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

Some Other Things…

Please feel free to digest the Todd Wellemeyer trade and Marquis Grissom retirement in the post below, but I had to mention that... - Roberto Novoa has recovered from his bout with "valley fever" and will likely see Cactus League action before the team breaks camp on Thursday. - Dusty Baker has decided on who will get the bulk of the playing time at 2b, but he's not telling. Nana, nana, boo-boo - 6:1 odds that Dusty Baker is the first NL manager fired this year. Any takers? Only Bob Melvin of Arizona is a safer bet among NL managers. - Glendon Rusch goes against the Mariners today in Cactus League action.

Comments

What are the odds on Hendry getting the AX as well. I think Dusty is more obviously inept, but Hendry has failed to bring in that marquee player 2 years in a row...

hey, that link says 6:1 odds that dusty is the FIRST NL manager fired i'm pretty sure. that seems to make a lot more sense here's my take on grissom retiring, mainly a repost from the end of the other thread. 1) pagan is a lock to be on the team 2) who gets the 6th bench spot? theriot, dopirak, sing, restovich? my vote is for dopirak. we don't need another middle infielder (theriot). our bench isn't awful, but there's really no power bat. dopirak, while i won't expect a ton at his age, should be that guy, when you need a homer. he deserves this spot more than anyone, at least for the first month until we "need" a 12th pitcher again. also, with lee's shoulder/possible grandparent funeral coming up, might as well have someone who can help keep mabry out of the infield. restovich I would pick over theriot as well, but makes less sense than dopirak. even if restovich can play a legit 1B, he doesn't have any power, and that's a major flaw with this cubs bench. my guess is it will be restovich. let's just hope dusty has lost macias' cell number. and that macias has lost his oh-so-valuable emergency catcher's glove.

hey, that link says 6:1 odds that dusty is the FIRST NL manager fired i'm pretty sure. that seems to make a lot more sense Poor wording on my part I suppose, let me clarify it. Thanks.

There is no way you hinder Dopirak's development by carrying him on the bench. He has not played in AA even.

I would take Restovich or Sing right now only cause we're in desperate need of some power off the bench. A late inning homer isn't a bad thing, we have enough contact/speed/versatile guys as is...

It looks like Rusch is having another rough start. Is anyone listening to the game?

are the cubs flailing away at king felix's offerings? i think i got sing and dopirak a little messed up. I'll take either of them over restovich/theriot for the next month. we need bench power. theriot is the last thing this team needs on its bench. he's more of the same right now. restovich is alright, but a) he doesn't have power and b) we sure have enough outfielders (mabry/hairston/pagan), so that "asset" of his relative to sing/dopirak doesn't help the cubs right now.

some guy named Oldham was pitching for the Mariners.... I believe Restovich, Pagan, Theriot and Mabry are all in the lineup as well.

I was under the impression that "pop" would be the main attribute that Restovich would bring. Isn't he like 6'4 260?

Also for those interested, it seems that Corey Patterson was all-but-a-lock to take over CF for the Orioles ten days ago, but Luis Matos (who was on the block) is hitting .393 and probably won his job back. The Baltimore Sun says,
Corey Patterson // Too many fly balls, too many hacks at first pitches. He's an attentive student in batting practice, but it seems taking tests isn't his strength.
As that .242 batting average attests. So far, new scenery=same old Korey.

Roberto Novoa has recovered from his bout with ìvalley feverî But has he recovered from the "Can't Hit the Ocean with Spit" flu? I was under the impression that "pop" would be the main attribute that Restovich would bring. Isn't he like 6'4 260? Indeed, power is about all Restovich brings to the table. He's a low contact .230/.330/.460 guy with a big platoon split that's favorable against lefthanders. If you stuff him and JJ into one uniform you'd have a terrific sequel to The Thing with Two Heads and a platoon that might drag the Cubs within the vicinity of RF league average.

So now Grissom is gone, and the Dusty bashers wasted all their energy crying about how much Dusty weas going to use him. Just another thing Dusty bashers were wrong about.

Are you using Grissom's sudden retirement as a defense of Dusty's management style? I don't follow. The only thing it does is make sure nobody can be proven wrong about what Dusty would have done.

Angel Pagan just blasted a 3 run homerun to tie the game.

Brick: "Are you using Grissom's sudden retirement as a defense of Dusty's management style? I don't follow. The only thing it does is make sure nobody can be proven wrong about what Dusty would have done." There have been many Dusty bashers who have been complaing about Grissom definately making the team and playing too much because Dusty plays only vets, etc. Well, Grissom did not make the team, so I am pointing out they rushed to judgement bashing Dusty AGAIN.

So now Grissom is gone, and the Dusty bashers wasted all their energy crying about how much Dusty weas going to use him. Just another thing Dusty bashers were wrong about. What are you talking about MannyT? Baker wasted 40 AB's on Grissom this spring. He was treated like a starter even though he could barely move. Only nine other players had more at bats. And as I pointed out earlier today, he's got more AB's to this point than Pie, Pagan, and Greenburg.

yeah, sorry, i'm going to have to go with grissom saving us from dusty rather than the other way round. given how he was used all spring -- and dusty's accomodative comments about "spring being for the young" and all that -- it seems very clear he was being given every opportunity to make the club. he chose not to, thank god.

Michael Barrett rides a 3-2 fastball over the wall in left. Cubs take 4-3 lead. Wind blowing out today.

CWTP: "Baker wasted 40 AB's on Grissom this spring." You are crying over 40 ST AB's?? If so, then you should also be pissed at Hendry as he wasted a spot in ST on Grissom too. But anyways, Pie and Greenberg had basically no shot of winning a spot on the team and Pagan played his way on the team. Grissom was playing for a spot on the team as Hendry gave him that shot when he brought him in to camp. What should Baker do, give him 10AB's?? That wouldn't be very fair. I persaonlly agree he should of never been brought into camp and we all should be blaming HENDRY 100% for that, but when a guy is brought into camp, he is told by the GM he will be given a shot. He was and he did not play good and he is gone.

Has anyone thought about the possibility that Hendry and/or Baker told Grissom he was not going to make the team and that to save face he might just want to announce his retirement? That happens a lot with coaches asked to quit beofre being fired. They are asked to resign. We will never know what happened, but that clearly is a possibility. But even so, Grissom should of never even been in camp in the first place (Shame on Hendry!!). But Baker gave him his shot and he couldn't do it, so rightfully Grissom is gone.

I agree that Grissom saved us from Grissom. He should be commended. On a different note, I don't know if this is against the rules here but I have a few openings in my yahoo fantasy baseball league. 10 teams, mostly Cubs fans, head to head, standard 5x5 scoring. Live draft tonight at 7pm CT. League ID#: 235753 League Name: Duck Fusty Password: dacubs thanks!

Anybody read the cubs.com article about Grissom retiring? It makes it sound as if Grissom knew that Baker was going to put him on the 25 man instead of Pagan (the more deserving candidate) and so he retired to give Pagan a shot. Muskat really spins it as if Grissom was saving all of us Cubs fan the pain and agony of Baker trying to use him (bc that's almost certainly what would've happened). Maybe Grissom envisioned himself as a bench guy/platoon player and got really scared in camp bc he saw that Dusty wanted to play him everyday!!

But even so, Grissom should of never even been in camp in the first place (Shame on Hendry!!). But Baker gave him his shot and he couldn't do it, so rightfully Grissom is gone. You're going to say "shame on Hendry" for doing something every GM in baseball does by giving a washed up veteran one last chance to prove himself. What on earth can you possibly say was the downside of what Hendry did? But then, even though you say Grissom shouldn't have even been given a chance, you say Dusty was perfectly right by giving him among the most ABs on the team! In fact, he had 30% more at bats than Angel Pagan - someone who obviously did have a chance to make the team! So Dusty should be praised for giving a lot of ABs to someone who shouldn't have been on the team in the first place? Thanks for the laugh.

Grissom was being auditioned to see if he had anything left in the tank, of course he was going to get AB's. Pie and Greenberg weren't going to make the team anyway and god bless they don't. Greenberg is nothing special and Pie still needs a bit more minor league seasoning and if he's lucky, Baker gone and a manager who knows how to develop rookies when he is ready for the show. Baker was calling for Grissom to make the roster just a few days ago because of his veteran moxy, I certainly believe this is a case of Grissom saving us from ourselves Calling out Hendry for bringing him into camp is ridiculous. The guy has hit lefties well in the past and is the veteran presence that Baker has been bitching about since Eric Karros left. It was an NRI, it didn't cost the Cubs ANYTHING and no one is going to care about this tomorrow. If anything, let's start applauding Hendry for picking up Angel Pagan on the cheap. This is what spring training is all about.

I think it's likely that Ryan Theriot will be the temporary 14th position player (25th man) the first couple of weeks of the season, until the Cubs need a 5th starter on April 15th, at which time Theriot will be sent to Iowa. Theriot is an athletic defender, can play 2B-SS-3B as well as the OF, he can PR, and he also has excellent plate discipline and can draw a walk leading off an inning as a pinch-hitter (He has nine walks in 29 PA and a .433 OBP this Spring, even though he is only hitting .200). I can't see Dusty going with an 11-man pitching staff (six-man bullpen) once the 5th starter is recalled. A six-man bullpen is not Dusty's style. Dusty likes a seven-man bullpen. So if the Cubs add Restovich to the 40-man roster for only two weeks as the temporary 14th position player, just until the #5 starter is needed, there are three problems with that: 1. Restovich is out of options, and would have to clear irrevocable waivers to get sent down. 2. Restovich has been outrighted once before in his career, so if the Cubs outright him again, even if he clears waivers, he can be a FA. 3. A guy like Restovich probably signed a minor league split contract, where he gets a higher salary once he is added to the 25-man regular season roster, probably $600,000 (major league) versus $150,000 (minor league). It would be better to have Restovich playing everyday at AAA while making "minor league money," as insurance in case Derrek Lee, Matt Murton, or Jacque Jones get hurt and miss an extended period. That's where Restovich would be most valuable, as an experienced Plan "B" right-handed platoon with John Mabry at 1B, in LF, or in RF. A two-week temp gig off the bench in April isn't worth it. Now, if Dusty decides to go with 11 pitchers indefinitely (past April 15th), THEN there would be a place for Restovich hitting off the bench. But somehow I can't see Dusty doing that, especially with three pitchers (Wood, Prior, and Miller) probably returning from the DL in May and June, and not being able to shoulder a full-workload of pitching for a while.

other then the potential salary issues, Restovich couldn't find a home all winter, so I doubt we'd have many problems having him clear waivers or trying to latch onto another team.

I hope DLee is just going through a mourning stage right now... let's hope that he hits better when the season starts... he looked bad today, but can you really blame him? Hey AZPhil, could you clarify Pagan's roster situation?

#32 of 32: By KarlH (March 28, 2006 07:07 PM) I hope DLee is just going through a mourning stage right now... let's hope that he hits better when the season starts... he looked bad today, but can you really blame him? Hey AZPhil, could you clarify Pagan's roster situation? -- KARLH: I would think Angel Pagan has certainly made the 25-man Opening Day roster and will be kept on it past April 15th, when the 5th starter is added. The only thing standing in Pagan's way of doing that was the decomposing body of Marquis Grissom, and that has been removed. If such time arises sometime this season where the Cubs decide they want to send Pagan to AAA, he has two options left.

Restovich has really tanked at the plate. 13 K's (versus 10 hits) and .204 .250 .367 what's to like?

#35 of 35: By cubswinthepennant (March 28, 2006 07:16 PM) Restovich has really tanked at the plate. 13 K's (versus 10 hits) and .204 .250 .367 what's to like? --- CWtP: Restovich has swung & missed more than any player in camp, but he also has displayed plus-power at times (when he isn't striking out!). So I suspect Hendry still probably values Restovich as an experienced Plan "B" RF-LF-1B option he'd like to maintain at Iowa in case Lee, Murton, or Jones go on the DL at some point in the season. But I just can't see Restovich making the Opening Day 25-man roster, for the reasons I listed in Post #30.

Is it just me or does the fact that historically slow starting D Lee has missed so much time this spring worry anyone else?

E: Cedeno 2 (4, throw, throw) okay...so both errors were throws. seriously...what is up with that. if there's anything anyone can agree on about cedeno, its that his glove AND arm are both high-end plus pieces to his game. since he showed up to winter ball, his arm has been sketchy as hell and its continued into spring. very odd...

I'm worried... very worried that the Cubs will go on a 5 game winning streak in April or May and Dusty will be given an extension.

cedeno's being fooled greatly by breaking pitches...swinging wildly at them or making crap contact. his arm is being unpredictable. he could literally play himself out of a job this week if he keeps it up. its his D that earned him promotions through the cubs system to begin with. dusty said the job is his, but what cedeno is doing lately isnt helping his case. neifi is hitting better, especially the last two weeks, but that has little to do with it from where i'm standing. cedeno's glove and contact hitting is what earned him the nod to begin with...if that's a question...then what? hopefully cedeno can find his arm and keep sucking up balls hit toward him...a few good contact hits would help the cause, too.

I really don't see much upside of Cedeno starting of Neifi. I really don't think that Ronny will hit much better and we know he won't field as well.

thnx phil...ive only seen him in 3 spring games and just culled that with what ive seen vs. reports from winter ball. that info helps a lot. neifi/cedeno are pretty much locked in as 'the' guys this year...i understand the nod to cedeno, and prefer it to start the year, but i'm concerned about cedeno's locked-in tools suddenly dissapearing more than i'm worried about his hitting. rushing throws cuz of excitement or not knowing his runners is a hell of a lot better than chuck knoblouch disease.

prior threw 30 from 60ft. today, no pain...flat ground.

AZ Phil: "Restovich has swung & missed more than any player in camp, but he also has displayed plus-power at times (when he isn't striking out!)." So basically he is Jason Dubois?? WOO!! WOO!!

MANNY T: Yes, he is basically Jason Dubois.

FUTURE HEADLINE: Baker Benches Cedeno after 12 errors and .220 avg in April...Baker Bashers say "I told you Baker never play youngsters" Cedeno is on the verge of pulling a Bobby Hill. Had the job given to him and then CHOKES it up in ST, both at the plate AND in the field. I can see a short hook now might be in order with Cedeno and rigthfully so. He should get a few weeks into teh season, but if he can't right this ship, they will have to turn to Neifi to at least get GG defense out there.

dubois has a ton more power...and sadly is wilder, too. dub's got some unreal power, but one of the ugliest swings ive seen in my life. cleveland's spending a lot of time with him. they brought him up for like a month and 1/2 without giving him a single a/b just for the sake of coaching him in the bigs. he's ripping up spring, but he's still a longshot to find a starting job. he could steal some ab's if he sticks or if he learns 1st base. at least he's in a DH league now.

Manny T: That is very possible. That very well could happen

This is good news. I would like to see Pagan and Ryu make the team, and the possibility has been brought up that J.Williams could end up in the pen making room for Marshall or Guzman in the rotation for the season.

Heck, it could be Rob Deer for all I care, but right now our bench consists of: Neifi/Ronny Hairston/Walker Pagan Blanco Mabry Call me crazy but a guy who could actually hit a homer late in the game might be a better idea over another guy who'll make contact, but hit it no more then 150 feet. I don't think Restovich is anything special but him or Sing would serve a far greater purpose over Theriot on the team as it stands at the moment.

Rob G.- I agree wioth you on that. If it is between Theriot and Restovich, I would pick Restovich, but I hope we can come up with a better option that Jason Dubois Jr.

I wouldn't be shocked to see Hendry go and pick-up a scrap heap outfielder, ala a Ben Grieve, to fill out the bench instead of using Restovich. We'll just have to see what else comes through the waiver wire in the next few days. It would be nice if Hendry could have gone out and got a better power bat for the bench without having to worry about them replacing Murton in the lineup because of their veteran moxie. Of course, despite not needing a 5th starter for several weeks, I'm not totally convinced the Cubs still won't break camp with 12 pitchers.

aardvark, a.guzman, ryu optioned to AAA...casey kop. to minor league camp...roster at 30.

Restovich, Dubois, whatever.... If they were flawless, they'd be starters, but at least they serve a purpose. I'd try Sing cause even if all he can do is hit a fastball, that's 50% of most reliever's repetoires. At least he's got good patience and a decent eye (of course so does Restovich). Of course I'd trade for Craig Wilson, but if they're holding onto him for a veteran righty, there's really nothing the Cubs could offer....

I agree wioth you on that. If it is between Theriot and Restovich, I would pick Restovich, but I hope we can come up with a better option that Jason Dubois Jr. Theriot can basically do everything Neifi can, minus the showy aspects of his defense, plus about 40 pts. of OBP. But he doesn't make 2.5 mil, so having him on the team is redundant. Restovich isn't Clemente out there, but he isn't as bad as Snowshoes Dubois. I don't see that the issues Phil listed are dealbreakers, since I don't see anytime this year when the Cubs aren't going to need a lefty-mashing backup RF/1B/PH, so I'm not seeing why they would have to option him. Pierre doesn't take many days off and Pagan will be turning into an orange orb with a stem by the time the team plane passes over Kankakee, so there's your roster flexibility right there.

Talking about Sing, didn't he get sent down awhile ago? Someone threw me off by mentioning him earlier, so he's not an option. Looks like it will come down to Restovich or Theriot and Marshall, Hill, Koronka, Wuertz and possibly Novoa I suppose, although I guess he's around just to get in a game or two before Opening Day.

Also Wood and Prior put on DL. From same press release about roster cuts.

So since they are on DL, does that mean roster is down to 28 now?? Ryan Dempster Scott Eyre Rich Hill Bob Howry John Koronka Greg Maddux Sean Marshall Roberto Novoa Will Ohman Glendon Rusch Jerome Williams Scott Williamson Michael Wuertz Carlos Zambrano Michael Barrett Henry Blanco Ronny Cedeno Derrek Lee Neifi Perez Aramis Ramirez Ryan Theriot Todd Walker Jerry Hairston Jacque Jones John Mabry Matt Murton Angel Pagan Juan Pierre Novoa has been out most of ST, so he won't make final cut as he will go on DL. So that leaves 2 more cuts (Theriot and Koronka/Marshall/WEurtz).

the press release said 30 right now, I believe Wade Miller is still one of them, certain to be put on the DL and Restovich is the other one that should be on that list.

novoa was back in camp and throwing (not off the mound) in case it hasnt been mentioned. he's supposedly over (or close enough to over) his illness. in other injury news, seattle's j.reed who's been on the shelf a while with a broken wrist...well, they found out its not broken and he's resumed baseball activities.

The official MLB service times out of the NL Green Book are out for all the players. Here are the one that are less than 6 years. Zambrano - 4.042 Pierre - 5.056 Prior - 3.131 Hairston - 5.138 Ohman - 3.040 Williams - 2.075 Wuertz - 1.086 Aardsma - 0.062 Cedeno - 0.108 Dopirek - 0.000 Guzman - 0.000 Hill - 0.061 Koronka - 0.046 Marmol - 0.000 Marshall - 0.000 Moore - 0.000 Murton - 0.087 Novoa - 0.169 Pagan - 0.000 Pie- 0.000 Reyes - 0.000 Ryu - 0.000 Soto - 0.027 Theriot - 0.021 Miller - 4.127 (thru 2004) Restovich - 1.123 (thru 2004)

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.