Mike Maddux says, "I used to take Greg with my first pick on my teams. It wasn't because he was my brother. It was because he was better than anyone else."

Comments

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

weird ass interview process... do an interview then get marched out to the press to talk about it. i dunno if it's overkill or window dressing for fans shopping for hope. hopefully this will end before it becomes weirder than it is.

Can someone please explain what gammons is babbling about??
#The future of Oakland, Tampa and Dodgers far more important than draft "reform." #Free agents now cannot sign until clubs know what the system will be.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I've posted it a few times before, but here is the up-to-date list of Cubs minor leaguers eligible for selection in next month's Rule 5 Draft if not added to the 40-man roster by the 11/20 deadline... NOTE: IF-OF Matt Camp and C Luis Flores would have been eligible for selection, but not while on RESTRICTED LIST serving 50-game PED suspensions Abner Abreu, OF Jim Adduci, OF Jeffry Antigua, LHP Adrian Aviles, LHP (ex-OF) Jeffrey Beliveau, LHP Dan Berlind, RHP Smaily Borges, OF Michael Brenly, C Justin Bristow, RHP Michael Burgess, OF Kyler Burke, LHP (ex-OF) David Cales, RHP Matt Camp, IF-OF Hung-Wen Chen, RHP Manolin DeLeon, RHP Carlos Figueroa, INF Eduardo Figueroa, RHP Ryan Flaherty, INF Luis Flores, C Marwin Gonzalez, IF-OF Yohan Gonzalez, RHP Gian Guzman, INF-RHP Marcus Hatley, RHP Jay Jackson, RHP Junior Lake, INF Blake Lalli, 1B-C Jordan Latham, RHP David Macias, IF-OF Oswaldo Martinez, RHP Jonathon Mota, INF Craig Muschko, RHP Jon Nagel, RHP Jake Opitz, INF Blake Parker, RHP Nelson Perez, OF Ramon Reyes, RHP Dae-Eun Rhee, RHP Rebel Ridling, 1B Carlos Romero, C Nate Samson, INF Brian Schlitter, RHP Ryan Searle, RHP Marquez Smith, INF Matt Spencer, LHP (ex-OF) Larry Suarez, RHP Matt Szczur, OF Jose Tineo, RHP Josh Vitters, 3B Ty Wright, OF NOTE: A player on this list is not eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft if he is added to an MLB 40-man roster by 11/20. Also, any free-agent signed to a minor league contract prior to the Rule 5 Draft is eligible for selection.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

I think Beliveau, Flaherty, M. Gonzalez, J. Jackson, Lake, Rhee, Szczur, and Vitters are the Rule 5 eligibles most-likely to get added to the Cubs 40-man roster by the 11/20 deadline. (Of course I also thought that the Cubs would add Robert Coello to the 40-man roster to keep him from becoming a minor league FA). At present the Cubs roster is at 33 (with seven players now Article XX-B MLB free-agents), so there is room right now to add as many as seven players to the 40-man roster. And then Esmailin Caridad and Kyle Smit are likely to get outrighted by 11/20 (the Cubs can outright them at any time because they cannot be a minor league free-agent if outrighted), which would make room for two more, for a total of nine available slots. In addition, I had thought that Marcos Mateo and Lou Montanez would have been outrighted by the MLB Rule 55 minor league free-agent deadline on Wednesday, but one thing Theo Epstein used to do when he was GM of the Red Sox was sign a player to a major league contract in advance of the 12/2 contract tender date, and then immediately outright the player to the minors (if the player otherwise could have been a minor league FA if outrighted) with an NRI to Spring Training. In the case of Montanez (who can be a FA if outrighted even if he has signed a major league contract), the Cubs would be hoping that he will accept the outright assignment and defer his right to be a FA until after the following season. Or the Cubs might wait until 12/2 and non-tender Mateo and/or Montanez, and then immediately re-sign one or both to a pre-arranged minor league contract for what would be a typical minor league split salary, plus an NRI to Spring Training. That way you don't risk losing the player off waivers when dropping the player from the 40-man roster, while at the same time picking up one or two additional 40-man roster slots that can be made available for free-agents signed during the course of the off-season. With Hendry gone, Koyie Hill is another possible 12/2 non-tender, which would open up still another slot on the 40.

Baseball prospectus' Steve Goldman has a new article tying into one he wrote in Feb 2011 ("Every Team Has a Special GM, Except the Cubs"). http://tinyurl.com/3qlrdhk The Feb 2011 article wraps up with this:
Despite changing ownership over the years, the Cubs have apparently never been run with the slightest sense of urgency. Rather than look at specific deals or drafts, this lack of dedication would seem to be the real motivator of the championship drought. Hendry’s full-season teams have an average record of 83-79 and the ballpark sells out. That’s nice, but it hardly constitutes evidence of a plan. How many chances should a GM, particularly one in a major market, get? Where is the evidence of a consistent, thought-based approach? I’m not suggesting Hendry should be replaced, or will be—owner Tom Ricketts has spoken highly of the man—but the bulk of his career with the Cubs is likely already behind him and the frame remains unfilled. Every team has a special GM, every team but the Cubs. Someday, they may even get around to hiring one.
This current piece is the follow-up is titled "Exorcising the Ghost of Leo". Last Cub manager to hold his job 5 yrs: Jim Riggleman (1995-1999). Before that: Leo Durocher (1966-1972). http://tinyurl.com/3losbx8 (subscription needed to read the full articles)
...you can’t have a great manager without at least a competent general manager, and since the Cubs haven’t had the latter, they’ve also missed out on the former.
regarding who is selected as the next Cub manager...
...it might (who the manager is) not matter at all beyond receiving a certain basic competence. For the Cubs, that basic competence includes an awareness of on-base percentage. The Cubs have consistently been a non-walking, low-OBP team for decades, with the result that they have often been outscored in their own generous ballpark. Since 1950, Cubs have been outscored by their opponents at Wrigley in 37 of 61 seasons.
Conclusion...
...the Cubs are one of only six “serious” teams that has, at no time in the 21st century, had enough confidence in their own personnel evaluation to feel that they had hired that guy (it is odd that the failure of a manager to hold his job is somehow the players’ or the manager’s fault rather than a sign of yet more bad judgment by a problem general manager). It’s hard to believe, but then, much about the Cubs’ 103-year championship drought is hard to believe. Epstein may or may not break that streak, but at the very least he can bring the Cubs on-field leadership that they feel like they can stick with for the first time since the days of Durocher.

more Red Sox fried chicken turmoil... it will be interesting if Theo adds these two castoffs. Strength coach and assistant trainer let go. So the strength coach tells Boston radio...
Page said there were four players in particular -- one position player, one starting pitcher (not Beckett, although Beckett had a weight problem) and two relievers -- whose fitness was deemed unsatisfactory at the end of the season.
http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/7189941/ex-boston-red-sox-stre…
"There was a lot of grumblings but I think that whole chicken-and-beer thing has gotten a lot of unnecessary play, to be honest with you," he said. "I really didn't see chicken in the clubhouse all that often. "If they were drinking beer it was probably upstairs and I wasn't up there. You'll see the starting pitcher drink a beer when he comes out of the game, that's pretty common. In my opinion it wasn't as rampant as it's gotten to be made out to be."

The consensus there is that the Dodgers would have to get permission from the bankruptcy judge to make an outlay like they would need for Fielder and that's unlikely to happen. They compared it to the Rangers MLB takeover (this was when the Rangers lost their first pick because they weren't allowed to commit $6 million). They didn't say the Mets were keen to trade Wright, but figured they'd be open to it.

Heard Levine's buddy Hendry interviewed on his Talking Baseball show this am. I actually was impressed just how Hendry was just gushing with praise for Theo calling it a "Grand Slam" for the Cubs. He had not one gram of malice or bitterness in anything he said over the ten minutes I listened to for his former organization. A class guy, in spite of his mediocrity as a GM. I certainly can see why he has built successful relationships with colleagues and players. Levine was pimping for him of course. Called him one of the hottest FAs in baseball. Ha.

for those of us that don't care about the college footballs... 5pm (EST) game 4 of the Taiwan/MLB barnstorming "all-star" games. 8pm (EST) AFL "all-star/prospects" game. both on MLB Network. wood bat baseball...get it while the ground isn't frozen.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Sat, 11/05/2011 - 6:09pm — crunchNew sweet...they're letting the kids wear the uniform of the pro club rather than their AFL team uniform ================================== CRUNCH: AFL team caps are worn by the members of each AFL club, but otherwise the players always wear the uniform of their MLB club. Other than the cap, there are no AFL team uniforms. In the early days of the AFL back in the 1990's there were team uniforms for each AFL club, and the players wore their MLB team's patch on their sleeve. But AFL players have been wearing their MLB club's uniform for quite a few years now.

via gordo witty via rotowurld: "Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr., Red Sox bench coach DeMarlo Hale and Rays bench coach Dave Martinez are all being considered for the Cubs' vacant managerial position." ...just end the media dog and pony show already...please...pick a guy, everyone's gonna be sick of him in 1-2 seasons anyway. ...and it looks like Hale wins the "token minority interview" sweepstakes for the Cubs...hope he gets a steak dinner out of it...maybe a nice hotel room with HBO.

lulz...jim thome got his own press conference. 1 million year old future HOF bench player looking for 200-300 ab's on a NL team...awesome. i miss ken griffey jr... btw, he's expecting to see time at 1st next year and is preparing over the winter for it.

Dan Duquette allegedly about to become the O's new GM after 100 others turned it down. i didn't even know Dook was still around...evidently he's been running a collegiate summer league team for many years.

taking a look at team rosters while the taiwan game is going on...i didn't realize just how horrible the A's bats were...i mean, i knew they were going to be bad in 2011, but wow... 1 guy with a 800+ OPS...only 3 with 700+ OPS...only 3 with .340+ OB% (all 3 were part time players, though 2 (sizemore/weeks) should be a 2012 starters)...only 1 guy with more than 20 HR (29, next closest 14). 5 years of suck going strong...well, they did have a .500 season a couple years ago.

Notes on this weeks schedule: Pete Mackanin mentioned Saturday that Epstein and Hoyer told him they are anticipating the Cubs managerial search to take about two weeks (from CCO; http://tinyurl.com/78ypa94). PSully writes that the signing of Joe Bohringer will be "officially" announced on Monday. Some Sabermetricallly inclined scouting quotes from JB in the article. http://tinyurl.com/83qv2l5 Dave Kaplan says Sandy Alomar Jr will interview next week (probably after Mike Maddux on Wednesday). He also mentions the Cubs will talk to DeMarlo Hale (not sure if that equals an interview). http://tinyurl.com/73tyqp5

Boston press sure likes to poke needles in everyone's eyes. Who is the Redsox Team ophthalmologist? Boston writer Cafaldo on the two approaches to modern managing
There are the strong ones such as...Dusty Baker, etc. And there are the ones who take a lot of input from their front offices. The latter guys used to be called “puppets,’’ but it is now an accepted way to conduct business.
http://tinyurl.com/8yachqm

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

I note that none of his He-Man Rugged Individualist This-Team-Will-Win-Because-I-Will-It-So types are actually available. So there's that. Also, he seems to have a hard time defining exactly what he is talking about: "If you look at World Series winners since 2000, you have the strong, traditional managers [BECAUSE I SAID THEY ARE, DAMMIT] winning nine of 12. Francona won two of the other titles, and the third was the Yankees’ Joe Girardi, who is more in line with the Red Sox Way of managing on the field, though traditional in many other ways." Um, what? Gee, Girardi *looks* like such a General Patton out there; is Cafaldo saying he's not? Or sometimes he is and sometimes he isn't? Or is Cafaldo just making up an artificial construct to a) keep up the pretense that Gritty, Manly Manliness wins ballgames, and b) bash Terry Francona again?

[ ]

In reply to by Pell Mell

joe torre was a puppet...it was kinda sad. he couldn't survive outside out of the hired gun atmosphere of the yanks, either. his tenure in LA lacked leadership...probably because he hadn't had to use that skill in quite a while. also, this is my view and others will/can argue he did have leadership...i'm totally not getting into a pissing contest over steiny's hand puppet. if you want to judge him by wins and losses he's awesome, though...meh and meh. ...and francona by his own admission had issues managing the hired guns in BOS. judging by how he was talking, though, it's hard to tell how much is on him and how much is on the players...either way it seems he lost control of his clubhouse last season at the very least.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Sorry, here comes the pissing contest. I seriously never thought I would be sitting around defending Joe Torre, but my god, it is totally offensive to call the guy a puppet. 13 years of straight puppetry, nothing more? Just a mouthpiece, a cipher, a ventriloquist's dummy? Did he ever do a lick of work? Nah. Did he fill out a single lineup card? Probably not, just downloaded them from the team's server. Did he manage, I don't know, the worst media in the world, the highest-ego players in the world, and the highest-ego-and-worst owner in the world? Nope, never happened. Just coasted the entire time. This is Cafaldo's fallacy (caffallacy?) writ very large -- if you don't cut the figure of a rugged, jut-jawed old-school Man, you're a puppet. Or if you work for a boss whom everybody knows is overweening and hateful, you're a puppet. Nuts to all that. The idea of some nimrod sportswriter deciding Who's Manly and Who's a Lazy Pencilneck is beyond absurd, and I'm sure Cafaldo would feel like crap if somebody told him that his whatever-year career was nothing but puppetry on behalf of his editor or corporate-titan owner. It's unfair speculation at best.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

lol. That's kind of cool. I wonder how many HRs Z has in the winter league. I bet he could hit a few. I hope LaHair gets a shot at some legitimate playing time at 1B, LF, and/or RF, considering no one of much interest is blocking him at any of those positions (nor would he be blocking much of anyone, unless Colvin manages a major resurgence).

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

i'm amused CF's can command so much damn money even in this day/age...yeah, not everyone can do it, but it's one of those positions that i appreciate when the GM "goes cheap" and sinks the money into other places. it's also one reason i considered the byrd deal pretty good...it wasn't that i was expecting 20+ homers...it's that guys who hit only marginally better got 10+ million rather than 5 million.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

every OF'r in MLB was linked to the braves...mark bowman (ATL MLB writer...carrie m. type position) listed like 10 a week. that said, there's no CF'r in the works the cubs can fall back on...and check out how much melk is evidently worth. i wouldn't be sad to see byrd go...i just don't think it's that important whether he stays or goes...or who would be next...or how much that would cost. there's not a lot impressive or cost saving out there, imo... keep in mind that 3rd year arb eligable bj upton got 5m last year after his 2009 and 2010 mediocre seasons. CF'rs are still oddly overpriced though they're not league-wide rare...mediocrity still pays off like SS/2nd do for CF'rs.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I hear ya, but looking at his career Sanchez's adjusted numbers show someone who will probably put up a WAR in the 2-3 range next year. Cabrera has been a bit more inconsistent in that regard, especially with the his flukey 2011 BABIP. Bottom line, I think once both revert/(progress?) to the mean Sanchez will probably be more valuable, probably by about a win above replacement. But it's not an egregious deal by any stretch.

MLB Network's new "stats and analytical" show is trying to sell "tourney baseball" for everyday use...aka, use baseball pitchers when you need them, as if every game matters and the offseason starts in a few weeks no matter what. this is awesome until you step back from the stats and realize...oh yeah, you need humans who can work 70+ times a year and do it 1-3+ innings at a time. ...and their first guest was analyst peter gammons. at least rob neyer is on board, too...he was the 2nd guest...neither got to comment on their first story pimping "the future of baseball" managing pitchers tourney-style.

[ ]

In reply to by Tito

to bring it back to Clubhouse Confidential... based on the first 2 episodes they have a ways to go to back up the pompous boasting about baseball analysis they promise in the commercials for the show. it's early, but even with "that's not happening" stuff being debated there's still way too much fluff vs. discussion/information. for instance...they questioned cashman for a few minutes about the yanks uses of "analytics" then they spent a couple minutes asking him a series of rapid-fire questions akin to "what's your favorite food" and "boxers or briefs". the commercials for the show are straight-on serious as hell notices to the public that this is the thinking man's show and it's going to reward bucking "conventional" baseball thinking...it's basically baiting those Moneyball casuals. it's coming off wishy-washy early...trying to pander to casuals while not getting in over their heads with the casuals. a show(s) like this needs to exist, but it's clunky going early on, imo.

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...