Brenly Learns Son Good (So Far)

Newly-signed Michael Brenly wasted no time getting started, as the youngster slammed a line-drive opposite-field RBI single and stole a base, and RHP Chris Huseby threw three shoutout innings in what was definitely his best outing of 2008, as the EXST Cubs played a three-inning intrasquad game on Fitch Park Field #3 this morning.

Brenly, the Cubs 36th round draft pick out of UNLV and the son of Cubs broadcaster Bob Brenly,reported to Fitch Park yesterday and, after meeting the guys and taking some BP, settled right in. And being one day ahead of the other new arrivals, Brenly became the first of the new Cubs to see game action, serving as a DH in today's game.

This will probably be the last "combined" workout for Boise/Mesa (EXST Cubs), as the Boise Hawks roster was to be posted in the clubhouse after the conclusion of the game and the Hawks will be leaving for Idaho tomorrow (although it's possible that the Hawks will have a workout at Fitch Park before leaving for the airport).

After arrival in Boise, the team will attend a banquet where each Hawk player will be paired with a "host family." The player stays free of charge with his host family, and essentially becomes part of the household for the next 2-1/2 months. Although the host families are not compensated financially for their generosity, they do receive season tickets to Hawks games as part of the deal.

Several other newly-signed Cubs 2008 draft picks reported to Fitch Park for their physicals this morning, after which they got their uniforms (this isn't Mississippi State, you know) and reported to Coach Josh Arteaga on Field #2 for a short work-out (infield & outfield practice, and a BP session).

Among the new arrivals at Fitch Park this morning were RHP Jay Jackson (9th round pick out of Furman), 2B Jake Opitz (12th round pick out of Nebraska), 1B Ryan Keedy (16th round pick out of UAB), and CF David Macias (19th round pick out of Vanderbilt). There were also two or three others on the field I was unable to identify (they apparently weren't told to check-in with me first before taking the field). 

Here is the abridged box score from today's intrasquad game...

NOTE: The lineups were structured based on the players defensive positions, which is why the two first-basemen were the lead-off hitters, and why Starlin Castro batted clean-up for probably the first time in his life.

SQUAD "A"
1. Bryan Jost, 1B: 1-2 (R)
2. Dwayne Kemp, 2B: 1-1 (2 R, BB, SB)
3. Josh Vitters, 3B: 1-2 (RBI, R)
4. Michael Brenly, DH #1: 1-2 (RBI, SB)
5. Junior Lake, SS: 0-2 (K)
6. Kevin Soto, LF: 2-2 (2 RBI, 2B)
7. Leon Johnson, CF: 0-1 (BB)
8. Nelson Perez, RF: 0-1 (GIDP)
9. Carlos Perez, C: 0-1
10. Jeffrey Rea, DH #2: 0-1

SQUAD "B"
1. Drew Rundle, 1B: 0-2 (GIDP)
2. Marwin Gonzalez, 2B: 1-1 (BB, SB)
3. John Contreras, 3B: 0-2 (2 K)
4. Starlin Castro, SS: 0-1
5. George Matheus, LF: 0-1
6. Cesar Salazar, CF: 0-1
7. Kyler Burke, RF: 1-1 
8. Jose Made, DH: 0-1
9. Roberto Sabates, C: 0-0 (BB)

PITCHERS:

SQUAD "A"
1. Chris Huseby - 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 GIDP

SQUAD "B"
1. Carlos Rojas - 2.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP
2. Arik Hempy - 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R  (1 ER),  1 BB, 0 K 

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Carlos Perez: 0-1 CS
Roberto Sabates: 0-2 CS

ERRORS (5) :
Junior Lake (2) - two E-6, one an overthow at 1st base, and one dropped throw on a 4-6 FC attempt.
Marwin Gonzalez  - one E-4, muffed ground ball allowing batter to reach base. 
Roberto Sabates (2) - two E-2, both errant throws to 2nd base trying to cut-down base-stealers, where ball bounced past middle infielder into CF, allowing runners to advance to 3rd base.

WEATHER: Very hot, with game-time temperature in the the 90's on the way to 110.

ATTENDANCE: 4

Comments

Phil, this may be out of your particular bailiwick, but do you have an opinion regarding Randy Wells at this point in his development? Last thread was discussing his prospects for a call - up to the rotation.

Submitted by Dmac on Wed, 06/11/2008 - 2:40pm.

Phil, this may be out of your particular bailiwick, but do you have an opinion regarding Randy Wells at this point in his development?

Last thread was discussing his prospects for a call - up to the rotation.

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

DMAC: I mentioned Randy Wells here at TCR a couple of months ago when discussing the 2009 Cubs...

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 04/25/2008 - 5:04pm in response to:

Submitted by Q-Ball on Fri, 04/25/2008 - 1:39pm.

AZ Phil: Great summary as always. Also you said Randy Wells will replace Jon Lieber as the rubber-armed spot starter/long reliever. That's a strong statement on Randy's potential. Thoughts?

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

Q-BALL: Randy Wells had a very good ST with the Blue Jays after they selected him in the Rule 5 Draft, and the Cubs got him back only because he got caught in a roster numbers crunch in Toronto. But he is the type of "rubber-armed" pitcher who can throw just about every day and pitch two or three innings if needed (he's another converted catcher, BTW).

The Cubs are likely to add Wells to the 40 by the end of the World Series (although he quite possibly could get called up in September for the stretch drive) just to keep him from becoming a minor league FA, but I think he has a very good chance to make the Cubs bullpen next season as the "long-man." If not, he'd be nice to have at Iowa as insurance in '09.

It's good to know we have some backup options if a starter or long man goes down. Now if Ascanio would only become Marmol Jr., we'd be sitting pretty.

How dare the newbies arrive at Fitch Park without checking in with AZ Phil? Had Fleita been around, I'm sure he would've screamed at them to do so from the watch tower. Thanks for the update Phil!

Damn, you're good Phil. I was about to write asking about when you expected the new draftees to start showing up at Fitch. I have not seen ANY news of these players that are already there even signing, let alone already reporting for duty. Folks, this is as fresh a scoop as you're gonna find anywhere! All praise Phil!!!

Yeah, great stuff as always Phil. Do you know, does the team even report signings as they go, or do they just release batches of them from time to time?

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   

32 players
are on the MLB ACTIVE LIST (26-man limit in effect on MLB Opening Day)

17 players signed to minor league contracts are Spring Training NON-ROSTER INVITEES (NRI) 

Last updated 3-18-2023
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 16
Adbert Alzolay
Javier Assad 
Brad Boxberger
Michael Fulmer
Kyle Hendricks
* Brandon Hughes
Julian Merryweather
Michael Rucker
Adrian Sampson
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele 
Marcus Stroman
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski
Rowan Wick

NRI PITCHERS: 10 
* Ryan Borucki  
Nick Burdi 
Tyler Duffey 
* Roenis Elias  
* Anthony Kay  
Mark Leiter Jr 
* Brendon Little  
Vinny Nittoli 
Manuel Rodriguez 
Cam Sanders 

CATCHERS: 2 
* Tucker Barnhart 
Yan Gomes

NRI CATCHERS: 2  
* Dom Nunez  
Luis Torrens 

INFIELDERS: 9
Nico Hoerner
* Eric Hosmer
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
* Zach McKinstry
Christopher Morel
* Edwin Rios
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

NRI INFIELDERS: 3 
# Sergio Alcantara 
David Bote 
* Matt Mervis  

OUTFIELDERS: 5 
* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Trey Mancini 
Seiya Suzuki 
Nelson Velazquez

NRI OUTFIELDERS: 2
Ben DeLuzio 
* Mike Tauchman   

OPTIONED: 8
Keven Alcantara, OF 
Miguel Amaya, C 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Jeremiah Estrada, P 
Ryan Jensen, P 
Caleb Kilian, P 

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



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