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

Zambrano Throws Five Shutout Innings at HoHoKam

Carlos Zambrano threw five innings of three-hit shutout ball and Ryan Theriot drove in three runs with a bases-clearing double, leading a Cubs "split squad" to a 4-0 whitewashing of the Kansas City Royals in front of 11,842 fans at Dwight Patterson Field at HoHoKam Park in sunny & warm Mesa, AZ this afternoon.

 

Cubs-Royals box score

Zambrano labored through his first two innings, needing 45 pitches (25 in the 1st and 20 more in the 2nd) to get his first six outs. But then he started throwing strikes (26 of is last 37 pitches were strikes), retiring 11 of the last 13 men he faced. For the day, "Z" allowed two singles and a double, plus two walks, while striking out four (incuding David DeJesus twice), throwing a total of 82 pitches (51 strikes), with a 6/5 GO/FO.

RHP Casey Coleman was brought back from Minor League Camp for the day (he just got sent down yesterday), and pitched OK in his first inning (10 pitches - 8 strikes, with two strikeouts and a 6-3 grounder), before the Royals loaded the bases with one out in his second inning of work on a sharply-hit ground single to right, a line single to right-center, and a walk. But then Coleman was able to induce Cody Clark to hit into a 5-3 DP to end the threat and the inning.

RHP Esmailin Caridad pitched the 8th (14 pitches - 10 strikes), and while he threw strikes and got one punch-out, he also allowed two hard-hit singles before the side was retired on the defensive play of the game, a diving stop & throw by Cubs second-baseman D. J. Lemahieu (up from Minor League Camp) on a ball that was headed into RF. Lemahieu needed all of his 6'4 frame to reach the ball, and then he had the cool to make a solid throw to 1st base to cut down speedy Derrick Robinson by a half-step.

Closer Carlos Marmol pitched the 9th, and he needed 25 pitches (15 strikes) to strikeout the side, allowing just one harmless two-out single through the box into CF.

The Cubs scored all four of their runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning off Royals rookie LHP Edgar Osuna. Marlon Byrd led off with a double off the top of the LF fence (near HR) and advanced to 3rd on a one-out Alfonso Soriano ground single to left. Geovany Soto followed with an RBI infield single to deep short (outstanding acrobatic dive-stop & throw by KC SS Wilson Betenmit, BTW) that scored Byrd, and then Brad Snyder walked to load the bases. Carlos Zambrano struck out swinging (and he was clearly not happy with himself for his strike-three half-swing), but Ryan Theriot picked up "Z," lacing a line double into the LF corner to clear the bases.

Meanwhile, the other Cubs squad made the trip to Phoenix Municipal Stadium and faced the Oakland A's, losing 7-4.

Cubs-A's box score

Battling for a spot in the Cubs starting rotation, LHP Tom Gorzelanny got the start in Phoenix and went 3.2 IP, allowing two unearned run on four hits (two singles, a double, and a triple) and five walks (he has had major control problems all Spring), while striking out five. Sean Marshall clearly has out-pitched Gorzelanny this Spring, so if it's indeed a battle between the two lefties for one spot in the rotation (with Carlos Silva and Jeff Samardzija competing for the other starting slot), Marshall would probably win the starter's gig and Gorzelanny (who is out of minor league options) would be the #2 lefty in the bullpen.

Still in the mix for a possible bullpen spot, LHP John Gaub worked one inning in relief and struck out the side, but he also allowed two walks and a HBP (ex-Cub Jake Fox).

Micah Hoffpauir had two hits (a single and a double) and scored two runs (but he also made an error), and Ryan Flaherty (brought up from Minor League Camp for the game) drove in two runs with a double. Tyler Colvin went 0-4 with a strikeout.

Comments

Bruce Levine blog... http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/581/justin-berg-earns-sp… Berg in, Parisi vs Mateo, Gaub and Russell for the last spot. Which will be a short lived spot cause it belongs to Theodore Roosevelt Lilly III. Fuld vs Colvin, (that will be Fuld, they won't have Colvin rust on the bench) Tracy and/or Millar, (not sure how they can wiggle a spot for Happy the Clown unless they pull the 25 clowns in a VW trick) They will decide the starting rotation by Wed, 3/24 (Silva, Gorz, Marshall and Smush, which also will be short lived for the 2nd starter of the bunch, as long as Lilly returns in short order). and of course the elusive trade or waiver wire pickup could happen to screw the above up

Thanks AZ PHIL. It is as if I was there (and looking at the snow outside, I wish I was!). IS there a scenario where they could put Gorzo on an "extended DL" at all to start the season? To have him as a lefty in the pen when he is having major control issues, does obviously not make for an effective reliever. I believe there is some talent there, yet, as you have noted, Marshall has clearly out-pitched him this spring. Or, could Gorzelanny be moved in a trade for one of the oft-rumored Cubs RH relief interests?

With MLB Opening Day just two weeks from today, here are a couple or three things to keep in mind over the last two weeks of Spring Training... At present, the Cubs Spring Training roster stands at 40 (including seven NRI). Players can be placed on the 15-day DL no earlier than next Friday. Also, DL assignments made during the last week of Spring Training can be backdated no further back than next Friday. So expect Andres Blanco, Jeff Gray, Angel Guzman, and Ted Lilly to go on the 15-day DL next Friday. (Players can be placed on the 60-day DL anytime during Spring Training, but to place a player on the 60, the club's 40-man roster must be full and the player must be replaced on the 40 by another player). Angel Guzman will likely be the first player to be transferred to the 60 day DL (or be transferred from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL) during the season if the Cubs get to the point where they run out of room on the 40-man roster, and Gooz would also provide the Cubs with a post-season roster exemption (presuming the Cubs can get there). Chad Tracy likely has the right to get his release if he is not added to the Cubs 40-man roster by a certain date, probably several days prior to Opening Day (same as Paul Bako last year). So the Cubs may need to decide about Tracy sooner rather than later, possibly as soon as some time this week. And I would be very surprised that, if it's indeed between Tracy and Kevin Millar for one slot, that Millar would get the job. Tracy can play 1B and 3B and is one of the best LHPH in baseball, while Millar essentially is the poor man's Xavier Nady, maybe not even that. So I would say Tracy gets that slot for sure, and Millar gets one ONLY if Nady starts the season on the DL. And if Nady does start the season on the DL because he can't make throws from RF, it would probably be in his best interest to tell Jim Hendry that he will waive his automatic "no trade" (as an Article XX FA signee, he has an automatic NT through 6/15) if he can get traded to an A. L. team where he can DH. That's because Nady has a $3.3M base salary with an additional $2M in performance bonuses based on games played and PA, which he probably won't reach if he spends a period of time on the DL at the start of the season rehabbing his elbow, or if he is on the 25-man roster but is just used as a PH. If Nady were to waive his NT (and request a trade to an A. L. club), the Cubs could trade him prior to June 15th, but only for cash or player contracts with a maximum aggregate value of $50,000 (meaning minor league player or playes not on 40-man roster). So he could NOT be traded for an MLB reliever (for example) prior to 6/15 even if he waives his NT. If Sam Fuld had had just an average Spring Training he'd get the 4th OF job without a second thought (he can play all three OF positions, he can PR, he hits LH and RH pitching about equally well, and he can come into a game in a double-switch and replace Soriano in LF in the late-innings when the Cubs are trying to protect a lead), but Tyler Colvin has so clearly out-hit Fuld this Spring, it's hard to automaticaly give the job to Fuld. But Colvin really needs to play everyday, so I think Fuld gets the 4th OF job no matter what, and Colvin goes to Iowa. James Adduci has had a good Spring, and might be considered for the 4th OF gig (because that IS his future occupation), but I suspect the Cubs probably think he needs some time in AAA (he has not yet played above AA). Andres Blanco is out of minor league options, so he probably would get claimed off waivers if the Cubs try to send him to the minors when he is ready to be reinstated from the DL. But Darwin Barney has played well enough in Spring Training to be the Plan "B" at SS in case Theriot gets hurt and Starlin Castro is deemed not yet ready for Prime Time. So I think Blanco is ultimately a goner. The only way Blanco gets a reprieve is if Piniella believes he needs a true SS on the 25-man roster to back-up Theriot, and that would mean either Fuld, Tracy, or Nady/Millar would have to go to make room for Blanco when he's ready to be reactivated. Which could happen, but right now it doesn't seem likely. Up until now, Jeff Samardzija has not earned a spot on the Cubs Opening Day 25-man roster, but he has a $2.5M guaranteed salary in 2010, and that might be why he gets a slot on the 25. It shouldn't be that way, but it probably is. (He does have one minor league option left, though). I still don't see what the Cubs fall-back option is at closer, in case Carlos Marmol has thrown too many days in a row, or gets hurt, or is just plain ineffective. John Grabow is no closer, and neither is Caridad, Berg, or Samardzija. I can't believe the Cubs won't go hard after Jason Frasor before Opening Day (harder than they have previously). A contending team (or one that thinks it is) needs a Plan "B" fall-back closer who has MLB closer experience and who can be used as an 8th inning set-up guy when he's not needed as the closer. If the Cubs were Washington, Pittsburgh, or San Diego, it wouldn't matter about not having a back-up closer with MLB closer experience, but I doubt that Hendry thinks of the Cubs that way. The bullpen could be the Cubs Achilles Heel in 2010. It looks VERY shaky right now.

[ ]

In reply to by Hagsag

Submitted by Hagsag on Sun, 03/21/2010 - 10:29am. Az. Phil, how do you see the catching situation shaking out between the four minor lge teams to start the year? =========================================== HAGSAG: I had thought that Welington Castillo might go back to AA for another year, because he is still very raw and he won't be out of minor league options until Spring Training 2013 (so why push him?), but I think the Cubs want him at AAA. If Castillo is assigned to Iowa, that creates a problem because I would think Chris Robinson and Steve Clevenger would ordinarily share catching duties at Iowa, with Mark Johnson as a player-coach who could be activated whenever a position player goes on the 7-day DL. But I don't know if the Cubs would keep Castillo, Robinson, and Clevenger at Iowa, because there just wouldn't be enough playing time for three catchers, although Clevenger could play some 1B (except Bryan Lahair and Micah Hoffpauir will probably be there, too). It's possible that if Castillo ends up at Iowa that either Chris Robinson or Steve Clevenger could get moved down to AA, just to get them more-regular playing time. Robinson Chirinos probably will be back at AA again, probably as the #1 back-up behind either W. Castillo, Robinson, or Clevenger. Blake Lalli and Mark Reed will probably get released (Reed's hitting just hasn't progressed, and he is going to be a Rule 55 minor league FA post-2010 anyway), but the Cubs might want to keep Lalli at Tennessee as a player-coach (activated whenever a position player goes on the 7-day DL). And then it will probably be Michael Brenly, Luis Flores, and Mario Mercedes at Daytona, and Jae-Hoon Ha, Jovan Rosa, and Richard Jones (unless Jones is moved to 1B or LF full-time) at Peoria. If Ha is sent to EXST to work on his defense, Jose Guevara could be his replacement at Peoria, or else Guevara could end up at EXST or he could get released. John Contreras and Alvaro Sosa will probably get released, although one (or both) could be kept around as a player-coach at Daytona or Peoria. And then Sergio Burruel, Carlos Romero, Garrett Maines, and Brandon May will probably be the catchers at EXST, with Burruel and either Maines or May likely headed for Boise (or Maines and/or May could get released at the end of EXST) and Romero staying at Fitch Park (AZL Cubs) when the short season clubs begin play in June, although Burruel could also remain at Fitch Park (AZL Cubs) for another season.

[ ]

In reply to by Hagsag

Submitted by Hagsag on Sun, 03/21/2010 - 11:57am. Is Jovan Rosa a legit catching prospect? Thanks. ======================================= HAGSAG: Way too soon to tell. He's only ben catching since AZ Instructional League last Fall. He might be kept at Extended Spring Training to work on his catching, then move up to Peoria or Daytona in mid-June (as happened with Robinson Chirinos a couple of years ago). Jae-Hoon Ha is more advanced than Rosa as a catcher, because at least he was a catcher in HS. (The Cubs moved Ha to the OF after he signed, then they moved him, Rosa, and Brandon May to catcher in Instructs last Fall).

from the Cubs radio pregame (Judd Sirott)...Joe Nathan will undergo Tommy John elbow reconstruction. it will be interesting if this impacts the market for Jason Frasor although I'd expect the Twins go after Heath Bell

Silva left the game after 2 innings today because of tightness in his quad. But he immediately went to the bullpen and began throwing, so it can't be too bad. Also, Tyler Colvin is awesome.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

I'm just saying that's a huge jump, and he had a 6 year track record of not being a hr guy (2 full seasons in the minors with 5 hr's or less). Maybe he just put it all together. Ryno made a big jump but he had a much shorter MLB track record before he jumped up to 19 hr's. Plus, with Ryno we saw him start turning on balls. I haven't watched Mauer to see how he has evolved as a hitter. I've never heard anyone talk about him as a HGH or roid guy. But he had a relatively long track record of not hitting lots of homers. Now he's going to average $23 million a year for 8 years. If he goes back to being a 9-10-11 hr guy, it's kind of like you're paying Wade Boggs $23 million a year to catch (although in this day and age, Boggs probably would have made gobs of money in his prime).

From Yahoo sports: “Lehr was only supposed to go three innings, but his pitch count was so low we had him go four,” manager Dusty Baker said." Beware the Duster, Aroldis!

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

Even if he can't throw, he's about as versatile as a Hoffpauir-type player (he can play 1B and the trade-off on the arm would probably equal the tradeoff on glove in the outfield), who would probably take his spot if he didn't make it. Unless he's being traded (dumped) on an AL team, they might as well keep him.

What if the cubs cut Jeff Baker. keep Chad Tracy to back up third and first. Then keep D. Barney to back up second and short he would be a much better defensive choice for short then fontenot would be.Just a thought.

[ ]

In reply to by rokfish

I like this concept of taking a hard look at Jeff Baker, revoking his "made" status and just putting him in the mix with other guys trying to earn a spot on the 25-man. I was looking at Baker's fielding stats recently, and he's not really a middle infielder. He never played shortstop a day in his pro life, and he only started playing 2nd in 2008, including in the minors, where he played third base and some outfield. With Theriot, Fontenot and Baker you have three middle infielders who are mediocre at best, and you've axed capable defenders like Blanco and Barney. That's fine, as long as you're never protecting a one-run lead, late, and one of your middle infielders has to make a play that's slightly more than routine.

Piniella said that trainer Mark O’Neil advised him that he could use outfielder Xavier Nady in the outfield sometime by the end of this coming week. Piniella doesn’t want Nady to throw all out, but insists that the outfielder needs to play in order to get his legs game-ready for the season. Piniella said unequivocally, that Nady will be on the 25-man roster, not on the disabled list to start the season.
http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/590/cubs-news-and-notes-…

looking at the schedule and when Cubs might need Nady to start... @ Atlanta - Hanson, Lowe, Hudson or Jurrjens, so no lefties @ Cincy - possibly Chapman, otherwise rotation is all righties vs Brewers - Wolf, Davis would most likely pitch vs. Astros - could see Wandy Rodriguez @ NY Mets - Johan, O. Perez, possibly J. Neise @ Brewers - Wolf and Davis again vs. Nationals - Lannan or Olson possibly vs. DBacks - don't think they have a lefty I guess we'll see what happens, but I'm guessing Nady wouldn't play b2b games, but could start if needed and that might not have to happen until the 2nd week of the season.

just a cramp, according to the Levine link in #53

C - Soto, Hill INF - Lee, Fontenot, Theriot, Ramirez, Baker, 1 of Tracy, Millar, Hoffpauir OF - Fukudome, Byrd, Soriano, Nady, Fuld or Colvin SP - Z, Dempster, Wells, Marshall, Silva RP - Marmol, Grabow, Berg, Caridad, Gorzelanny, Samardzija, 1 of Gaub, Russell, Mateo or Parisi DL - Lilly, Guzman, Blanco and I could see Samardzija being optioned if he's not starting, leaving a 2nd spot open for one of those 4 competing.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Samardzija being optioned if he's not starting Please and thank you. If his only problem were that he does not now have nor will ever an effective 3rd pitch, then I'd say he's a bullpen pitcher. But his most prominent issue right now is his lack of control, so they might as well send him AAA to get his innings in. He's much more likely to work out those control issues in the rotation--and once he finds some command they can decide whether he helps the club more as a starter or reliever.

I listened to Saturday's game while driving to Chicago for a party and listened to WGN broadcast. ~4th Inning, Hughes on the mic: Cubs have played KC 15 times since interleague began Cardinals play KC every year as interleague rival Cubs and NL Central have to root for KC to beat Cardinals Cue Santo: Do the Cardinals play Cincinnati in interleague? Who does St Louis play in interleague? Pat: What? Santo: St Louis plays Kansas City, right? Pat: Right. 2-2 count on... ~5th Inning, Hughes: Brian Anderson, formerly of the White Sox hit for the cycle in a ST game in his first 4 at bats. The blond haired young man had the cycle by the 4th inning. I can't remember any hitting for the cycle by the 4th inning. Santo: No, Pat, I can't. Pat: An incredible feat by the youngster. Usually there is a 5th at bat when hitting for the cycle, and a player has to face a late inning reliever making the feat more difficult. Cue Santo: Is this the same Brian Anderson that played for the White Sox? I can't believe how awful Santo is. I don't think he even listens to Pat Hughes. While listening I decided that Ron is definitely mentally challenged or he has lost the mental ability to hold up a conversation, even about baseball. Perhaps dementia? We love ya', Ron, but Jesus Christ.

[ ]

In reply to by Jumbo

I have personally just sucked it up and try to let it roll off and advise you to do the same or you will go nuts and make it worse on top of listening to a frustrating baseball team. Santo is 70, battles more than we do on an every day basis, and will end up dying in the booth. Unless, he "retires", of course. Which I cannot imagine, unfortunately.

[ ]

In reply to by Jumbo

It's better if you just have fun with it. ...but yeah, he's rather terrible.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

I was really just hoping someone would get a laugh out of it. I mean, this really happened on the air! It's unbelievable to me. I understand his role to the organization and everything that goes along with that. Pat must be pulling his hair out on some days

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.