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

Cubs Play Long Ball with Dusty's Reds

Ryan Theriot had three hits, and Marlon Byrd, Mike Fontenot, and Jeff Baker mashed home runs, leading the Cubs to an 8-1 victory over Dusty Baker's Cincinnati Reds at Dwight Patterson Field at HoHoKam Park under mostly cloudy skies in warm Mesa, AZ.

 

box score

The Cubs got off to an early 3-0 lead, putting up a three-spot against Reds starter Carlos Fisher in the bottom of the 1st inning.

Ryan Theriot led-off with a ground single to center, and scored when Tyler Colvin crushed a one-out double off the Oregano's sign in right-centerfield. Marlon Byrd followed with a two-run homer (his team-leading 4th dinger of the Spring) off the Dos Gringos taco stand well beyond the left-centerfield fence.

Working with a 3-0 lead, Cubs starter Randy Wells mostly cruised through 5.2 IP (93 pitches - 61 strikes, 8/3 GO/FO), allowing just one run in the top of the 5th on a single, a double, and an RBI ground out. For the day, Wells scattered seven hits (five singles and two doubles), allowing one hit in five of his six innings, and then two hits in the one-run 5th. But he only walked one while striking out five (including the last batter he faced, with a runner on 2nd and one out in the 6th).

Justin Berg got the final out in the 6th (one pitch resulting in a 5-3 GO) to strand an inherited runner, and then Sean Marshall worked the 7th & 8th (34 pitches - 22 strikes), allowing a hit and a walk while striking out four (2/0 GO/FO). Marshall's curve was breaking sharply today, and really fooled the Reds hitters. Marshall's performance was very impressive.

While Marshall was mowing down the Reds, the Cubs scored two in the 7th and three in the 8th.

Facing veteran RHP Kip Wells, Geovany Soto was hit by a pitch (a glancing blow) leading off the bottom of the 7th, and then Jeff Baker and Ryan Theriot lined singles to load the bases. Kosuke Fukudome walked on a 3-1 pitch to force-in a run, and Tyler Colvin racked-up his second RBI of the game on a 6-4 FC, leaving runners at 1st & 3rd and one out. But Marlon Byrd bounced into a 4-6-4 DP to end the inning, with the Cubs ahead 5-1.

Micah Hoffpauir led-off the bottom of the 8th against Reds lefty Matt Maloney with a line single to right, and scored when Mike Fontenot crushed a HR off the Bud Lite Party Pavilion beyond the two bullpens in RF. Then with two outs, Jeff Baker slammed a home run to the base of the scoreboard beyond the fence in LF.

Rookie LHP James Russell worked a scoreless 9th (14 pitches - 12 strikes), allowing one hit and a WP around a Ks, an F-8 (nice running catch by Sam Fuld in deep left-center with his back to the infield), and a game-ending "can o' corn" F-8. (Russell has allowed just one unearned run on seven hits and three walks with nine strikeouts in 11.0 IP this Spring).

Chad Tracy had an odd day at the plate, striking out twice (both looking) and flying out to CF, but he also just missed a HR down the RF line (ball went out of the park, but foul), and then in his next AB he just missed a line-drive double down the RF line (ball landed just outside the line in foul territory).

Supposedly still battling for a spot on the Cubs 25-man roster, veteran Kevin Millar pinch-hit in the bottom of the 8th against LHP Matt Maloney and popped-up to the shortstop in short-CF. I suspect if they can't find a reason to place him on the DL, the Cubs will ask Millar to accept a 30-day vacation with Mike Wellman in Des Moines, after-which he will either get brought up to Chicago or he can have his release. By then, it should be obvious whether Tyler Colvin is getting enough playing time to justify keeping him on the 25-man roster. Or perhaps a position player will get hurt sometime in April and land on the DL, opening up a spot for Millar.

The Cubs will play the Giants tomorrow at Scottsdale Stadium.

Comments

I suspect if they can't find a reason to place him on the DL, the Cubs will ask Millar to accept a 30-day vacation with Mike Wellman in Des Moines, after-which he will either get brought up to Chicago or he can have his release. Is Mike Wellman looking for a roommate? Millar would make a good middle-aged frat bro.

Good breakdown of Caridad http://www.cubsfx.com/2009/09/esmailin-caridad-pitchfx-scouting.html I am interested to see how he will handle 8th inning relief when the game is on the line and runners in scoring position. I have read scouting reports that conclude he relies heavily on the fastball (big suprise when you throw 95-97), but my concern is his ability to command secondary pitches while mixing them up well enough to keep the opposition guessing. From all indication this spring, the kid throws strikes. He has only walked one in the 11 innings he has appeared in this spring. Granted, it is spring training which made me wonder how he will fare once the weather turns from spring break to fall break. The Cubs bullpen is the biggest and most important aspect of the 2010 season. The rotation should keep the team in the game and the offense, barring serious injury, should be able to score enough runs to compete (even if Soriano or Soto were to struggle). This team will need to concentrate on run production through efficient base running. I am concerned about the team's ability to run. They finished 15th overall in 2008 with 87 stolen bases and dead last with 56 in 2009. This 2010 team figures to finish near the bottom in stole bases again this year.

[ ]

In reply to by thedirtbag

How much diff will DeJesus make at first rather than what's his name that was there last yeat. Maybe they should have Greg go over the oppositions moves to give them the edge on the jump. Also, don't steal in the first when the infield is still mud on the road. The Dodgers do that all the time and it's a mess. Utilize the bunt in the first to get the runner over and then have Joey Gaithright in there to take 3rd. He's available, you know, and he should have a car placed at third to get that extra step.

[ ]

In reply to by thedirtbag

"I am interested to see how he will handle 8th inning relief when the game is on the line and runners in scoring position. " I think I can say we are all interested in this, Dirt. As well as: who will be the closer when/if Marmol does not get the job done? If you have a graph or chart to help me out on this potentially season-deciding mystery, let me know.

I have been traveling and out of the loop the last couple of weeks. Any nuggets on our new guys in the bullpen: Berg, Caridad, and Russel. That many rookies makes me nervous...if they don't throw strikes, Lou is sure to have a coronary in the dugout. Also, I can't wait to hear Santo try and pronounce "Esmailin Caridad"

Hey, the Lenny Bruce of the clubhouse can stay w/ us, especially if he helps get me into the ballpark; having credential problems w/ the I-Cubs after 3 years w/ no problems; think it's 'The Sandberg Effect...'

BTW, gonna miss Opening Night in Des Moines, w/ or w/o creds, since it coincides w/ Opening Night @ the theater [our son's spring play @ school]; hoping to make my first start @ a matinee on Sunday, 4/11...

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.