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

Killer Bees Lead Cubs to Victory

Robert Hernandez threw three hitless innings and Dwayne Kemp drove in three runs with a sac fly, a triple, and a home run, leading the EXST Cubs to a 9-4 victory over the EXST Giants in Extended Spring Training action at Fitch Park Field #3 this morning.   

Hernandez, who is staying in shape at Fitch Park while serving a 50-game prohibited substance suspension, struck out three and walked one in his three innings of work. Hopefully the Peoria Chiefs are keeping his spot in their starting rotation warm, because the young Venezuelan has looked great so far at EXST, and he was really cookin' out there on the mound today.  

In EXST roster news, prized 18-year old Venezuelan RHP prospect Larry Suarez underwent season-ending elbow surgery last week, 1B Bryan Jost (who had season-ending knee surgery while assigned to the AZ Instructional League last October) is now nursing a groin or quad injury, and 2B-OF Jeffrey Rea (who has been at EXST rehabbing a sore arm) was supposed to leave for Peoria tomorrow, but unfortunately for him (and good for somebody struggling at Peoria) he has had his promotion postponed probably until sometime next week after suffering a quad strain while running the bases in yesterday's game. And OF Brandon Guyer (fractured elbow rehab) is still unable to throw, although he can swing the bat OK and has been used as a DH. Guyer is a Matt Murton clone.  

Also, the reason 1B Marc Sawyer (2007 15th round draft pick out of Yale) did not report to Minor League Camp last month is because he decided to retire. I guess the value of an Ivy League degree exceeds a .203 batting average at Boise, so perhaps he found he could make more money doing anything other than playing minor league baseball for four or five grand a year.

Here is today's abridged box score (Cubs players only):

LINEUP:
1. Elvis Lara, DH #1: 1-5 (1-3, 6-3, 3B-RBI + R, 1-3, Ks)
2. Starlin Castro, SS: 1-4 (1-3, Ks, 3B-RBI, F-9)
3. John Contreras, 3B: 0-3 (1-3, 6-3, F-9, BB)
4a. Nelson Perez, RF: 1-3 (6-3, 1B + R, F-7)
4b. Drew Rundle, RF: 0-1 (6-4 FC + SB)
5. Roberto Sabates, DH #2: 2-3 (1B, BB+ R, F-9, 1B)
6. Luke Sommer, 1B: 0-3 (F-8, BB + R, F-8, F-7)
7. Andres Quezada, CF: 2-4 (F-8, 1B-RBI + R, 6-3, 1B + R)
8. Kevin Soto, LF: 3-4 (Ks, 1B-RBI, 1B + R, 2B)
9. Dwayne Kemp, 2B: 2-3 (3B, 6-4-3 GIDP, TWO RUN HR, F-7 SF-RBI) 
10. Jose Guevara, C: 0-3 (Kc, BB + R, 4-3, 4-3)

PITCHING:
1. Arik Hempy - 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 WP, 1 GIDP
2. Jim Henderson - 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
3. Robert Hernandez - 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
4. Yohan Gonzalez - 2.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 0 BB, 2 K
5. Julio Pena - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP 

ERROR (1):
Dwayne Kemp (overthrow at 1st while attempting to complete 5-4-3 DP allowed batter-runner to advance extra base)

OUTFIELD ASSISTS:
LF Kevin Soto (7-2, runner thrown out at home trying to score from 2nd base on line single to LF)
RF Nelson Perez (9-4-5, runner thrown out at 3rd base trying to stretch RBI double into triple)

BASERUNNING ADVENTURES:
Dwayne Kemp was thrown out 8-6-2 trying to stretch triple into inside-the-park HR.

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Jose Guevara: 0-2 CS, 2 PB 

WEATHER: Hot & sunny, temp in 80's

ATTENDANCE: 4 (including Orkin pest control guy, who was there to try and neutralize an agitated Africanized "Killer Bee" hive located in a tree next to Field #4).

SAGE ADVICE FROM AZ PHIL: Speaking from personal experience, Killer Bees will chase a person up to a half-mile, so once they decide they don't like you, the best thing to do is cover your head, keep runnin', and don't stop!

Comments

arik hempy. now there's a guy who would sell jerseys...or be a co-star character on spongebob. -edit- he's local to here (central NC)...didnt know. also had his elbow reconstructed while a junior in college. http://www.beaconortho.com/success_Hempy.htm check out the sidebar links to success stories...cubs, ex-cubs, and a HGH using almost-cub on that list.

By that do you mean he plants his right foot at the back of the batters box and his left foot at the front in full immobile stretch and then waves weakly at the ball with his arms until an infield groundball issues from his bat?

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

matt murton has 1904873894732894 batting stances. most of his stances/bat-grips the past year+ have been immobilizing stuff to keep him from flailing at outside stuff he knows he can contact, but doesn't make great contact with. he doesnt seem to be choking up on the bat as much with his current stance and it is deep, but i've not seem him all straddled motionless in the box. still...whatever he's rocking now (and in AAA it seems) isn't producing the lift or keeping him from offering at the outside stuff he don't contact for power.

Submitted by wvcbxl on Thu, 04/24/2008 - 3:54am.

Dwayne Kemp seems to have had a busy day. Any early thoughts on how he seems to be adjusting to playing in the US?

=======================

WVCBXL: Dwayne Kemp is doing fine. He is a pretty good hitter, sort of a right-handed version of Mike Fontenot. He plays with a LOT of energy, and while he runs OK, he's not quite as fast as I thought he would be (again, just like Fontenot).

He has struggled a bit defensively at 2B, which is why the Cubs have occasionally played him in LF at EXST. But to make it, he needs to be able to play 2B.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

" But to make it, he needs to be able to play 2B. " I figured as much from when he played in the Dutch league (where he did quite well as 2B, but at a level not comparable quite comparable to pro ball in the US). He has baseball pedigree though: his dad played, and is curently still coaching in the Netherlands - it's been reported he's the one that held him back a year from going to the States. Tip for the future: apparantly Dwayne has a five year old brother called Tyriq who's nuts about baseball and already raking the ball. Remember the name ;-)

I think it's kinda farcical that a suspended player can still gain experience by playing in extended Spring games. If baseball was truely serious about it's drug policy, it would not allow suspended players near any training facility without additional penalty.

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.