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

Center of Attention

The Cubs have seven left-handed hitting center-field prospects in their system, four at the upper levels, and three more at the lower levels. It's likely that one of them will eventually end up as the Cubs everyday CF. But the big question is, which one? Felix Pie: Because he has been in the organization for six seasons (he was signed as a hot-shot 16-year old out of the Dominican Republic in 2001), Cubs fans tend to forget Pie is only 22 years old. But he still has the most potential of any Cubs position player prospect in the system. Pie has plus-speed and plus-power, he has the 3rd strongest arm in the organization (behind only Nelson Perez and Ryan Harvey, and they are both RFs), and is a potential future Gold Gove CF. Pie is coachable and has worked hard to overcome his deficiencies. He was one of a handful of position players to report to Fitch Park with the pitchers and catchers the first day of Spring Training in 2007. He is gregarious and enthusiastic, and when he makes mistakes, it's usually a matter of him taking unnecessary chances and trying to do too much. He has become best friends with Alfonso Soriano, and lived at Soriano's apartment in Chicago during the '07 season. Anybody who meets Felix Pie likes him. Pie is not yet a good base-stealer, but he has worked with organization base-running instructor Bob Dernier on his technique for the past year or so and has improved. At heart, he is a first-ball fastball hitter and is a MUCH better hitter when he takes that approach, but he has been encouraged by the Cubs player development people to be more selective and patient at the plate. This has caused him to sometimes look like the proverbial "deer in headlights," taking hittable pitches for called strikes early in the count and then expanding his strike zone once he gets down in the count, often-times going down swinging and looking bad in the process. But his main deficiency is that he struggles big-time versus LHP. Pie has one minor league option left, and would probably be best-served by spending the 2008 season at Iowa, playing every day and hitting somewhere at or near the top of the order (to get him maximum plate appearances versus LHP), although he is really more of a #6 hitter. One other thing. Everywhere Felix Pie goes, his club wins. He's a champion. ==================================== Sam Fuld: A 25-year polished professional baseball player, Fuld can play all three OF positions. He played four seasons of college ball at Stanford, and also was a member of Team USA. He was drafted by the Cubs in 2003, but chose to return to school for his senior season, and then the Cubs drafted him again in 2004 (and this time the Cubs signed him), although his pro debut was delayed for a year while he rehabbed frrom shoulder surgery. So although he will be 26 on Opening Day 2008, he has only three years of professional experience. He's spent more time in the infirmary and the training room than he has on the field! Unlike Pie, Sam Fuld CAN hit LHP. He has an above-average arm and is a superior defender. He is intelligent and has a strong academic background (he attends grad school at Stanford during the off-season, and his father is chair of the psychology department at the University of New Hampshire). Fuld's main problem is a tendency to sacrifice his body running the bases and making plays in the outfield. He is hyper-aggressive and super-competetive, and (if necessary) he will run through a wall to make a play. He once tore a labrum sliding head-first into 3rd base. He also has sustained a broken wrist, a sports hernia, and a strained oblique over the past three seasons, limiting his player development time. He is a patient hitter who is not afraid to take a walk. He is a good hitter with a line-drive stroke and gap power. He hits one HR in about every 25 games (by comparison, over the past couple of seasons Ryan Theriot has hit one HR in about every 40 games). If he remains with the Cubs, Fuld could very well be the Cubs Opening Day CF and #2 hitter in 2008, or at least until such time as Felix Pie or Eric Patterson develop into the every day CF. Or he could get traded. Scouts from the other 29 MLB clubs have been watching Sam Fuld play in the AFL, and he is simply the best all-around player in the league right now... Not the best PROSPECT, but the best PLAYER. Depending on how things go with the free-agent MLB CFs, Fuld could play CF and hit lead-off for probably a half-dozen MLB clubs in 2008 (FLA, WAS, PIT, TEX, MIN, and ATL). Or if he remains with the Cubs long-term, Fuld also could easily slip into the 4th OF role, because he can play all three OF positions. He is probably a much better option for that role than (for instance) Angel Pagan. Sam Fuld at AFL 2007 (so far): 371/476/629 1st in doubles and tied for 1st in triples 2nd in hits and 2nd in walks 3rd in stolen bases and 3rd in OPS 4th in OBP and tied for 4th in runs scored 5th in SLG 6th in BA Tied for 8th in RBI (while hitting lead-off) Some wonder how Sam Fuld compares with Jacoby Ellsbury. I saw both play in college (Fuld at Stanford and Ellsbury at Oregon State), and the main difference between them is that Ellsbury is at least a step faster than Fuld. While Fuld is a fast runner, Ellsbury is a VERY fast runner. Ellsbury is the superior base-stealer (Fuld steals at about a 70% rate, while Ellsbury steals at 90%) and covers more ground in CF. However, Fuld has a stronger arm and can play all three OF positions, while Ellsbury's arm limits him to LF or CF. And Ellsbury is three years younger than Fuld. But otherwise they are comparable players. Sam Fuld vs Jacoby Ellsbury (career minor league numbers average per 160 games): Fuld 296/377/417 - Ellsbury 313/389/425 Fuld 107 R - Ellsbury 116 R Fuld 6 HR, 39 2B & 7 3B - Ellsbury 6 HR, 29 2B & 13 3B Fuld 26 SB (8 CS) - Ellsbury 70 SB (9 CS) Fuld 70 BB/70 K - Ellsbury 74 BB/84 K Sam Fuld is what he is, and probably what you see right now is about all you're going to get. But that's not a bad thing. ===================================== Eric Patterson: Selected by the Cubs in the 8th round of the 2004 Rule 4 Draft out of Georgia Tech and the younger brother of ex-Cub CF Corey Patterson, E-Pat started his career as a second-baseman. But he lacks the "ball-handling" skills to play a middle-infield position (he's like a "two-guard" playing point guard). While capable of making the occasional highlight-reel spectacular play, he also has the propensity to somehow find a way to make a critical error at the absolutely worst possible time on the easy plays. He's like a bull in a china shop out there. He plays second-base without nuance. But he also has plus-speed and decent arm strength, and he's OK catching pop-ups. Which is why I figured his best position would be OF (LF or CF). And the Cubs apparently agree, because they moved Patterson to the outfield at Iowa in late July. The Cubs brought Patterson up to the big leagues in August when Alfonso Soriano went down with a quad injury, but E-Pat didn't play much, and was sent back to Iowa. He was then recalled when the rosters expanded on September 1st, but was demoted to AA when he showed up late to Wrigley Field after he overslept (and apparently it was not the first time that happened with him). The thing is, Patterson is a very good top-of-the order hitter. Unlike his brother, E-Patt is a good bunter and will take a walk (although he also strikes out a lot, too). He is a good base-stealer (better than Pie), and he has the power to hit 15-18 HR a year. Also unlike Pie, E-Pat can hit LHP. And like his brother (but unlike Pie), E-Pat is quiet and doesn't display much outward emotion, giving an impression of indifference or lack of passion. It would be great if Eric Patterson could remain at 2B, because that's where he would have the most value to the Cubs. But he is just not a second-baseman. However, if he can learn to play an adequate MLB-quality CF (and he has yet to prove that he can), he could be a fine MLB everyday player hitting #1 or #2 in the order, if not with the Cubs, then someplace else. The main problem with Patterson moving to the outfield is how to find playing time for both Patterson and Pie in CF at Iowa in 2008 if Pie spends another season at AAA. Since everybody knows Pie can play CF, it probably would be best to play E-Pat in CF and move Pie to RF for the 2008 season, and then re-evaluate the situation again a year from now. But ultimately there will probably not be room for both Felix Pie and Eric Patterson in the Cubs lineup. One will probably have to be traded, and my guess is it will be Patterson, possibly as soon as this off-season. =============================== Tyler Colvin: The Cubs selected Colvin with their #1 pick (13th overall) out of Clemson in 2006. Drafted as a 20-year old junior, Colvin was a first-baseman in HS, but was moved to LF in college to take advantage of his speed and athleticism. He hit a walk-off grand slam in a CWS Super-Regional in 2006. Colvin has the power/speed combo to eventually hit 30 HR and steal 20 bases. He is also an aggressive EXTREME first-ball fastball hitter who rarely walks, but so far it's worked for him, as he hits the ball hard to all fields. He is often compared to a young Shawn Green. Colvin played LF at Clemson and in his first season in the Cubs organization at Boise (where he was named the NWL #1 prospect by Baseball America), but was moved to CF in the AZ Instructional League after the 2006 season, and he looked OK there. He covered a lot ground, and showed the potential to be a decent CF. Colvin was put on an arm stengthening program in Spring Training, and was moved again (to RF) when it became increasingly clear that Alfonso Soriano would probably be playing LF in Chicago for a long time. And Colvin actually did improve his arm strength to where it became adequate for a right-fielder, but he also developed a sore shoulder in the process. Colvin opened the 2007 season at Daytona (jumping over Peoria), and was promoted to AA Tennessee at mid-season (he was an FSL all-star at Daytona). While he struggled at the beginning of the season at Daytona and at AA immediately after his promotion, he adjusted in both cases to where he became a solid every day RF on both teams after his initial period of adjustment (although he also spent some time at both places on the DL with a sore shoulder). Colvin was named to Team USA after the season, and will be playing in the World Cup later this month in Chinese Taipei (Taiwan). He has a certain air about him, an "it" factor that just cannot be quantified with statistics. You just have to watch him play. He's a thoroughbred. He makes big plays when they need to be made, and he gets big hits when they are needed most. He seems to rise to the occasion. He's a champion. Pie's got it, too. So does Fuld. But I think Eric Patterson ain't got it. ========================================= Leon Johnson: A 22-year old who was selected by the Cubs in the 10th round of the 2007 Rule 4 Draft as a draft-eligible sophomore out of BYU, Johnson got 5th round money to sign. He had been previously drafted out of HS in 2003 and then again out of JC in 2006 by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, but did not sign either time. He didn't sign in 2003 because he was heading out on a two-year LDS mission to Siberia, and then he enrolled at BYU in 2006 instead of signing with the Rays. One of Johnson's brothers is on the Devil Rays 40-man roster, a younger brother was drafted by the Phillies out of HS this past June, and an older brother was drafted by the Mariners a few years ago. Leon himself was a state track champion in HS, and he has the long, loping stride of a hurdler. He is one of the fastest players in the Cubs organization, certainly the best bunter, and the best or (at least the second-best) base-stealer (Tony Thomas might be #1). He also is EXTREMELY patient at the plate and takes a lot of walks (and called third strikes). Johnson has a plus-arm, and is a superior defender who can play all three OF positions. He also has the power to hit 8-10 HR a year. His major deficiency is his hitting. Right now, he stuggles to hit breaking balls. When he gets hits, they are usually bunt singles or infield chops or rollers where he uses his plus-speed to outrun throws to first base. Johnson is still rusty after taking two years off from baseball. They apparently don't play much baseball in Siberia. If he can improve his hitting, he will be an everyday MLB CF. Even if he doesn't improve much as a hitter, he could still possibly be an MLB 4th OF. I figure Johnson will probably open the 2008 season back at Peoria and play either CF or RF, but he could get assigned to Daytona with a good Spring Training at the plate. He already has the baserunning and defensive skills required to move quickly through the Cubs system. ====================================== Cliff Andersen: Selected by the Cubs in the 9th round in the 2006 Rule 4 Draft out of Cottonwood HS in Salt Lake City, the 20-year old Andersen took 5th round money from the Cubs to give up a chance to play college baseball at Oklahoma State. He is an athletic player who could also have played football (safety) in college (Like Eric Patterson, Andersen's father played in the NFL), but chose to concentrate exclusively on baseball after he turned pro. Andersen was slowed by a lower back strain in 2007, but he has plus-power (I saw him hit a 450-foot HR over the CF hitting background at Fitch Park Field #2 this past EXST) and the defensive acumen to play all three OF positions. He doesn't have the arm of Pie or Johnson, but it is a slightly above-average OF arm, good enough to play RF, although CF is his best position. Andersen reminds me of a young Jim Edmonds (the good and the bad). He has plus-power and above-average speed, and he plays the type of solid defense in CF you would expect from a former football defensive back. But he also strikes out a lot. Unlike Pie and Colvin, Andersen is NOT an aggressive first-ball fastball hitter. Actually, he's the exact opposite. He tries to work the count, and waits for his pitch. He may even be too patient at the plate, to where he thinks too much and sometimes borders on being somewhat passive. Andersen will likely spend the 2008 season at Peoria, and hopefully he can stay healthy and get himself a full-season of ABs and make more consistent contact. ==================================== Jonathan Wyatt: Selected by the Cubs in the 13th round of the 2007 Rule 4 draft, Wyatt won an NCAA Rawlings Gold Glove his senior season at Georgia. And he is in fact an OUTSTANDING defender in CF, probably very close to major league quality right now. His arm is defintely strong enough for CF. Wyatt is a mature 23-year old (he played four years in college and there was a redshirt year in there somewhere, too), so he's not exactly a kid. He's a decent hitter (he has a line-drive stroke), but nothing special. He works the count really well, however, and in that respect he's the closest thing to Sam Fuld in the organization. He doesn't have blazing speed, although (as with Fuld) it's above-average. He was at Boise in 2007, but will probably start the 2008 season at Daytona (jumping over Peoria), just because of his maturity and his defensive skills, and because he had a strong showing in the AZ Instructional League last month. Because of his age, Wyatt needs to keep progressing and move quickly through the system. He can't get bogged down too long in "A" ball. I know of at least one opposing scout who likes Wyatt a lot and thinks he's a definite MLB CF prospect.

Comments

Fantastic information AZ Phil.....Let's just hope that Fleita and Hendry can choose the correct guys out of this group and turn the rest into trade bait. All of these guys would have value on the market so hopefully they can turn a few into a quality arm or SS. My pick would be to keep Pie (CF - 2nd half of 08), Colvin (RF in 2009 or 10) and Fuld (as 4th OF or 1st 1/2 of 08) and trade EPatt as he will have value on the market. Is it me or is CF the deepest position in the cubs system right now?

JF — November 2, 2007 @ 2:06 pm Is it me or is CF the deepest position in the cubs system right now? =================== JF: As far as position players are concerned, CF is definitely the deepest, and 3B (with Kyle Reynolds, Josh Lansford, Marquez Smith, Jovan Rosa, and Josh Vitters AA down through AZL) is 2nd. One thing about Tyler Colvin that concerns me is his shoulder problem. It's getting to be almost chronic, and if it turns out he can't play RF because of it, and if somebody else (like Pie) plays CF, it's possible that Colvin's eventual destiny will be as Derrek Lee's successor at 1B when D-Lee's contact expires after the 2010 season. Because 1st base is Colvin's "natural" position.

When the heck are the Cubs going to release some transactions? Craig Monroe? What the heck? When are they going to announce picking up (or not picking up) team options (i.e. Ward). Geez the Cubs website sucks. Take the darn free agents off the roster for crying out loud. Geez. Couldn't wait to take Monroe off the roster. Can you tell I kind of like Craig Monroe?

I've got a prediction: The cubs CF will not be Sam Fuld. I've got another one: Someone's going to defend Sam Fuld.

depends on the contract but there's usually a date by when a decision has to be made, normally between the World Series ending and when free agency actually begins two weeks later. There's no reason for the Cubs to make any of these decisions until they absolutely have to.

Exactly, Some team might make an offer on Craig Monroe if they think the cubs are going to tender him. Not likely, but stranger things have happened.

yeah, I was talking about picking up options but the same holds true for arbitration with Monroe and Prior. The date for that is December 1st.

If you could send Pie to Tampa as part of a deal to get Crawford I think we could effectively remove "champion" from Felix's resume.

First time I have heard Colvin compared to Green. I guess if you take away the disicipline, the power and the arm strength, they're essentially the same guy. According to BP Patterson would have been collecting some RoY #2 and #3 votes had the Cubs given him the opportunity, and I can't really disagree.

Oops, one more thing. Have to disagree on Pie's K problems being attributed to the ML coaching staff. Since he's signed, he has always struck out a lot. There's no statistical evidence to support AZ Phil's contention that taking more first pitch strikes has lead to an increase in strikeouts.

AZ Phil, Great work. Really great information. How do you see things unfolding with these CF-ers? And what might you like to see? Also-- will you be giving us similar articles at other positions? thanks for all you do, ROMERO

The Real Neal — November 2, 2007 @ 4:42 pm First time I have heard Colvin compared to Green. I guess if you take away the disicipline, the power and the arm strength, they’re essentially the same guy. ========================= REAL NEAL: Shawn Green at AA (1993 - age 20) 283/339/367 Tyler Colvin at AA (2007 - age 21) 291/313/462 So you're right if you're saying Colvin has displayed more power than did Shawn Green at a similar point in his career, while Green showed greater plate discipline and probably had more natural arm strength (although Colvin has increased his arm strength to where he now has a "right-fielder's" arm, at least when he's not on the DL with a sore shoulder!). And they also look somewhat alike at the plate and in the field. I hate to nitpick a nitpicker, but was that your point?

"First time I have heard Colvin compared to Green. I guess if you take away the disicipline, the power and the arm strength, they’re essentially the same guy." That has to be one of the doucheyist comments here in long time.

The Real Neal — November 2, 2007 @ 4:47 pm Oops, one more thing. Have to disagree on Pie’s K problems being attributed to the ML coaching staff. Since he’s signed, he has always struck out a lot. There’s no statistical evidence to support AZ Phil’s contention that taking more first pitch strikes has lead to an increase in strikeouts. ========================= REAL NEAL: I did not say Pie began to strike out a lot only after he started taking the first pitch or after trying to go deeper into counts, only that doing so has made him (at times) look more like a "deer in headlights" at the plate (that is, lost and confused) than any time previous. I happen to believe he is at his best when he is more aggressive at the plate.

I hope Pie starts to figure out the big leagues this next year. I have higher hopes for him next year than I had for him this year.

pie/murton...j.jones...soriano... bring in a "sure thing" RF'r...or let pie take CF/murton take RF... as it stands the 07 team can pretty much roll into 08... addition in OF? pen? RH-SP? who's on the trade table? blah blah blah...

Rob G. — November 2, 2007 @ 4:02 pm yeah, I was talking about picking up options but the same holds true for arbitration with Monroe and Prior. The date for that is December 1st. . =========================== ROB G: If a club wishes to get a compensation pick (or picks if it's a Type "A" FA) in the next year's Rule 4 Draft, players who file as Article XX free-agents and who remain unsigned through the month of November must be offered arbitration by their old club by December 1st, and if arbitration is offered, the player has until 12/7 to accept or decline. But December 12th is the deadline for tendering contracts to auto-renewal players and offering arbitration to players still under a club's control who are eligible for salary arbitration (like Cotts, Monroe, Prior, and Wuertz).

AZPHIL: "Because 1st base is Colvin’s “natural” position..." And, what about Hoffpaiur? sorry for the spelling... He showed such nice power and glove in ST 2007, right? I know he was injured, but...

The E-Man — November 2, 2007 @ 6:47 pm AZPHIL: “Because 1st base is Colvin’s “natural” position…” And, what about Hoffpaiur? sorry for the spelling… He showed such nice power and glove in ST 2007, right? I know he was injured, but… ====================== E-MAN: If he isn't added to the Cubs 40-man roster by November 20th (and doesn't selected in the upcoming Rule 5 Draft), I think Micah Hoffpauir (Hoff-POWER!) is a virtual lock to get an NRI to ST with the Cubs in 2008. He will be a six-year minor league FA after the 2008 season, so the Cubs will have to decide by this time next year if he will be Daryle Ward's replacement on the bench for 2009. Hopefully he will be 100% by next February.

Hey AZ Phil, thanks for nice the writeups. Have you seen Brandon Guyer and Clark Hardman? Do you think they can play CF in the higher minors and the bigs and if so, where would they compare to the low minors guys like Andersen/Johnson/Wyatt? Also, do you know what type of injury Al Alburquerque had at the end of last season and is it serious? Thanks!

Fair enough AZ Phil, I thought you were comparing him to a fully developed Green rather than a 20 year old version. Green used to have a cannon of a arm, not jus a 'playable' one. Now to be fair to me, at the age of 21 in AAA Green hit .344 .401 .510, but pro-baseball agewise they had similar experience when they both played in AA. Pie struck out less frequently in AAA last year than he did in his stint in the rookie league. It could be that your headlights effect is more to do with the quality of breaking balls than any psychological problem. It would be interesting to see his minor league pitch-by-pitch numbers to see if there really is a trend. Unless your name is Vlad Guererro, you can't be a great hitter without a little more plate discipline that Pie's exhibited, though. Hitting first-pitch fastball strikes doens't make you an undisciplined hitter. Nomar for example has made a career out of it, but he struck out way less often in his albeit brief minor league career.

Chuck — November 3, 2007 @ 9:50 am Howa bout Jeff Rea? =========================== CHUCK: I like Jeffrey Rea very much, but as with Matt Camp, I believe Rea's future is either as an everyday 2B, or a 2B-LF-CF-LHPH-PR, and in this particular article I was discussing the seven guys who I believe have the potential to be an everyday CF in the big leagues with the Cubs.

Navin — November 2, 2007 @ 7:06 pm Hey AZ Phil, thanks for nice the writeups. Have you seen Brandon Guyer and Clark Hardman? Do you think they can play CF in the higher minors and the bigs and if so, where would they compare to the low minors guys like Andersen/Johnson/Wyatt? Also, do you know what type of injury Al Alburquerque had at the end of last season and is it serious? Thanks! ==================================== NAVIN: If I remember correctly, Alberto Alburquerque had some kind of "shoulder tendinitis" that was not noted on any MRI, which is why the Cubs were convinced it wasn't all that serious. Alburquerque had TJ surgery two or three years ago, but I don't think he's had any elbow problems lately. As for Clark Hardman and Brandon Guyer, Hardman was (to me) the biggest disappointment of all of the Cubs Top 10 draft picks from this past June. He was a Freshman All-American at Cal-State Fullerton before tearing his labrum, and he has had his ups and downs since returning to action. He's a good flyhawk, but he seems to have a weak stick. I don't see him having much of a future as an everyday MLB CF at this point. Guyer is a good hitter and he runs pretty well, but he is a below-average defender in LF. I've never seen him play CF, but I can't imagine him being too good in that spot. Guyer also played infield at UVA, so I think I would probably develop him as a 3B-2B-1B-LF-RHPH. With Alfonso Soriano probably the Cubs LF through 2014, Guyer has zero future as an everyday LF if he remains with the Cubs, even though LF may indeed be his best position. I like Guyer's bat, though. He reminds me a lot of Matt Murton, except Guyer is a (slightly) faster runner.

As Arizona Phil points out, that there's some depth in Cf, I also think the catching position looks pretty strong and also the 3rd base position. When Wilken came here two short years ago, people said " he was an offensive scouting director who liked players up the middle". It looks like your seeing that starting to develope and probably more depth than this organization has had in some time.

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.