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

Peoria Chiefs Invade Arizona

D. J. LeMahieu singled, doubled, and tripled, and scored two runs, Ryan Flaherty reached base four times (double, two singles, and a walk), scored twice, and drove-in a run, Michael Brenly doubled and tripled and scored twice, Dong-Yub Kim singled and tripled, scored one run, and knocked-in another, and Rebel Ridling had four RBI, but it wasn't quite enough offense to provide a victory, as the Cubs and Brewers played to a 9-9 tie in Arizona Instructional League action at Fitch Park Field #3 this afternoon in sunny and VERY hot Mesa, Arizona. 

The Instructional League features a virtual all-star team from each organization, which for the Cubs means most of their best prospects from Peoria, Boise, and AZL Cubs (Mesa), plus a few older prospects at Instructs to work on specific aspects of their game. Other players are there to learn a new position (3B-1B Jovan Rosa and IF-OF Brandon May are being converted to catchers).

All of the Cubs minor league coordinators and instructors are present at Fitch Park each day (Monday through Saturday), as are many of the minor league managers, pitching coaches, and hitting instructors, so the kids get a lot of intense instruction on a daily basis. The players work out for several hours before each game, and then the players who are not in the lineup that day work with instructors on adjoining fields during the game.  .  

The Cubs got off to an early 5-1 lead today, as starting pitcher Alberto Cabrera threw two-hit one-run ball over three innings  while the Cubs scored a run in the 1st on a double by Flaherty and a two-out RBI single by Ridling, and then four more in the 3rd that featured two-run RBI doubles by Hak-Ju Lee and Ridling.

But the Cubs relief corps couldn't hold the lead, as the Brewers scored seven runs on four hits, three walks, two wild pitches, and a balk in innings 4-5-6-7 off Rafael Dolis, Jose Rosario, and Austin Kirk (although Dolis and Kirk did combine to strike out eight Brewers in just four innings of work). 

But the Cubs offense kept the pressure on the Brewers, scoring single runs in the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th to take a 9-8 lead into the 9th, as LeMahieu doubled and scored on an RBI FC in the 5th, Brenly doubled and scored on an RBI FC in the 6th, LeMahieu tripled and scored on an RBI single by Flaherty in the 7th, and Brenly tripled and scored on a one-out infield single by Runey Davis in the 8th (and then Davis promptly got picked-off 1st).

Corey Martin entered the game in the top of the 9th with a save opportunity, but he surrendered three hard hit singles, allowing the Brewers to tie the game. Martin was saved from further damage thanks to a fine running catch by CF Kyung-Min Na that the little Korean turned into a nifty 7-6 DP to end the inning and give the Cubs a chance to win the game in their half of the inning, but the Cubs left LeMahieu stranded on the base in the bottom of the 9th.  

Outfielders Dong-Yub Kim and Kyung-Min Na are the latest Korean teenagers signed by the Cubs to big bucks bonus contracts, and it's pretty obvious why Kim was rated by many scouts as the top high school player in South Korea. He is a big kid, a right-handed hitter with plus-speed and plus-power, the protypical five-tool outfielder.

Na is a litlle guy, maybe 5'6 130. He is a left-handed slap hitter who uses a toothpick for a bat, but he is fast runner (although Hak-Ju Lee is faster), and an outstanding defensive CF with s plus-arm. Na is so small he makes Tony Campana look like the Incredible Hulk. I understand Na was lost for several hours last week until the Fitch Park ground crew could mow the lawn and give the kid a chance to see over the tops of the blades of grass and find his way to the clubhouse.             

While fellow Koreans Su-Min Jung, Hak-Ju Lee, and Jae-Hoon Ha were playing at Boise and Dae-Eun Rhee was rehabbing from TJS at Fitch Park, Kim and Na spent the summer at the MLB Australian Baseball Academy while waiting for their H2B visas to get processed.

The Cubs also signed three Taiwanese players this year (RHPs Tzu-An Wang and Yao-Lin Wang and 2B Pin-Chieh Chen), and they are supposed to participate in the AZ Instructional League, although they hadn't reported as of last week. 

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

LINE-UP:
1. Hak-Ju Lee, SS: 1-5 (F-7, 2B, 4-3, 6-3, 6-3), R, 2 RBI 
2. D. J. LeMahieu, 2B: 3-5 (6-3, F-9, 2B, 3B, 1B), 2 R
3. Ryan Flaherty, 3B: 3-4 (2B, BB, 1B, 1B, F-8), 2 R, RBI
4, Rebel Ridling, 1B: 2-4 (1B, 2B, FC, F-9), 4 RBI
5. Kyler Burke, RF: 0-4 (FC, F-8, K, K)
6a. Jovan Rosa, C: 0-2 (K, 5-3)
6b. Michael Brenly, C: 2-2 (2B, 3B), 2 R
7. Justin Bour, DH #1: 1-4 (K, F-7, 1B, 4-3)
8. Runey Davis, LF: 1-4 (L-7, K, K, 1B), RBI, PO
9. Dong-Yub Kim, DH #2: 2-4 (1B, 3B, FC, K), R, RBI
10. Kyung-Min Na, CF: 0-3 (BB, 6-3, K, 3-U), R

PITCHERS:
1. Alberto Cabrera - 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 WP,1 GIDP, 6/2 GO/FO, 44 pitches (25 strikes)
2. Rafael Dolis - 2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 1 BALK, 1/0 GO/FO, 50 pitches (30 strikes)
3. Jose Rosario - 1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 1/2 GO/FO, 17 pitches (8 strikes)
4. Austin Kirk - 2.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 2/0 GO/FO, 37 pitches (24 strikes)
5. Corey Martin - 1.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 1/2 GO/FO, 15 pitches (11 strikes)

ERRORS: NONE

CATCHERS DEFENSE  No stolen base attempts and no passed balls

OUTFIELD ASSISTS: Kyung-Min Na (2) - 1) threw out runner trying to stretch single into a double, and 2) doubled runner off 2nd base on line drive to CF

WEATHER: 106 hot & sunny

ATTENDANCE: 19 (mostly scouts)

Comments

The fact that the Cubs have a player in their system named Rebel Ridling is pretty much the best news of the season.

Az Phil...so of these group of kids, which hitter will see the majors first? Thanks. We've been eager for your posts. The last 2 weeks of this season seemed to have lasted months.

it's not even been a month, but it feels like months...thanks for the content all pre-season until now and beyond azPhil. 106 or not, arizona baseball sounds like it's great fun for those that bother to seek it out.

Submitted by Cubster on Mon, 09/28/2009 - 11:25pm.
Az Phil...so of these group of kids, which hitter will see the majors first?

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

CUBSTER: Probably Ryan Flaherty. He was the Supplemental 1st round pick (41st overall) the Cubs got for losing Jason Kendall post-2007. Besides playing SS at Vanderbilt, Flaherty also played 2B for Team USA in his college days. He's a big left-handed hitter with plus-power who is outgrowing shortstop. I suspect he will end up as a corner IF-OF (3B-1B-LF-RF) at the higher levels. He hit 20 HR with 81 RBI at Peoria in 2009, but he REALLY came on strong the second half of the season (308/372/498 post-All-Star Break), and so I wouldn't be surprised if he gets jumped to AA in 2010. His biggest negative is his mediocre splits versus LHP, giving some indication that he might be a platoon player down the line. I rate Flaherty the Cubs #10 prospect right now.

Rebel Ridling (2008 25th round pick out of Oklahoma State) could jump from Peoria to AA next season, too. Like Flaherty, Ridling really got hot the second half of the MWL season (353/397/516 post-ASB). There is no other legitimate 1B prospect ahead of him at Daytona, Tennessee, or Iowa, he's a good hitter with power, and even though he's as big as a horse, he's fairly mobile around the bag and is a Gold Glove caliber first-baseman (which is more than could be said about Brian Dopirak, for instance). Unlike Flaherty, Ridling hits both LHP and RHP equally well. I rate Ridling the Cubs #15 prospect at this time.

Hey AZ Phil. Thanks for the post. When did Jovan Rosa start catching? Is he any good? How has his offense been this year? Also, what's your impression of LeMahieu so far?

I'm surprised Flaherty got sent down to Fall Instructs. I suppose the more at-bats, the better though. Hopefully Burke can carry over his great year in Peoria. I'd like to see him spend most the year in AA, if he can mash at High A next year. And thanks, AZPhil, for the updates. I really look forward to these. This Dong-Yub Kim sounds pretty interesting. I can't wait to see your report on the 3 Taiwanese players, especially Tzu-An Wang.

Great Stuff Phil - Always love hearing about the farm (especially after a year like this). I'm very interested in your view of the top 10 or 15 prospects if you care to share. I am hoping that some of the top guys can come along quicker than it seems to contribute to the big club. Any hope for a front line starter or top closer from Cashner or Jackson? Any chance we can actually count on a young stud to build around in the future (Castro, Vitters). Please give us some hope.

This post has made my post-minor league baseball withdrawal even worse. It was a lot of fun watching Peoria this year. Maybe there's a cheap Allegiant flight I could take down to Phoenix to get a fix... :)

Phil, I have a few questions about Arizona (interested in moving out there someday, went there in '07 for Spring Training and loved it): Can anyone get in to the Cubs workouts (like Soto, BJ Ryan, ect.) in Mesa? Is it free? Are the Mesa Cubs games free to get into? How about Mesa Solar Sox AFL? Thanks!

Oh my gosh, I can't believe Kyung-Min Na is that small. He got the biggest bonus of any Cub Pac Rim player this year according to Korean newspapers.

Theriot, Fukudome, Lee, Hoffpauir, Baker, Fontenot, Soto, Fuld, Dempster vs. McCutchen, LaRoche, Jones, Doumit, Milledge, Moss, Young, Cruz, K. Hart

Submitted by Charlie on Tue, 09/29/2009 - 5:06am.

When did Jovan Rosa start catching? Is he any good? How has his offense been this year?

Also, what's your impression of LeMahieu so far?

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

CHARLIE: Jovan Rosa just started catching a week ago, so he has a lot to learn. Unless the experinent is terminated early, he'll probably have to spend next April-May-June at Extended Spring Ttraining at Fitch Park, before getting assigned to Daytona. Whether catcher becomes just one other position he can play (in addition to 1B and 3B) or becomes his primary position is yet TBD. Rosa is kind of "bottom-heavy," which is probably why the Cubs thought he might make a good catcher.

Rosa struggled offensively at Daytona the first half of the 2009 season after leading the Midwest League in doubles in 2008 when he played for Peoria, and he ended up back at Peoria the last half of the '09 season. It would help if he could develop a bit of lift in his swing and/or learn to turn on the ball so that he can hit more HR, because he's basically a line-drive hitter with below-average speed right now.

D. J. LeMahieu is an offensive-first player, a good hitter with an opposite-field line drive stroke, and plus-speed. He's also a hyper-aggressive base-runner who puts pressure on the opposing team while sometimes running himself into outs. LeMahieu has lots of trouble turning the DP, so he may have to move to either 3B or somewhere in the outfield. He doesn't have the HR power needed to play 3B or a corner OF slot right now, but he does have the athleticism, speed, and arm to to play CF. So if he can't get the hang of turning the DP and if he doesn't develop HR power, I would say CF would probably be his best position.

Submitted by Raisin101 on Tue, 09/29/2009 - 3:48pm.

Oh my gosh, I can't believe Kyung-Min Na is that small. He got the biggest bonus of any Cub Pac Rim player this year according to Korean newspapers

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

RAISIN: Na is a fast runner AND a really good defensive CF with a plus arm, so maybe that's the little extra that made him a more-valuable prospect than (let's say) Tony Campana or Jose Valdez. Also, Na is still only 17, so he might have a growth spurt in him (maybe a couple of inches and 25 pounds?), as happened with Hak-Ju Lee last off-season.

Submitted by Cubbiefan07 on Tue, 09/29/2009 - 3:43pm.

I have a few questions about Arizona (interested in moving out there someday, went there in '07 for Spring Training and loved it):

Can anyone get in to the Cubs workouts (like Soto, BJ Ryan, ect.) in Mesa? Is it free? Are the Mesa Cubs games free to get into? How about Mesa Solar Sox AFL?

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

CUBBIE FAN: Minor League Spring Training, Extended Spring Training, AZL, and AZ Instructional League games (and work-outs) at Fitch Park and the other minor league facilities are free, but AFL games cost $6 ($5 for seniors). You can buy an AFL season pass for around $75 that gets you into any game at any of the stadiums,, which is a good deal if you attend more than a dozen AFL games in any given season.

Submitted by Cubs Win on Tue, 09/29/2009 - 9:43am.
Great Stuff Phil -

Always love hearing about the farm (especially after a year like this). I'm very interested in your view of the top 10 or 15 prospects if you care to share. I am hoping that some of the top guys can come along quicker than it seems to contribute to the big club.

Any hope for a front line starter or top closer from Cashner or Jackson? Any chance we can actually count on a young stud to build around in the future (Castro, Vitters). Please give us some hope.

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

CUBS WIN: I'll do a Cubs Top 15 after Instructs and the AFL games are over in mid-November. Right now I would say Jay Jackson is the Cubs #1 starting pitcher prospect (possibly as soon as next season), with Cashner a future 8th inning set-up man or closer (also possibly next season). Both Vitters and Castro project as MLB every-day players, but exactly when they will be MLB-ready is still (as yet) unclear. Probably not before 2011, though.

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.