Cubs MLB Roster

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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

What's Up Down Under?

Halfway through the MLB Australian Baseball Academy Program (MLBAAP) season at Palm Meadows (Gold Coast), here's how the five Cubs players playing "down under" are doing:

19-year old RHP Ryan Searle leads the MLBAAP in wins, strikeouts, and IP, and 17-year old OF Sean Williams (bats & throws left) leads the league in hitting, and is tied for the league lead in doubles, tied for 3rd in hits, tied for 4th in runs scored, and tied for 5th in SB. 

Former star cricket player (bowler) LHP Cody Hams (who was at Cubs Minor League Camp and EXST at Fitch Park for two months) has struggled with his control, although he does have 19 K in 14.2 IP. (The 6'5" Hams' pitching style closely resembles Rich Hill's, so I guess it's probably no longer a compliment to tell Cody that he is Rich Hill Redux).

PITCHERS:

RHP Ryan Searle: 3-2, 2.35 ERA, 30.2 IP, 24 H, 15 R (8 ER), 7 BB, 38 K, 0 HR, .197 OBA, 1.01 WHIP, in 6 games (6 GS) 

RHP Adam Spencer: 2-0, 4.37 ERA, 22.2 IP, 19 H, 14 R (11 ER), 11 BB, 23 K, 1 HR, .224 OBA, 1.33 WHIP, in 5 games (5 GS)

LHP Cody Hams: 0-0, 4.91 ERA, 14.2 IP, 13 H, 13 R (8 ER), 15 BB, 19 K, 0 HR, .236 OBA, 1.91 WHIP, in 5 games (5 GS)
 
POSITION PLAYERS

CF Sean Williams: 354/411/477, 6 2B, 6/13 BB/K in 73 PA, 7 SB (2 CS)

SS Hak-ju Lee: 286/444/500 (was at the MLBAAP on the "Two-Week Phase" program, played in only five league games before returning to South Korea).  

The MLBAAP season ends on July 26th.

Based on the way he has pitched so far, it's possible that Ryan Searle (who has a full-year visa) could return to Fitch Park for the last month of the AZL season, and/or for the AZ Instructional League in September/October. While Cody Hams resembles a young Rich Hill, Searle would be most camparable to Sean Gallagher.

The other four are supposed to report to Cubs Minor League Camp at Fitch Park next March, although Lee (who received a bonus somewhere in the neighborhood of $1M) might get an invite to Instructs if it doesn't conflict with his school schedule. 

Comments

15(!!!) UNearned runs between the 3 starters? Phil, what's the deal, are the infields made of concrete and gravel down there or is the defense just that bad?

Spencer was looking really good until his most recent start (his ERA went from around 2.80 to 4.37 thanks to that one start).

Submitted by WISCGRAD on Thu, 07/03/2008 - 12:20pm.

15(!!!) UNearned runs between the 3 starters? Phil, what's the deal, are the infields made of concrete and gravel down there or is the defense just that bad? -

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

WISCGRAD: I was told the defensive play down under tends to be a bit spotty. 

Reed Johnson activated, Epat down...

Top Hitting Prospects 1. Josh Vitters (3B) - Age 18 2007 3rd Overall 356/381/525 in 59 ABs in Short Season A 2. Wellington Castillo (C) - Age 21 2004 NDFA 293/338/431 overall and 333/412/617 with 4 HRs in 18 games at Double A. 3. Ryan Flaherty (SS,3B) - Age 21 2008 Supp 1st round 350/409/575 in Short Season A through 11 games 4. Tony Thomas (2B) - Age 21 2007 3rd Round 266/315/414 with 6 HR and 12 SB at High A. 296/393/533 with 5 HR and 28 SB last year 5. Tyler Colvin (OF) - Age 22 2006 13th Overall 236/307/373 in 82 games at double A .488 SLG in 125 games with 16 HR in '07 6. Josh Harrison (2B) - Age 20 2008 6th round 250/354 with 5 SB in 12 games at Short Season A ball 7. Steve Clevenger (C) - Age 22 2006 7th Round 308/396 at High A 340/378/441 in 2007 8. Marquez Smith (2B,3B) - Age 23 2007 8th Round 298/369/505 with 13 HR in 79 games at low A 9. Luis Bautista (C,1B,DH) - Age 23 2007 32nd round 331/388/564 through 37 games at low A 10.Rebel Ridling (1B/DH) - Age 22 2008 25th Round 358/400/623 in 14 games at Short Season A 11.Ryan Harvey (OF) - Age 23 2003 1st Round 239/308/423 overall 265/342/490 and 6HR at High A 12.Nate Spears (2b) - Age 23 2003 5th Round 313/407 in 66 games at Double A. Acquired in C. Patterson trade, 6th year minors 13.Jovan Rosa (1b,3b) - Age 20 2006 22nd Round 286/353/401 in 73 games at low A. 14.Jonathan Wyatt (OF) - Age 23 2007 13th Round 255/353 with 10 SB overall 316/373 with 7 SB at low A 15.Ryan Keedy (1B/DH) - Age 22 2008 16th Round 333/400 in 15 games at Short Season A 16.Josh Donaldson (c) - Age 22 2007 Supp 1st Round 221/284/366 at low A through 57 games. 335/460/590 last year in 53 games. 17.Joseph Adduci (OF) - Age 23 2003 42nd Round 304/388 with 14 SB in 73 games at high A. Playing in his 5th minor league season. 18.John Contreras (3B) - Age 22 NDFA 19.Blake Lalli (1B/C) - Age 25 2006 NDFA 313/359/519 overall. 7 HR in 58 games at High A. Pitchers 1. Jose Ceda - Age 21 2004 NDFA 4.20 ERA in 21 games 0.90 ERA/.189 OppBA at Double A through 6 games. Acquired in Todd Walked trade. 2. Jose Ascanio (RP) - Age 23 2005 NDFA 11 saves and a 3.86 ERA in 24 relief appearances 3. Andrew Cashner - Age 21 2008 1st Round Huge potential to be a significant factor soon. He is likely a potential closer. 4. Jeff Samardzija - Age 23 2006 5th Round 3.00 ERA/1.58 WHIP through 12 IP at Triple A. He has to improve his control. 5. James Russell - Age 22 2007 14th round 3.78 ERA/1.31 WHIP overall, 4.45 ERA in 12 games/11 starts at Double A, 40K/17BB 6. Donald Veal - Age 23 2005 2nd Round 3.22 ERA/1.47 WHIP/.258 OppBA in 94 IP 33K/18BB in May 7. Jesse Estrada - Age 24 2004 31st Round 4.69 ERA/1.29 WHIP overall in 48 innings of relief through 23 games. .232 OPPBA/26k/4BB at Triple A 8. Casey Lambert - Age 22 2007 6th Round 3.02 ERA/1.28 WHIP in 35 relief appearances. Lefty with late inning potential. 9. Greg Rheinhard - Age 24 2005 6th Round 3.81 ERA/1.40 WHIP/.223 OppBA in 28 games, 49 IP. Acquired in Jae Kuk Ryu trade 10. Justin Berg - Age 24 2003 43rd Round 5.42 ERA in 16 starts overall. Acquired from the Yankees in the Matt Lawton trade. Compared to Brandon Webb. 5th year of minor leagues. 11. Dae-Eun Rhee - Age 19 2007 NDFA. 1.80 through 40 IP in 10 starts in his first pro season at Low A 12. Blake Parker - Age 23 2006 16th Round 1.33 ERA in 23 relief appearances at Low A, Opp BA .193 Promoted to Triple A 13. Mitch Atkins - Age 22 2004 7th Round 4.03ERA/1.25WHIP in 17 starts at Double A. 85K/26BB in 103 innings 14. Jordan Latham - Age 21 2006 29th Round 1.88 ERA/1.01 WHIP/53K in 53 innings through 26 relief appearances at Low A 15. Bill Muldowney - Age 23 2006 8th Round 2.74 ERA/.173 OppBA in 11 starts at low A/High A (4) 16. Alex Maestri - Age 23 2007 NDFA First italian born played. 3.69 ERA in 14 starts at high A 16. Marco Carillo - Age 21 2005 NDFA 3.29 ERA/1.15 WHIP in 17 games/11 starts at High A 17. Harol Tolentino - Age 19 2005 NDFA 2.25 ERA/0.88 WHIP in 3 relief appearances at Short Season A 18. Jay Jackson - Age 20 2008 9th Round 14K/1B in 9 innings at Short Season A 19. Jeffry Antigua - Age 18 2007 NDFA 0.00 ERA/0.86 WHIP 5K/1BB in 7 innings at rookie ball 20. Jose Pina - Age 22 2003 NDFA 1.42 ERA/1.11 WHIP/.174 OppBA through 4 games at Short Season A. In 2007 at Low A 23 Games, 19 starts 4.29 ERA/.261 OppBA 21. James Leverton - Age 22 2008 8th Round 3.00 ERA/1.17 WHIP in 2 starts at Short Season A 22. Mike Perconte - Age 22 2008 NDFA 3.09 ERA/1.29 WHIP/.255 OppBA in 8 innings 3 games, 1 start at Short Season A 23. Marcus Hatley - Age 20 2007 NDFA 0.79 ERA/.220 OppBA 11K/5BB in 11.1 Innings 3 games, 2 starts at Short Season A 24. Robert Hernandez - Age 19 2005 NDFA Suspended for PEDs, has looked strong at EXST so it is difficult to assess. 25. Mark Pawelek - Age 21 2005 1st Round - Lots of injuries but still very young. This is a huge year for him and he could move up on the rankings. Unranked Hitters in the System with MLB experience/no longer prospect/Unranked 1.Micah Hoffpauir (1B,RF/LF) - Age 28 2002 13th Round .624 slugging at Triple A 2.Felix Pie (CF) - Age 23 2001 NDFA .353 BA in last 10 games 3.Jason Dubois (LF/RF) - Age 29 2000 14th Round 300/413/711 at Triple A 4.Andres Torres (OF) - Age 30 304/408/509 at Triple A 5.Sam Fuld - Age 26 2004 10th Round .325 BA/7 walks in last 10 games at Double A 6.Jake Fox (c,1B,OF) - Age 25 271/366/464 at Double A 7.Bobby Scales (2B) - Age 31 291/374/473 at Triple A 8.Josh Kroeger (RF/LF) - Age 25 2000 4th Round 274/348/474 at Triple A Unranked Pitchers in the System with MLB experience/no longer prospect 1.Kevin Hart (SP/RP) - Age 25 2004 11th Round 3.86 ERA (14 ER/32.2 IP) in 24 relief appearances 2.Randy Wells - Age 25 2002 38th Round 3.61 ERA in 15 games, 9 starts at Triple A. Recently selected in Rule 5 draft. 3.Rich Hill (SP) - Age 28 2002 4th Round 4.Mike Burns (RP) - Age 29 2000 30th Round by Houston 5.Carmen Pignatiello - Age 24 2000 20th Round 6.J.R. Mathes (SP) - Age 26 2004 16th Round 7.Hector Carrasco (SP/RP) Wait and see Aaron Shafer Christopher Carpenter Justin Bristow

AZ Phil, how advanced do you think Searle is? Could he skip the AZL next season and go straight to Boise or Peoria?

Phil...thanks for the reports. It sounds like our Asia/Australia recruiting is going well. Will be fun to see how Hams develops as he learns the game of baseball. My question is about our Latin American program. the July 2nd signing date has passed and I have not seen any report on players signed by the Cubs. Baseball America had information on top signings by some teams, but not all. It doesn't seem like the Cubs focus on getting top players as much as other teams -- Larry Suarez was a pretty big signing, but I don't think there have been many during this decade. Our big name signings also seem almost exclusively pitchers (we sign lots of hitters, but none of those seem to be prized prospects). Do you have any information on players we have signed? I am sure I am mischaracterizing our Latin American signings as well, so please feel free to correct anything I said.

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.