81 Cubs Minor Leaguers Punch Tickets to Mesa

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 09/19/2016 - 09:10 pm

81 Cubs minor leaguers will be reporting to the Cubs Under Armour Performance Center at Mesa Riverview Park over the next few days. 

57 of the players have been assigned to the "basic" (traditional) Cubs AZ Instructional League squad, 17 have been assigned to the "advanced" Instructs squad, and seven have been assigned to the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League.  


The "advanced" Instructs squad (actually a Cubs/Angels "co-op" team) will be playing games against other organizations, but the "basic" squad will be playing "sim" games and intrasquad games only.

Not including players who attended AZ Instructs last year and/or Extended Spring Training earlier this year, eight minor leaguers who played for the DSL Cubs #1 or DSL Cubs #2 in 2016 will be making their U. S. debut at Instructs this month. However, there are no 2016-17 Cubs IFA making their pro debut at Instructs this year. (Eight 2015-16 Cubs IFA made their pro debut at Instructs last year). 

All of the Cubs 2016 draft picks are attending instructs except for RHP Bailey Clark (5th round - Duke), RHP Michael Rucker (11th round - BYU), LHP Colton Freeman (20th round - U. of Alabama), 2B Trent Giambrone (25th round - Delta State), and OF Tolly Filotei (38th round - Faulkner State CC). Also, RHP Thomas Hatch (2016 3rd round - Oklahoma State), RHP Stephen Ridings (2016 8th round pick - Haverford), and RHP Tyler Peyton (2016 29th round - U. of Iowa) will be making their pro debut.  

The 23 players who finished their seasons either at Eugene (Northwest League Champions) or at Myrtle Beach (Carolina League Mills Cup Champs) will be arriving late. 

About a dozen injured players will be assigned to the UAPC for rehab (TBA), and it is possible that several post-season eligible Cubs players who are not included on the NLDS 25-man active roster could be assigned to the Angels/Cubs Advanced Instructs co-op team after the conclusion of the MLB regular season to get game reps and stay in playing shape.    

Here are the Cubs instructs rosters: 

FIELD STAFF 
Tim Cossins, Field Coordinator
Jim Brower, Pitching Coordinator  
Dave Keller, Latin American Field Coordinator 
Andy Haines, Hitting Coordinator
Jose Flores, Infield Coordinator  
Doug Dascenzo, Outfield & Baserunning Coordinator 
Mike Mason, Assistant Pitching Coordinator
Tom Beyers, Assistant Hitting Coordinator 
Juan Cabreja, Infield Coach 
Jose Cueto, Pitching Coach 
Jeremey Farrell, Hitting Coach 
Jesus Feliciano, Hitting & Outfield Coach 
Armando Gabino, Pitching Coach 
Carmelo Martinez, Hitting Coach 
Guillermo Martinez, Hitting Coach 
Osmin Melendez, Infield Coach 
Jonathan Mota, Infield Coach 
Mike Roberts, Baserunning Coach 
Jovanny Rosario, Outfield Coach 
Lance Rymel, Catching Coach 
Ron Villone, Pitching Coach 
Ty Wright, Hitting & Outfield Coach 
Jose Zapata, Pitching Coach 

TRAINERS: 
Chuck Baughman, Rehab Coordinator 
Mike McNulty, Trainer 
Logan Severson, Trainer 
Sean Folan, Trainer 

STRENTGH & CONDITIONING 
Doug Jarrow, Strength & Conditioning Coordinator 
Ryan Clausen, Strength & Conditioning Coach 
Mike McGrew, Strength & Conditioning Coach 
Jason Morriss, Strength & Conditioning Coach 
Dallas Lopez, Strenth & Conditioning Coach 


2016 CUBS AZ INSTRUCTIONAL LEAGUE ROSTER (basic squad): 

57 players

* bats or throws left 
# bats both

PITCHERS: 29 
Jose Albertos 
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad 
Holden Cammack 
Jed Carter 
* Faustino Carrera (2016 DSL - making U. S. debut)
Alfredo Colorado (2016 DSL - making U. S. debut))
Hector Garcia (2016 DSL - was at EXST this year and AZL last year) 
Fauris Guerrero (2016 DSL - making U. S. debut) 
Thomas Hatch (2016 3rd round pick - Signed for Future Service - making pro debut)
Chad Hockin 
* Marc Huberman 
* Bryan Hudson 
* Brailyn Marquez (2016 DSL - making U. S. debut)
Junior Marte 
Dakota Mekkes  
Tyson Miller 
Carlos Ocampo (2016 DSL - making U. S. debut) 
* Jose Paulino 
Yunior Perez (2016 DSL - making U. S. debut))
Tyler Peyton (2016 29th round pick - placed on 60-day DL after signing - making pro debut) 
Eury Ramos (2016 DSL - was at Instructs last year) 
Stephen Ridings (2016 8th round pick - placed on 60-day DL after signing - making pro debut)
Duncan Robinson 
* Manuel Rondon 
* Wyatt Short 
Ho-Young Son (ex-INF - was converted to RHP at EXST)
Matt Swarmer
Nathan Sweeney
 
CATCHERS: 6 
Miguel Amaya (2016 DSL - was at EXST this year)
* Michael Cruz 
Carlos Diaz 
Jhonny Pereda 
Gustavo Polanco 
Sam Tidaback 

INFIELDERS: 12 
* Aramis Ademan (SS – 2016 DSL - was at EXST this year)
Luis Diaz (2B – 2016 DSL - was at Instructs last year) 
Wladimir Galindo (3B)
Rafael Mejia (1B)
Andruw Monasterio (SS)
Christopher Morel (3B)
Rafael Narea (SS - 2016 DSL - was at EXST in 2015 & 2016) 
Isaac Paredes (SS)
# Yonathan Perlaza (3B - 2016 DSL - was at EXST this year)
# Yeiler Peguero (2B)
Zack Short (SS) 
Delvin Zinn (2B) 

OUTFIELDERS: 10
* Luis Ayala (CF)
Zach Davis (CF)
# Jose Gutierrez (CF - 2016 DSL - making U. S. debut) 
# Fernando Kelli (CF - 2016 DSL - making U. S. debut)
* Kwang-Min Kwon (RF)
Connor Myers (CF)
* Chris Pieters (LF)
* Abraham Rodriguez (LF - 2016 DSL - was at EXST this year)
* Jonathan Sierra (RF - 2016 DSL - was at Instructs last year and EXST this year)  
* D. J. Wilson (CF)

++++++++++++++++++++++++

2016 ANGELS/CUBS CO-OP ADVANCED AZ INSTRUCTIONAL LEAGUE ROSTER

17 Cubs players 

* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 10
Dylan Cease 
Jared Cheek
Oscar de la Cruz  
Kyle Miller  
* Jordan Minch  
Tommy Nance  
James Norwood  
* Carson Sands  
* Justin Steele 
Jen-Ho Tseng  

CATCHERS: 3
P. J. Higgins  
* Alberto Mineo  
Ian Rice  

INFIELDERS: 2
* Carlos Sepulveda (2B) 
* Jason Vosler (3B)   

OUTFIELDERS: 2
* Donnie Dewees (CF) 
Eddy Julio Martinez (RF)

There will also be about 15 Angels players on the roster - TBA 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CUBS PLAYERS ASSIGNED TO 2016 MESA SOLAR SOX (AFL)
# Victor Caratini, C 
Ryan McNeil, P
Steve Perakslis, P  
James Farris, P 
# Ian Happ, 2B
Eloy Jimenez, OF 
Duane Underwood Jr, P 

MESA SOLAR SOX PITCHING COACH:
Brian Lawrence 

Tags
Cubs AZ Instructional League
Arizona Fall League

Comments

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 09/19/2016 - 09:02 pm

LHRP Jack Leathersich is the first Cubs minor leaguer eligible to be a free-agent post-2016 to sign a 2017 minor league successor contract. However, he will be eligible for selection in the 2016 Rule 5 Draft if he is not added to the Cubs MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) by 11/20. 

Here are the other Cubs minor leaguers who can be free-agents post-2016:

LAST UPDATED: 9-15-2016

POST-2016 ARTICLE XX-D MINOR LEAGUE FREE-AGENT
Ryan Kalish, OF
NOTE: Player can file for free-agency beginning on the day after the conclusion of the 2016 MLB regular season up until 5 PM (Eastern) on October 15th.

POST-2016 ARTICLE XIX-A MINOR LEAGUE FREE-AGENT:
NONE

MLB RULE 55 FREE-AGENT

POST-2016 SIX-YEAR MINOR LEAGUE FREE-AGENTS:
Lane Adams, OF
Gioskar Amaya, C
Jeffry Antigua, LHP
Scott Barnes, LHP
Frank Batista, RHP
Kelly Dugan, OF
Stephen Fife, RHP
David Freitas, C
Matt Murton, OF
Kristopher Negron, INF
Manny Parra, LHP
Starling Peralta, RHP
Juan Carlos Perez, OF
Jose Rosario, RHP
Joe Thatcher, LHP
Logan Watkins, INF

SECOND CONTRACT MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS (see NOTE below)
Luis Aquino, RHP (previously released by CLE)
Cole Brocker, RHP (previously released by ATL)
Aaron Crow, RHP (previously non-tendered by MIA)
Yan de la Cruz, RHP (previously released by HOU)
Elvis Diaz, RHP (previously released by BAL)
Miguel Estevez, RHP (previously released by CIN)
Brian Matusz, LHP (reviously released by ATL)
Miguel Mejia, RHP (previously released by DET)
Drew Rucinski, RHP (previously released by CLE)
Nick Sarianides, RHP (previously released by AZ)
Robert Severino, RHP (previously released by SEA)
NOTE: With mutual consent (player & club), a second-contract minor league player who has accrued fewer than seven minor league seasons (six contract renewals) can be signed to a multi-year minor league contract with club control extending up through the player's seventh minor league season. So it is possible that one or more of the Cubs minor league second contract players are signed beyond the 2016 season (TBD)

TYPES OF MINOR LEAGUE FREE-AGENTS:

ARTICLE XX-D: Any MLB player who has accrued at least three years of MLB service time, or who was eligible for Salary Arbitration as a "Super Two" after the previous season, and/or who has been outrighted previously in his career, has the right to be a free-agent if the player is outrighted to the minors. The player can exercise this right upon being outrighted, or (but only in the case of a player who has accrued at least three years of MLB Service Time and/or has been outrighted to the minors previously in his career) he can opt to defer the right until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season (he is given three days to decide if he is outrighted during Spring Training or the MLB regular season, and he has eight days to make up his mind if he is outrighted during the off-season). If a player eligible to be a free-agent under Article XX-D elects to be a free-agent immediately after being outrighted, the player's contract is terminated and the player receives no termination pay. (Because unsigned players do not receive termination pay, players eligible to be minor league free-agents under Article XX-D who are outrighted during the off-season before being tendered a contract for the following season almost always opt for free-agency immediately). But if the outrighted player accepts the Outright Assignment, the player's existing contract remains in force, and the player can elect free-agency beginning on the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season up through October 15th. (A player who had the option to elect free-agency upon being outrighted only because he had been eligible for Salary Arbitration as a "Super Two" after the previous season does NOT have the right to defer free-agency until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season). However, an outrighted player who deferred the right to be an Article XX-D minor league free-agent until the conclusion of the MLB regular season is NOT eligible to be a free-agent if the player is added back to an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) prior to the conclusion of the MLB regular season. EXAMPLE: Ryan Kalish

ARTICLE XIX-A: Any MLB player who has accrued at least five years of MLB service time (or any international player with Article XIX-A contractual rights) has the right to be a free-agent if the player is optioned or outrighted to the minors. The player can exercise this right upon being optioned or outrighted to the minors, or he can defer the right until after the conclusion of the MLB regular season (he is given three days to decide if he is optioned or outrighted during Spring Training or the MLB regular season, and he has eight days to make up his mind if he is outrighted during the off-season). If a player eligible to be a free-agent under Article XIX-A elects to be a free-agent immediately after being optioned or outrighted, the player's contract is terminated and the player receives no termination pay. (Because unsigned players do not receive termination pay, players eligible to be minor league free-agents under Article XIX-A who are outrighted during the off-season before being tendered a contract for the following season almost always opt for free-agency immediately). But if the player accepts the Optional or Outright Assignment, the player's existing contract remains in force, and the player can elect free-agency beginning on the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season up through October 15th. However, an Article XIX-A player who deferred the right to be an Article XX-D minor league free-agent until the conclusion of the MLB regular season is NOT eligible to be a free-agent if the player is added back to an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) prior to the conclusion of the MLB regular season.
NOTE: There are none at this time.

MLB RULE 55: Sometimes called a "Six-Year Minor League Free-Agent," an unsigned minor league player is automatically declared a free-agent at 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series if the player has had his first contract renewed six times and has spent all or any part of at least seven separate seasons on a minor league roster (including all or parts of any season spent on Optional Assignment to the minors), and/or if the player has been previously released or non-tendered in his career and his present contract (known as a "second contract" even if it's his third or fourth minor league contract) has expired. For purposes of determining eligibility to be a free-agent, a player does not accrue a minor league season if the player spends the entire season on an MLB Active List, MLB Disabled List(s), and/or other MLB Inactive List, or if the player spends an entire season on the Restricted List, Disqualified List, Suspended List, Ineligible List, Voluntarily Retired List, and/or Military List. Also, participation in a post-season instructional league or winter league and/or the Arizona Fall League (AFL) does not count toward a minor league season if the player otherwise did not accrue a minor league season that year. Note that a player who ordinarily would have been declared a Rule 55 minor league free-agent is NOT eligible to be a free-agent if the player is either added to an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) or agrees to a minor league successor contract with his previous club by 5:00 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day after the final game of the World Series. (The deadline is 5:00 PM Eastern on October 15th if the World Series is canceled).

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 09/19/2016 - 09:26 pm

John Arguello with observations from the initial Cubs Instructs work-out today at Riverview: link

Submitted by crunch on Mon, 09/19/2016 - 09:01 pm

tie game! addy + contreras HRs.

Submitted by Cubster on Mon, 09/19/2016 - 09:53 pm

Marlins beat Nats. Magic Number is 5... well it only needs to go to #1, Cubs own the tiebreaker based on edge in the season series vs Washington 4-2.

Submitted by Koyies Bansaw on Mon, 09/19/2016 - 09:28 pm

A few thoughts on the Instructs crew... - Hatch as signed for future service... The only implication of that now is he would have to wait an extra year before Rule V eligibility and minor league FA status, right? - Is Camargo still injured? - I'm sure with a high draft pick like Bailey Clark it isn't a big deal, but it can't be too great a sign for this year's draft picks who weren't invited (I.e. Tolly Filotei, Trent Giambrone, etc)?

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 09/19/2016 - 09:09 pm

K-BANSAW: When a player is Signed for Future Service, it does NOT delay Rule 5 Draft eligibility, but it will delay by one season when he would be eligible to be a minor league free-agent (if he is not added to an MLB 40-man roster in the meantime), and a player who is Signed for Future Service does not have to be added to a minor league active list or minor league reserve list until Opening Day of the following season, instead of within 15 days of signing (active list) and on 11/20 (reserve list).

Jesus Camargo was shut-down the last week of Extended Spring Training. I do not know what his injury was/is, and I also don't know when he will be back on the mound.

Bailey Clark is not at instructs because he is attending college (finishing his degree) at Duke, but I don't why the other 2016 missing draft picks (Rucker, Freeman, Giambrone, and Filotei) are absent. 

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 09/20/2016 - 09:09 pm

Coaches & Player Development personnel impressed with 17-year old INF Christopher Morel at instructs BP this morning, drawing comps to a young Starlin Castro. Morel worked out at 3B on Field #4 and looked very good at the hot corner, and then took BP on Field #6, launching several balls over the LF fence and onto the south bank of the Loop 202 Freeway. Morel was a 2015 IFA signing ($800K bonus) and was supposed to make his pro debut this season, and while he was on the AZL Cubs active roster throughout the summer and was dressed for games and participated in pre-game drills, he did not see any AZL game action. Morel suffered a severe laceration to his left arm at minor league mini-camp last winter, and he did not participate in Minor League Camp or Extended Spring Training, Morel turned 17 this past June, and he was the youngest player in the Cubs organization as of July 1st. Morel was part of a 2015-16 IFA class that also included INF Isaac Paredes, RHP Jose Albertos, LHP Faustino Carrera, C Miguel Amaya, SS Aramis Ademan, OF Jonathan Sierra, INF Yonathan Perlaza, LHP Brailyn Marquez, and OF Abraham Rodriguez,

Submitted by The E-Man on Tue, 09/20/2016 - 09:14 pm

Hey PHIL: Have you seen much of Albertos lately? Can they do a pre-emptive TJS on the young man? (I keed) How has he been doing recently? Hopefully he will get some super-charged instruction. Hulio Urias needed 72 pitches to get out of 2 innings against the Yankees. Maybe the Cubs will get him in the Playoffs?

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 09/21/2016 - 09:08 am

E-MAN: Jose Albertos was diagnosed with a right forearm strain after his first AZL start in June and landed on the 60-day DL. However, he was throwing bullpen side-sessions in August and was eligible to be reinstated from the 60-day DL the last week of August and could have pitched for the AZL Cubs in the AZL: playoffs, but the Cubs decided to hold off until instructs. So he is healthy and throwing bullpen sessions with the other pitchers. 

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 09/21/2016 - 09:23 pm

3B Christian Villanueva (February 2016 broken leg) had a full work-out at Instructs today, taking infield practice with the other infielders on Field #4 and then BP on Field #3. He looked very good both in the field and at the plate.

Villanueva was taking BP with the AZL Cubs back in June and appeared to be close to returning to game action at the time, but he remained on the Cubs MLB 60-day DL throughout July, August, and September.

Because he is out of minor league options, is blocked by both Kris Bryant and Jeimer Candelario at 3B, and really doesn't have the defensive versatility to play other positions, Villanueva (acquired by the Cubs along with Kyle Hendricks in the Ryan Dempster trade in 2012) could be a good trade candidate this off season or before the end of Spring Training.

While he may not be able to crack the Cubs lineup, he could be a starting third-baseman on another MLB club. It's possible that Villanueva will see game action with the Advanced Instructs Angels/Cubs co-op team, so scouts from other MLB clubs might have a chance to see him there.

Catcher Will Remillard (April 2016 TJS #2) took BP on Field #5 and hit the ball well, but he is not able to throw well enough yet to be able to catch bullpen sessions, much less catch in a game. He could serve as a DH with the Angels/Cubs Advanced Instructs squad, however, and he should be back 100% by Spring Training.

Remillard was considered the best defensive catcher in the Cubs system prior to his first TJS in 2015, getting an NRI to Spring Training with the big club in 2014 after spending only two months in the minors. Presuming there are no medical set-backs and he comes back 100% next season, Remillard could be the #1 catcher at AA Tennessee in 2017. 

Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus two players are on 60-DAY IL   

26 players are on the MLB ACTIVE LIST 

Last updated 3-30-2023
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Adbert Alzolay
Javier Assad 
Brad Boxberger
Michael Fulmer
Mark Leiter Jr 
Julian Merryweather
Michael Rucker
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele 
Marcus Stroman
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski

CATCHERS: 3 
* Tucker Barnhart 
Yan Gomes
Luis Torrens

INFIELDERS: 7
Nico Hoerner
* Eric Hosmer
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
* Edwin Rios
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 3 
* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Trey Mancini 

OPTIONED: 11
Keven Alcantara, OF 
Miguel Amaya, C 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Jeremiah Estrada, P 
Ryan Jensen, P 
Caleb Kilian, P
Christopher Morel, INF-OF
Adrian Sampson, P 
Nelson Velazquez, OF 

10-DAY IL: 1 
Seiya Suzuki, OF 

15-DAY IL: 2 
Kyle Hendricks 
* Brandon Hughes

60-DAY IL: 2 
Codi Heuer, P 
Ethan Roberts, P
  


Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents