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

Amaya-zing Day for Gioskar at Talking Stick

Gioskar Amaya hit for the cycle and drove-in five runs, as the Cubs edged the Rockies 6-5 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning at Dust Storm Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick east of Scottsdale, AZ.

Amaya reached base on a bad-hop single with one out in the top of the 1st inning, and laced a two-run triple in the 3rd, a three-run home run in the 5th, and a one-out double in the 8th.

The 19-year old Venezuelan is now hitting 291/406/417 in 27 Cactus League Extended Spring Training games (96 PA), with a team-leading 16 walks. He also has eight stolen bases (second only to Javier Baez), with 0 CS. (He hit 377/417/510 in 52 games and 227 PA with the AZL Cubs last season).

Amaya was a DH today, but his defense has shown marked improvement this season, possibly because he has been allowed to concentrate on just one position (2B) instead of being moved around the infield from game-to-game as he was last season. He has made only three errors so far at 2B, and has displayed decent range and arm.

He also has excelled in the #2 slot in the batting order.

On the EXST Cubs injury front, LHP Hunter Ackerman relieved starter Ian Dickson in the bottom of the 3rd, but left the game after throwing only one pitch. He appeared to strain something in his right side or hip.

Here is the box score from today’s game (Cubs players only):

CUBS LINEUP:
1. Shawon Dunston Jr, CF: 1-4 (F-9, 4-6 FC, 1B, K, 2 R)
2. Gioskar Amaya, DH #1: 4-4 (1B, 3B, HR, 2B, 2 R, 5 RBI)
3. Marco Hernandez, SS: 0-4 (L-5 DP, K, 3-1, P-3)
4. Wilson Contreras, C: 0-3 (5-3, BB, K, F-9)
5. Rock Shoulders, 1B: 2-4 (1B, 1B, 6-3, F-8, RBI)
6. Eduardo Gonzalez, LF: 1-3 (L-8, BB, F-8, 1B, SB, PO)
7. Brian Inoa, 2B: 1-4 (1B, K, F-9, F-9)
8. Dong-Yub Kim, DH #2: 0-4 (4-3, K, F-9, F-9)
9. Xavier Batista, RF: 1-3 (1B, 1-3, K, R)
10a. Jair Bogaerts, 3B: 1-2 (E-1, 2B, R)
10b. Dustin Geiger, 3B: 0-1 (5-3)

CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Ian Dickson: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 56 pitches (32 strikes), 2/2 GO/FO
2. Hunter Ackerman: 0.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 pitch (0 strikes)
NOTE: Ackerman left game with injury after throwing one pitch
3. Rafael Diplan: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, 31 pitches (22 strikes), 0/2 GO/FO
4. Bryce Shafer: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 24 pitches (18 strikes), 3/0 GO/FO
5. Pete Levitt: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 24 pitches (18 strikes), 2/2 GO/FO

CUBS ERRORS: 1
3B Jair Bogaerts - E-5 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely - eventually scored unearned run)

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Wilson Contreras: 1-1 CS

ATTENDANCE: 4

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 90’s

Comments

Phil, Looking at the Chiefs Roster, Amaya really doesn't have a spot with DeVoss and Darvill there. But, does Darvill really need everyday playing time? Is he a potential late bloomer (only 20) or is he a LH Samson?

[ ]

In reply to by Childersb3

Tue, 05/29/2012 - 3:36pm — Childersb3 Phil, Looking at the Chiefs Roster, Amaya really doesn't have a spot with DeVoss and Darvill there. But, does Darvill really need everyday playing time? Is he a potential late bloomer (only 20) or is he a LH Samson? ================================== CHILDERS: Wes Darvill spent the last two off-seasons at Camp Colvin (Camp Buss) trying to bulk up and develop some HR power (he has a big frame without much muscle), but until he does (and he is only 20), he probably does project as a LH version of Nate Samson. And although he handles SS passably and 2B very well, Darvill has made a ton of errors at 3B this season, so he might not be a true utility infielder (one who can handle 2B-SS-3B). One positive thing about Darvill is that he is a VERY selective and patient hitter, and another good thing about him is that he is good base-runner and base-stealer. I don't think Zeke DeVoss stays at 2B long-term. This is a lot like when Eric Patterson was coming up through the system and the Cubs insisted on playing him at 2B when he was clearly better-suited to play OF. I see DeVoss as a 2B-LF-CF-PR utility guy, and he could move to the OF at any time, especially if there is a reason to do it (like to make way for Amaya). BTW, when I saw DeVoss and Rubi Silva at Instructs post-2011 and both were getting reps at 2B, Silva clearly outplayed DeVoss at that position. DeVoss looked most-comfortable in LF. Amaya is a legitimate everyday 2B. I believe he will push his way up through the system at that position, and he could be the best 2B prospect down there right now. Amaya is a good DP partner with Javier Baez, too. They work really well together turning the DP. Not "Trammell-Whitaker" good yet, but they could be if they can stay together for a few years.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

This is what I said about DeVoss (in its entirety): "I don't think Zeke DeVoss stays at 2B long-term. This is a lot like when Eric Patterson was coming up through the system and the Cubs insisted on playing him at 2B when he was clearly better-suited to play OF. I see DeVoss as a 2B-LF-CF-PR utility guy, and he could move to the OF at any time, especially if there is a reason to do it (like to make way for Amaya). BTW, when I saw DeVoss and Rubi Silva at Instructs post-2011 and both were getting reps at 2B, Silva clearly outplayed DeVoss at that position. DeVoss looked most-comfortable in LF."

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

Tue, 05/29/2012 - 6:33pm — QuietMan AZ Phil, any thoughts on Marco Hernandez getting demoted? He had a very bad April. But was much much better in May. ====================================== Q-MAN: It's not fair to Marco Hernandez, but it's like this... Javier Baez is clearly such an extraordinary talent that wherever the Cubs believe he needs to be automatically means the shortstop who is there must be moved out of the way. So either the other shortstop at Peoria moves to another position, or he becomes a utility infielder, or he remains a starting shortstop and gets promoted or demoted. It is fairly clear that the Cubs want both Hernandez and Baez to play SS, but they both can't do that if they are at the same place at the same time. So either Hernandez moves up to Daytona or down to Boise. And as much as he may have improved in May, he is still not ready for Hi-A. Ergo, he must go to Boise. Baez gets to "cut the line." And if he dominates at Peoria like he did at Extended Spring Training, he'll cut the line again.

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

Keith Law's most recent mock draft (2.0) has high school lefty Max Fried going to Cubs http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/draft/2012/story/_/id/7982412/mark-appel… Appel, Buxton, Zunino, Correa, Gausman, Fried then, Zimmer, Marrero, Almora
Fried is the only one of this draft's top three prep arms to make it through the spring unscathed, leaving him the most likely candidate to be the first high school arm off the board. He switched schools for his senior year because his old school, Montclair Prep, discontinued its baseball program, but didn't miss a beat despite the change. He'll pitch at 89-93 with little effort and very good life to his arm side (albeit less to his glove side). Hitters don't pick the ball up out of his hands, helping it play above his velocity. Fried's curveball, while not completely consistent, can show very sharp downward break in the 73-76 mph range, ocassionally getting slurvy up towards 77-78. He has great feel for his 81-83 mph changeup with deception from his arm speed and late run (harder than the usual fade on a changeup). Fried is an outstanding athlete with great body control and a repeatable delivery that gives him solid-average command today that should become more consistent as he matures; he's had a few outings this spring where he has had trouble throwing strikes, although that's the minority of his appearances, and he's usually a strike-thrower who's online to the plate. He has the projection left to add a grade of velocity, and with more consistency you can see a No. 2 starter with three above-average to plus pitches.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

Wed, 05/30/2012 - 7:47am — Old and Blue Phil, I'm really encouraged by your reports on Baez. I can't think of a time you've used the phrase "such an extraordinary talent" in what are now quite a few years reading this blog. I remember you being impressed by Lee before he got traded, and Castro, but it seems to me Baez has impressed the hell out of you, even with his plate discipline issues. Is he somewhat like Vlad Guerrero, in that he can just hit the snot out of the ball no matter where it is thrown? =================================================== O&B: Javier Baez strikes out too much to be compared to Vlad. I would say Josh Vitters is more like Vlad. What I like most about Baez is his bat-speed. He hits rockets, and he has plus-HR power. Very unusual to see a 19-year old with that kind of bat-speed. He also is a good base stealer and a play-maker at SS. But he sometimes will try to make plays that aren't there. He tries to do too much, which is not unusual for a player with his cocky self-confidence. And he is hyper-aggressive in all phases of the game. He plays baseball like a football player. Sometimes that's good, and sometimes it's not so good. He's also a hard worker and will not accept losing. There are too many young players who don't think about winning. They think a lot about personal success, but not so much about team success. Baez doen't need a coach as much as he needs a mentor, somebody with talent like his who can communicate with him. I think that's what the Cubs have lacked over the years. Their best prospects (the ones with the most raw talent) are coached just like every other player in the system, when they actually aren't just like every other player in the system. And then some get sidetracked and eventually end up in the gutter. No excuse for that.

SB and run scored. Perhaps the "plate discipline" was learned, they just moved him as soon as it he learned it!

3 more SB tonight for billy hamilton...amazing. given that he's stolen 2+ in 5 out his last 6 games I guess it's not that amazing. 55sb in 48 games. near .400 ob%...wish he was a Cub...he's going to be very exciting when he gets on base in the bigs.

[ ]

In reply to by tem99

we're talking about a pretty special player here, imo (and others). not only is he fast, but he's in a system that will let him attempt 100sb a year. he's also learning (and this year showing) he can bunt for a base hit. this wasn't in his game too much last season. he stole 103 last year and he'll probably pace 120+ this year, health pending. in highschool he wasn't even stealing bases too much (or switch hitting). he's very adept at a rather new skill. this guy was a d.deshields pet project in 2010, turning him into a base stealer and finding out they had something special...they had joe morgan around this spring working with him. just because you're really fast doesn't mean you're going to be a good base stealer (CPat). he's doing some crazy stuff with his skill...and he's spending this year putting in the practice to hone skills he started to realize 2 season ago. his contact is better, he can bunt with more accuracy for a hit, and his baserunning confidence is at a humble r.henderson level. the guy could hit .270/.330 avg/ob% and still manage around 100 steals the way he plays. ...all that's left is to get him the hell away from SS cuz that ain't pretty.

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...