Joey Martarano Reports to Extended Spring Training, Pierce Johnson Gets Rocked

First-baseman Joey Martarano has reported to Cubs Extended Spring Training, after spending the 2014-15 school year attending Boise State University.

Martarano was the Idaho High School Baseball Player of the Year at Fruitland HS in his senior year, and was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft (Rule 4 Draft). He was offered a $100K bonus by the Phils but did not sign, instead opting to enroll at Boise State and play football.

The 20-year old 6'4 235 Martarano is a linebacker on the Broncos football team, and he is a promising football player. (He had his best game when it really mattered most, in Boise State's 38-30 victory over the University of Arizona in last January's Fiesta Bowl).

Because Boise State does not have a baseball program, Martarano was the rare "Freshman eligible" in the MLB 2014 First-Year Player Draft, and the Cubs took him in the 22nd round. The Cubs convinced him to sign by offering him a chance to play pro baseball during summer vacation (as sort of a "summer job"), with no restrictions on attending college and playing football the rest of the year.

Although he was drafted as a third-baseman, the Cubs immediately moved him to 1st base when he reported to Riverview Park last July, and it looks like 1st base is where he will stay. He spent one month with the AZL Cubs in Mesa last year after signing, but got into only six games before going back to school. (He hadn't played baseball in more than a year, so it took him a while to get back into shape). He will likely spend the months of June and July playing baseball in the Cubs organization this year (probably with the AZL Cubs again), before going back to Boise for pre-season football camp in August.

It's unfortunate for Maratano that the Cubs moved their Northwest League affiliate from Boise to Eugene this year, because otherwise he might have had a chance to play minor league baseball in his college's hometown.

It wasn't a Cactus League Extended Spring Training game, but the Cubs did play an EXST intrasquad gane this morning on Field #6 at Riverview Park. Joey Martarano did not play in the game (he's taking BP and participating in fielding practice and baseruning drills while he gets into "baseball shape"), but the tilt did feature the first game action since Spring Training for RHP Pierce Johnson (on AA Tennessee 7-day DL with a lat strain).

And Johnson got rocked, too, allowing nine hits (six singles, two doubles, and a triple) and three runs in just 2.1  IP (44 pitches). His fastball was sitting at only 90-91 MPH and topped out at 92, although his breaking ball had some nice bite. He didn't register any strike outs, and if it wasn't for two timely pick-offs, his line surely would have been much worse.
  
While Pierce Johnson was getting hammered, LHP Carson Sands (Cubs 2014 4th round draft pick - North Florida Christian HS - Tallahassee, FL) was throwing 4.2 IP of shutout ball. 

Significant offensive contributions were provided by Jose Paniagua (two doubles), Danny Gutierrez (a solo home run, a single, and a stolen base), Carlos Sepulveda (a triple, a single, and a run scored), Ricardo Marcano (single, double, and a run scored), and Varonex Cuevas (two-run single and a stolen base).

Here is the abridged box score from today's EXST Cubs intrasquad game: 

CUBS SQUAD "A" LINEUP: 
1. Kevonte Mitchell, CF: 2-5 (1-3, 1B, K, F-9, 1B, CS)
2. Andruw Monasterio, SS: 1-4 (1B, K, F-8, BB, F-9, SB)
3. Jose Paniagua, 1B: 2-4 (F-7, 2B, 2B, F-9)
4. Kevin Encarnacion, DH: 1-4 (1B, F-8, 5-3, 4-3, SB)
5. Adonis Paula, 3B: 0-3 (BB, F-7, 5-3, L-5) 
6. Erick Castillo, C: 0-4 (6-4 FC, F-8, 4-3, 5-3)
7. Carlos Jimenez, 2B: 1-4 (2B, 5-3, F-9, P-4, R)
8. Jenner Emeterio, RF: 0-3 (BB, K, F-8, F-9, R, SB) 
9. Calvin Graves, LF: 2-3 (1-3 SH, F-8, 2B, 1B) 

CUBS SQUAD "B" LINEUP:
1. Roberto Caro, RF: 1-3 (4-3, 1B, K, PO)
2. Robert Garcia, CF: 0-3 (3-1, 4-3, K)
3. Carlos Sepulveda, 2B: 2-3 (1B, 3B, 1-3, R, CS)
4. Yohan Matos, C: 2-3 (1B, 1B, K, R, RBI)
5. Ricardo Marcano, DH #1: 2-3 (1B, 2B, 4-3, R)
6. Ho-Young Son,  SS: 1-3 (1B, 5-U FC, F-9, PO) 
7. Varonex Cuevas, 3B: 1-3 (1B, 1-3, 2-U, 2 RBI, SB) 
8. Roney Alcala, 1B: 1-3 (F-8, K, 1B)
9. Danny Gutierrez, LF: 2-3 (1B, HR, 6-4-3 DP, R, RBI, SB)
10. Jhonny Pereda, DH #2: 0-2 (4-3, 5-3)

CUBS SQUAD "A" PITCHERS:
1. Jesus Castillo: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2/0 GO/FO, 18 pitches (12 strikes)
2. Pierce Johnson: 2.1 IP, 9 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 1 WP, 2 PO, 4/1 GO/FO, 44 pitches (29 strikes)
3. Andin Diaz: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR, 1 GIDP, 5/1 GO/FO,  39 pitches (28 strikes) 

CUBS SQUAD "B" PITCHERS: 
1. Jesus Camargo: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 3 K, 3 WP, 4/5 GO/FO, 61 pitches (40 strikes) 
2. Carson Sands: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 5/9 GO/FO, 62 pitches (39 strikes) 

CUBS SQUAD "A" ERRORS: NONE 

CUBS SQUAD "B" ERRORS: 1
C Yohan Matos: E-2 (overthrow at 3rd base on WP allowed runner to score)  

CUBS SQUAD "A" CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
Erick Castillo: 1-3 CS 

CUBS SQUAD "B" CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
Yohan Matos: 1-4 CS, 1 E (see above) 

WEATHER: Mostly sunny with temperatures in the 90's 

ATTENDANCE: 3