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

Dewees Dehero in 2015 Cubs AZ Instructs World Series Championship Game

Donnie Dewees (Cubs 2015 2nd round draft pick  - University of North Florida) laid down a picture-perfect walk-off squeeze bunt single to score pinch-runner Chris Pieters from 3rd base in the bottom of the 9th, as the Riverview Cubs edged the Wrigley Cubs 5-4 in the 2015 Cubs AZ Instructs World Series Championship Game played this morning on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

Dewees went 5-for-5 in the game (five singles), plus three stolen bases, two runs scored, and the walk-off RBI. 

D. J. Wilson (Cubs 2015 4th round draft pick - Canton South HS - Canton, OH) drew a lead-off walk from Riverview RHSP Oscar de la Cruz and then Matt Rose (Cubs 2015 11th round draft pick - Georgia State U.) belted a two-out two-run home run off the top of the LF fence (just beyond the reach of a leaping Eloy Jimenez) in the top of the 1st inning to get the scoring started, although de la Cruz did strike out the side (all three swinging) around the walk and the two-run HR.

Dewees singled to lead off the bottom of the 1st against Wrigley RHSP Gabriel Lima, and then immediately scored on an Andruw Monasterio hit & run RBI double lined into the LF corner. Ian Happ (Cubs 2015 1st round draft pick - U. of Cincinnati) grounded out 4-3 to move Monasterio up to third with one out, and then Eloy Jimenez drew a walk. Monasterio scored on a WP to knot the game at two as Jimenez moved-up to 2nd base, but Jimenez was thrown-out by LF Robert Garcia 7-2 trying to score on a Kwang Min-Kwon (2015 IFA - South Korea) two-out opposite-field line-drive single to left.

16-year old Isaac Paredes (2015 IFA - Mexico) drew a lead-off walk in the top of the 3rd off RHP Jesus Camargo (ex-Mexico City Red Devils), and worked his way around the bases on a GO and an E-4, before scoring on a two-out Camargo WP. 

The Riverview Cubs came right back in the bottom of the 3rd against LHP Carson Sands (Cubs 2014 4th round pick - North Florida Christian HS - Tallahassee, FL), as Dewees singled, stole 2nd, stole 3rd ,and scored on an Eloy Jimenez sacrifice fly to center. 

The game remained tied at three though seven innings, but then the Wrigley Cubs went ahead 4-3 in the top of the 8th against Cubs top pitching prospect RHP Dylan Cease (2014 6th round draft pick - Milton HS - Milton, GA).

Cease walked Tyler Payne on a 3-2 pitch to open the frame, Isaac Paredes singled to advance Payne to 2nd, and D. J. Wilson was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Cease did induce a DP grounder, but Payne scored the go-ahead run on the play.  

The Riverview Cubs came right back to tie the score again in the bottom of the 8th against RHP Adbert Alzolay, however, as Ian Happ drew a lead-off walk, Eloy Jimenez reached base on an E-6, and both runners moved-up on a double-steal. Jason Vosler was called out on strikes for the first out, but Kwon drove-in the tying run with a 4-3 GO.

After submariner RHRP David Berg (Cubs 2015 6th round draft pick - UCLA) easily retired the Wrigley Cubs 1-2-3 in the top of the 9th (F-8, 4-3, K) on just eight pitches, pinch-hitter Yasiel Balaguert singled to lead-off the bottom of the 9th. Chris Pieters was sent-in to run for Balaguert, and promptly stole 2nd, before advancing to 3rd on a 5-3 GO. That set-up the Dewees walk-off squeeze-bunt single to bring an end to the game and to the Cubs AZ Instructional League season, although the Angels/Cubs co-op advanced instructs squad will continue to play games for another week. 

Today's 2015 Cubs AZ Instructs World Series Championship Game was the only game played by the Cubs basic instructs group this year.    

Here is the box score from today's game: 

WRIGLEY CUBS LINEUP
1. D. J. Wilson, CF: 0-2 (BB, 4-3, 1-3, HBP, R)
2. Robert Garcia, LF: 0-4 (K, K, L-8, 4-6-3 DP) 
3. P. J. Higgins, 3B: 0-4 (K, E-4, F-8, F-8, SB) 
4. Matt Rose, 1B: 1-4 (HR, F-7, K, 4-3, R, 2 RBI)
5. Carlos Sepulveda, 2B-DH: 1-3 (K, 1B, 1-3)
6. Wladimir Galindo, DH #1: 0-3 (6-3, HBP, K, K) 
7a. Kevonte Mitchell, RF: 1-2 (1B, K)
7b. Michael Foster, RF: 0-0 (BB, CS)
8a. Yeiler Peguero, SS: 0-2 (K, 4-3)
8b. Jhonny Bethencourt, 2B: 1-1 (2B)
9a. Ian Rice, C: 0-2 (K, K)
9b. Tyler Payne, C: 0-0 (BB, R)
9c. Jhonny Pereda, C: NO AB 
10. Isaac Paredes, DH-SS: 1-2 (BB, 4-3, 1B, R)

RIVERVIEW CUBS LINEUP
1. Donnie Dewees, CF: 5-5 (1B, 1B, 1B, 1B, 1B, 2 R, RBI, 3 SB)
2a. Andruw Monasterio, SS: 1-3 (2B, P-2, K, R, RBI)
2b. Luis Diaz, SS: 0-1 (K)
3. Ian Happ, 2B: 0-2 (4-3, BB, 4-3, BB, R, SB)
4. Eloy Jimenez, LF: 1-2 (BB, F-8 SF, 2B, E-6, RBI, SB)
5. Jason Vosler, 3B-1B: 0-3 (3-U, BB, 3-U, K)
6. Kwang-Min Kwon, RF: 1-4 (1B, 5-4 FC, K, 4-3, RBI, SB)
7a. Jose Paniagua, 1B: 0-3 (F-9, 3-1, K)
7b. Rafael Mejia, 3B: 0-1 (K) 
8a. Jonathan Sierra, DH: 0-3 (3-U, K, 6-3) 
8b. Yasiel Balaguert, PH: 1-1 (1B) 
8c. Chris Pieters, PR: NO AB (R, SB) 
9a. Gustavo Polanco, C: 0-1 (F-9)
9b. Vimael Machin, C: 0-1 (P-5) 
9c. Marcus Mastrobuoni, C: 0-2 (6-3, 5-3)

WRIGLEY CUBS PITCHERS
1. Gabriel Lima: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 1 WP, 2/0 GO/AO, 20 pitches (10 strikes) 
2. Junior Marte: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1/2 GO/AO, 11 pitches (7 strikes) 
3. Carson Sands: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 0/2 GO/AO, 19 pitches (10 strikes)
4. Justin Steele: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 2/0 GO/AO, 15 pitches (10 strikes)
5. Tyler Peitzmeier: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 11 pitches (8 strikes)
6. Ryan Kellogg: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1/0 GO/AO, 14 pitches (12 strikes)
7. Kyle Miller: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2/0 GO/AO, 10 pitches (8 strikes)
8. Adbert Alzolay: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1/0 GO/AO, 21 pitches (11 strikes)  
9. Mark Malave: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1/0 GO/AO, 15 pitches (12 strikes) 

RIVERVIEW CUBS PITCHERS
1. Oscar de la Cruz: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 19 pitches (13 strikes) 
2. Casey Bloomquist: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 1/0 GO/AO, 16 pitches (11 strikes) 
3. Jesus Camargo: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 1/1 GO/AO, 23 pitches (14 strikes) 
4. Scott Effross: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 1/0 GO/AO, 12 pitches (10 strikes) 
5. Corbin Hoffner: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2/1 GO/AO, 9 pitches (7 strikes) 
6. Enrique de los Rios: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 10 pitches (8 strikes) 
7. Craig Brooks: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 22 pitches (14 strikes)   
8. Dylan Cease: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP, 1 GIDP, 1/1 GO/AO, 24 pitches (13 strikes) 
9. David Berg: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/FO, 8 pitches (7 strikes) 

WRIGLEY CUBS ERRORS: 1 
SS Luis Diaz - E-6 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely) 

RIVERVIEW CUBS ERRORS: 3 
1. P Oscar de la Cruz -  E-1 (errant throw on pick-off attempt at 1st base allowed runner to advance to 3rd)
2. 2B Ian Happ - E-4 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely) 
3. C Vimael Machin- E-2 (dropped pop-up in foul territory extended batter's AB) 

WRIGLEY CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE
1. Ian Rice: 0-4 CS 
2. Jhonny Pereda  0-2 CS

RIVERVIEW CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE
1. Gustavo Polanco: 0-1 CS
2. Vimael Machin: 1 E (see above) 
3. Marcus Mastrobuoni: 1-1 CS

WRIGLEY CUBS OUTFIELD ASSISTS
1. LF Robert Garcia - threw out runner (Eloy Jimenez) 7-2 attempting to score from 2nd on single 
2. CF D. J. Wilson - doubled runner (Ian Happ) off 1st base 8-3 on attempted hit & run  

RIVERVIEW CUBS OUTFIELD ASSISTS
LF Eloy Jimenez - threw out batter (Jhonny Bethencourt) 7-5 trying to stretch double into triple  

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures 90+ 

ATTENDANCE: 15 (mostly scouts)

Comments

[ ]

In reply to by Hagsag

HAGSAG: Chris Pieters was sent to instructs to develop his hitting, bunting, and outfield play (he is already a decent first-baseman).  

Pieters is tall and rangy , a "long-strider" in the same mold as Trey Martin and Rashad Crawford. He is a very patient hitter (unusual for a hitter with his lack of experience) and has an outstanding (almost uncanny) eye at the plate, and he is a fast runner with unusually good baserunning instincts, and he is a good basestealer, too.

But he needs a lot of work in the outfield. He is very raw out there. He is fine at 1st base, but his speed and arm are wasted there, and he has no HR power, so 1st base really can't be an option for him going forward. . 

I would say he [projects as a lead-off hitter and (if he can learn how to play OF) a CF. But he is a work-in-progress. 

Still the fact that he has come this far in just six months tends to make me think he could develop into a decent postion-player prospect.; You don't see a pitcher get converted to outfielder very often. Diamondbacks outfielder David Peralta is probably the poster boy for that type of conversion. 

 

AZ Phil: Agree, this must have been a really fun game to watch. There was a lot of base stealing going on. Are the pitchers not holding runners or is the catching still a work in progress?

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

CUBSTER: One of the points of emphasis  at "basic" Instructs this year was teaching the position players the art of baserunning and base-stealing, like getting a good primary and seconday lead, reading the pitcher, cutting bases sharply, and different ways to slide to maximize the baserunner's chance to arrive safely. 

They also have been working a lot on situational hitting (like Happ hitting to the right-side of the infield in the bottom of the 1st to get Manasterio to 3rd with one out) and bunting (like the Dewees walk-off suicide-squeeze bunt single RBI). 

Pitchers have been spending a lot of time working on pick-off moves and keeping runners in check by use of the slide-step and varying the timing of the delivery.  

As for the catchers, most of them throw OK, but they are spending a lot of time on receiving skills (like blocking balls in the dirt and pitch framing), catching pop-ups, making tag plays at the plate, infield play -calls with runners on base. and improved interaction and communication with the pitcher. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

it's kind of mesmerizing to watch --- should Theo add some Ted Abernathy videos for minor league pitching coordinator's use? sadly, Ted passed away in 2004 from complications of Alzheimers. I always loved the Cub bullpen trio of Phil Regan, Ted Abernathy and Hank Aguirre. As a kid, I even worked on both Phil Regan (very quirky delivery) and Ted Abernathy (extreme submarine) imitations when throwing a rubber ball against a wall. It wasn't a good imitation unless I could scrape my knuckles off the ground. I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for submariners. http://tinyurl.com/qaulssq

Phil, were there any "breakout" players during the instructs this year?

Recent comments

  • 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.

  • crunch (view)

    dbacks are signing j.montgomery to a 1/25m with a vesting 20m player option.

    i dunno when the ink officially dries, but i believe if he signs once the season begins he can't be offered a QO...and i'm not sure if that thing with SD/LAD in korea was the season beginning, either.

  • crunch (view)

    sut says imanaga getting the home opener at wrigley (game 4 of the season).

  • crunch (view)

    cubs rolling out the who's who of "who the hell is this guy?" in the last spring game.

  • videographer (view)

    AZ Phil, speaking of Jordan Wicks having better command when he tires a bit, I remember reading about Dennis Lamp 40 years ago and his sinker that was better after 3 or 4 innings when he would tire a bit and get more sink with a little less speed on the pitch.  The key for Lamp was getting to the 4th inning.