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

Alfonso Soriano for DH! (Vote Early & Often)

Alfonso Soriano homered twice and Brett Jackson whacked a three-run home run, leading the Cubs to an 11-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies in Cactus League action at Dwight Patterson Field at HoHoKam Park in warm, sunny, and windy (sometimes VERY windy) Mesa, AZ, this afternoon.

Matt Garza was the Cubs starting pitcher, and he worked two innings (31 pitches – 22 strikes), allowing two runs on three hits and an HBP, no walks, and one strrikeout (Ramon Hernandez - looking). Garza threw a scoreless 1st inning, and then the Rockies plated both of their runs off Garza in the top of the 2nd.

Casey Blake was hit by a pitch leading-off the inning, and then Brandon Wood doubled off the CF batter’s eye, sending Blake to 3rd. Ex-Cub Tyler Colvin picked up an RBI with a 4-3 GO that scored Blake and moved Wood up to 3rd, and then after Garza got Chris Nelson on a pop up and looked like he might get out of the inning with only one run scoring, Wilkin Castillo roped an RBI single to left to score Wood.

After going down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 1st against Rockies RH starter Guillermo Moscoso, the Cubs put up a four-spot in the bottom of the 2nd.

DH and clean-up hitter Alfonso Soriano smacked a solo HR off the Wells Fargo sign at the top of the scoreboard beyond the LF fence to get things started, and then with two outs, Anthony Rizzo ripped a rocket line-drive single to right center and Welington Castillo doubled down the LF line, putting runners at 2nd & 3rd. Brett Jackson then blasted a moon-shot three-run HR over the RF fence and into the Rockies bullpen, giving the Cubs a 4-2 lead.

The Cubs scored another run in the bottom of the 3rd, as Alfonso Soriano smoked a lead-off double off the CF batter’s eye, and then with two outs, scored from 3rd on an Anthony Rizzo two-out RBI infield single. (Rizzo showed good speed going down the line).

RHP Casey Coleman worked the 3rd & 4th innings for the Cubs and had a decent two-inning stint, throwing shutout ball, while allowing consecutive two-out singles in the 4th.

LHP James Russell pitched the 6th, and allowed a lead-off HR to Dexter Fowler that hit the scoreboard in almost the exact same spot Soriano's 1st inning HR did earlier. Russell then gave-up two more hits (both singles), before inducing Ramon Hernandez to ground into a much-needed 6-4-3 DP and getting Casey Blake on a fly out to end the inning. Russell is expected to be the Cubs #1 lefty specialist this season, but he faced only RH hitters today (Fowler-Pacheco-Cuddyer-Hernandez-Blake).

Up 5-3 through 4-1/2 innings, the Cubs scored four runs in the bottom of the 5th against Rockies RHRP Zach Putnam.

Blake DeWitt continued his hot hitting, lining a lead-off single to center. Alfonso Soriano then hit his second HR of the day, a line-drive two-run shot just inside the LF foul pole. Ian Stewart walked, and Junior Lake ripped a double down the LF line, sending Stewart to 3rd. Anthony Rizzo grounded out 4-3 to score Stewart and move Lake up to 3rd, and then Welington Castillo grounded a sharply-hit single between 2nd & 3rd to knock-in Lake with the inning’s final run.

NRI LHP Chris Rusin threw the 6th & 7th innings for the Cubs, allowing one hit and one run (a Tyler Colvin triple followed by an RBI gound out in the 6th), and two walks and no runs in the 7th. Rusin works slow and really likes to nibble, and went 3-2 on several of the Colorado hitters.

The Cubs finished their scoring in the 7th, tallying twice. Jonathon Mota led-off the inning with a bloop single, and scored on a Joe Mather triple. Then after Michael Brenly grounded out (with the runner holding at 3rd), Mather scored on Jae-Hoon Ha grounder, beating the throw home by Rockies 3B (and ex-Cub) Brendan Harris. (Mather has good speed for a big guy)

The Cub Defensive Play of the Day was a spectacular catch by CF Jim Adduci, who made a long run and then caught a fly in deep right-center, crashing into the fence in the process. Adduci also showed-off his plus arm, making an outstanding throw to 2nd from the base of the CF batter’s eye after fielding a double the previous inning.

The 26-year old Adduci was acquired by the Cubs from the Marlins a few years ago in the Todd Wellemeyer deal, and has spent five seasons in the Cub organization. Like several other Cub minor leaguers presently in big league camp, Adduci was a Rule 55 Minor League Free-Agent (6YFA) after last season, but opted to re-sign with the Cubs, getting an NRI as part of the deal.

Adduci is an outstanding defensive outfielder with a plus-arm, and he can play all three OF spots. He also has above-average speed for a big guy, and is both a good base-runner and a good base-stealer. And he has a good eye at the plate, too. He will likely be the "4th OF" at Iowa in 2012.

What has held him back over the years is that while he is built like the Incredible Hulk, he has Tony Campana power (.356 career SLG %). He is essentially a “singles hitter,” and even at that, his hit tool is just so-so (career .279 hitter in the minors, but only .248 at AAA).

That said, I could see Adduci maybe making it as an MLB “5th OF” someday (late-inning defensive replacement & PR). One thing for sure, he certainly won’t hurt a team with his defense or his base-running.

The Cubs play their first Cactus League road game tomorrow, facing the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium. With the Rockies and the Diamondbacks having moved up to the Valley of the Sun from Tucson last year, the Mesa-Surprise bus trip is now the longest one in the Cactus League… it takes about an hour).

Comments

AZ Phil - thanks for the great recaps...have you been over to Fitch, wondering if there were any missing faces as the minor league guys start showing up (since BA has had a limited number of signs/releases this winter)

[ ]

In reply to by BoiseHawks

Tue, 03/06/2012 - 10:03pm — BoiseHawks AZ Phil - thanks for the great recaps...have you been over to Fitch, wondering if there were any missing faces as the minor league guys start showing up (since BA has had a limited number of signs/releases this winter) ==================================== B-HAWKS: Not really any missing faces from the 2011 Boise Hawks. I presume you already knew that Jon Nagel retired (he suffered a torn labrum at Extended Spring Training last year while rehabbing post-2010 elbow surgery). Blair Springfield (who suffered a season-ending torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder last August) is 100% healthy and is assigned to the Daytona squad. Wilson Contreras has been moved back to catcher (he was a catcher when the Cubs signed him in 2009, but he was moved to 3B at the Dominican Academy). Anthony Giansanti is also learning the catching arts, but in his case it's probably more to make him more valuable as a utility player as he moves up through the system (as was the case with David Macias and Jonathon Mota in previous Minor League Camps). Giansanti has one of the best OF arms in organization. Some of the young Latin players who were at Instructs post-2011 (Carlos Penalver, Jeffrey Baez, Luis Acosta, and Mark Malave) did not return for Minor League Camp 2012. Hot-shot 3B prospect Jeimer Candelario is here, though, and is competing for the starting 3B job at Peoria. The others still could get here later, maybe for Extended Spring Training next month. Instead, 1B-OF Xavier Batista (who spent 2011 in the DSL after playing for the AZL Cubs in 2010), OF Delbis Arcila (who attended Instructs post-2010 but then spent the entire 2011 season in the DSL), and catchers Wilfredo Petit and Antonio Valerio are in camp (they always need a couple of extra catchers at Fitch Park this time of year). Also, several recently-signed Cuban defectors are at Fitch Park, including 27-year old RHP Ricardo Estevez (who will have to serve a 50-game PED suspension before he can see game action, but in the meantime he is participating in camp drills), 26-year old SS Leugim Barroso (who is presently assigned to the Iowa squad), 25-year old OF Eliecer Bonne (assigned to the Tennessee squad), 24-year old OF Mayke Reyes (assigned to the Daytona squad), and 19-year old OF Yasiel Balaguert (assigned to the Peoria squad). Both Bonne and Reyes played in the DSL last season, and Bonne attended Instructs at Fitch Park post-2011. Balaguert played with highly-regarded OF prospect Jorge Soler on the Cuban Junior National Team a couple of years ago.

If anyone is in Phoenix for Spring Training and chooses to drive over to Surprise for Royals or Brewers games, one piece of advice: plan WAY ahead with regards to traffic. It's a flipping nightmare over there, we tried to hit a Royals/Cubs game last year and it was such a mess at 12:30 before game time, we gave up and went golfing instead. It is SO much easier to get in and out at HoHoKam, Mesa rocks in that regard.

http://deadspin.com/5891292/ "[Reyes] said 'I really want to play in Miami as long as you pay me $1 more than anyone else… I really want to make the most money I can.'" If the Marlins were to move to Las Vegas, Mr. Samson said, he suggested the casinos there buy out game tickets in advance so nobody would be drawn away from the casinos. "We don't care if nobody comes," Mr. Samson recalled with a smile. "We'll play in front of nobody, and we'll have all the money."

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/thehotstoneleague/2017687525_top_… Well, the draft world received quite a jolt this week with news out of Southern California that RHP Lucas Giolito, the consensus top high school pitching prospect in the draft, sprained the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow on Tuesday. He'll be sidelined for six to 10 weeks, and his coach at Harvard-Westlake HS in Studio City, Calif., told the Los Angeles Times, "He's probably done for the season." Giolito is 6-foot-6, 230 pounds and has signed with UCLA, but he stood to be a very high draft pick. In fact, Baseball America and ESPN's Keith Law both ranked him as the No. 2 prospect in the draft (behind Stanford right-hander Mark Appel, in Baseball America's case). There has even been some talk that he is a special enough talent to go No. 1 overall. Giolito had caused a great deal of excitement last week, in his season debut, by hitting 100 mph on the radar gun, which prep pitchers almost never do this early in the season*. (Harvard-Westlake had quite a staff -- senior left-hander Max Fried is a top 15 prospect himself). maybe next time try not breaking the radar gun and you won't get injured?

Sappelt 8, Johnson 7, Castro 6, LaHair 3, Ha 0, Barney 4, Tolbert 5, Clevenger 2, Mather 9 3 Royal errors in first lead to 4 runs Johnson, LaHair (RBI), Ha with singles, Barney with an RBI double Samardzija starting for Cubs.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

3 IP, 3 K, 1 H, 0 ER he's got the tools for a top of the rotation starter or at least a mid-rotation starter, but can he really put together the command? be a neat trick

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

J. Jackson 2 IP, 1 unearned run (Castro with the error) Campana scores Tolbert on a sac fly (impressed he hit it far enough). 5-1 through 5 1/2 innings. 4 SB's so far (Castro, Tolbert, Mather, LaHair) Campana with an OF assist at 1B (probably a hit and run I presume) Clevenger threw out 1 runner with Ninja pitching, allowed a SB to Hosmer with Jackson pitching

subbed in at 1b today, BB'd and then gets picked off 2b to end inning. Whoops. Dolis with a scoreless 6th, staying in for the 7th.

concerning/good news...well, good for cubs fans. shelby miller (STL future pimp) made his 1st spring start and could barely hit 90mph...lot of high 80s. it's early and etc etc etc...but that's not his style.

Peter Gammons ‏ @pgammo Soler has 8 HR in last 10 games against Dominican acadamy teams. Cespedes had 1st live game pitching against minor leaguers:2 HR, 4H Peter Gammons ‏ @pgammo one international scouting director sees Cuban power bat Jorge Soler getting $27M from the Cubs. --- pgammo sounds like some urologic affliction http://twitter.com/pgammo

Did I miss something, is Soler in play? I thought he has not yet been cleared. If he hasn't been cleared and all these Cub rumors are out there, I fear a tampering issue. I really want the Cubs to sign him because whether he is a hit or a miss (and I think he will be a hit) , he is the last one that money can be thrown at before July 1, if I am correct. Please someone with better knowledge let me know if that is the case.,

punching his ticket to the minors 6-2 bottom of 9th gives up 1b to Kouzmanofff, single to M. Maier, WP advances them to 2nd/3rd, 1B to M. Ramirez scores both, gets a line out, then a bunt single by I. Falu, Flyout by W. Myers Betancourt up as the tying run

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In reply to by John Beasley

It seems to me there are only three options: (1) Leave things just the way they are, (2) get rid of the DH in the AL, or (3) add the DH to the NL. As we saw this past off season, AL teams have a distinct advantage when it comes to signing free agents to long term contracts. Most NL teams were afraid to give either Albert Pujols or Prince Fielder more than 5-6 years because of the fear that their bodies will break down during the final years of a long term contract. In the AL, players like Pujols and Fielder can transition from playing in the field to DHing. So keeping the DH in the AL, but not in the NL, probably isn't sustainable. I'd personally love to see the AL get rid of the DH, but that's never going to happen. The players union would never agree to getting rid of 14 (soon to be 15) highly paid positions. That leaves adding the DH to the NL as the only remaining option. I don't like it because I like the way baseball is currently played in the NL, but it appears that is the only realistic way to have a level playing field between the two leagues.

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In reply to by Sweet Lou

The problem is the NL doesn't know what to do with the DH. All of its minor leagues and spring games have it and yet there is no marketing of this as a distinct, traditional thinking-man's game. Like pocket billiards the players and coaches MUST have 3-4 (or more) moves ahead in mind in the NL. Add another major offensive position and it dumbz the game down to the Texas Rangers beating the ball to death. "Well, if it sells tickets..." No. When push comes to shove the Rangers were the most disadvantaged team at Busch in a 2 game series end. If I were a fan of AL baseball I would probably be a fan of soccer also because it ties your hands behind your back. Want to see Albert and Prince walk a LOT, as DH's? No, not really. Both of them exposed a major weakness in Cubs' head coaching last year, and sprang a leak bigger than Niagra. Ends up changing the whole Cubs system, hopefully for the better, and without the stupid DH...

Big Z started for the Marlins vs the Mets today: first inning: K(3 pitches), K(3 pitches), BB(4 pitches), BB (4 pitches), 2B (1 pitch), 1B(1 pitch), K(3 pitches)...( 19 pitches, 3 runs) second inning: BB(4 pitches), 1B(1 pitch), K(3 pitches)...(8 pitches); pitching change to Chad Gaudin same ol' Z (except for no 3-2 counts).

(2) Coleman over (1) Beliveau (3) Maholm over (12) Wells (3) W. Castillo over (9) A. Cardenas (2) DeJesus vs. (5) Castro Final Four (2) Coleman vs. (3) Maholm (3) W. Castillo vs. TBD

DeJesus 9, Byrd 8, Castro 6, Stewart 5, Soriano 7, Rizzo 3, Baker 4, Johnson DH, Castillo 2. Volstad pitching Volstad, T. Wood, R. Lopez, Samardzija and Wells battling for 2 rotation spots allegedly.

what's up with jason jaramillo? he hasn't played a game yet as far as i can tell. "Non-roster C Jason Jaramillo has been held out of games with leg problems." thank u internets. also, w.castillio...DAT ARM. SEA scrub caught stealing without a slide even attempted on a hit/run gone wrong.

Soriano DH, Barney 4, Baker 9, LaHair 3, Byrd 8, Mather 7, Clevenger 2, Lake 6, Gonzalez 5

Recent comments

  • 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...

  • crunch (view)

    pablo sandoval played 3rd and got a couple ABs (strikeout, single!) in the OAK@SF "exhibition"

    mlb officially authenticated the ball of the single he hit.  nice.

    he's in surprisingly good shape considering his poor body condition in his last playing seasons.  he's not lean, but he looks healthier.  good for him.