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 Pitchers Loosen Up Rockies with 19 Strikeouts

Doug Davis threw three innings of one-hit shutout ball, Todd Wellemeyer threw a 1-2-3 13-pitch inning, and Matt Loosen struck out eight in just 2.2 IP, as five EXST Cubs pitchers struck out 19 EXST Rockies batters en route to a 3-2 victory in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action at Fitch Park Field #3 in Mesa this morning.

Although the Cubs were ahead 3-0 after the end of the Rockies 9th, the game was extended to 11 innings so that additional Cubs and Rockies pitchers could get their pre-scheduled work.

Making his second start since signing a minor league contract with the Cubs last week, Davis (post-2010 elbow surgery rehab) made quick work of the Rockies, needing just 24 pitches (20 strikes) to retire nine of the ten men he faced. The only blemish was a two-out triple in the right-center gap in the top of the 1st inning, and that runner was left-stranded. Davis struck out two (both swinging), and had a 6/1 GO/FO rate, as his sinker was working very well. The veteran soft-tossing lefty kept the young Rockies hitters off-balance throughout his three-inning stint, mixing an 84 MPH sinker with a curve and a change-up.

Todd Wellemeyer (sore hip rehab) followed Davis to the mound, and had an easy 1-2-3 4th inning (F-8, 4-3, K), retiring the side on 13 pitches (nine strikes).

Because they threw so few pitches in the EXST game on Field #3, both Davis and Wellemeyer moved over to Field #2 to pitch in a “sim game” that was already in progress (Dustin Fitzgerald and Ramon Garcia had just completed their two innings), and threw an additional inning (15 pitches) each on top of their EXST game work.

RHP Matt Loosen (Cubs 2010 23rd round pick out of the U. of Jacksonville) took the mound to start the top of the 5th, and had an outstanding outing, striking out eight (seven swinging) in just 2.2 IP. Loosen did allow a double and he hit a batter, but he was mostly just plain unhittable. In two EXST outings so far, Loosen has thrown 6.1 IP of shutout ball, allowing three hits, one HBP, and no walks, with 10 strikeouts. He would likely be at the top of the list should the Cubs look to promote a pitcher from Extended Spring Training to Peoria.

RHP Yao-Lin Wang also threw 2.2 IP of shutout ball today, allowing a single and a walk, with three strikeouts (two swinging).

LHP Casey Harman was the one Cub pitcher who did allow runs today, giving up two (both earned) on three hits (two triples and an inside-the-park HR), although he did strike out five (four swinging).

The Cubs scored single runs in the 1st, 5th, and 8th innings. Kyung-Min Na led off the bottom of the 1st by scalding a single through the box, and scored on a one-out Wilson Contreras RBI double. Jesus Morelli reached base on an error to start the 5th, advanced to 3rd base on a two-base throwing error (errant pick-off attempt), and scored on a line drive SF to left by Johan DeJesus. Morelli then finished the Cubs scoring with a solo HR over the LF fence and onto 8th Street to open the bottom of the 8th.

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

LINEUP:
1. Kyung-Min Na, CF: 1-4 (1B, P-6, L-9, 4-3, R)
2. Dustin Harrington, SS: 1-4 (6-3, 6-3, F-9, 1B)
3. Wilson Contreras, 1B: 2-4 (2B, 5-3, 5-3, 1B, RBI, CS)
4. Dong-Yub Kim, DH #1: 1-4 (1B, F-7, K, K)
5. Dustin Geiger, 3B: 1-4 (P-2, K, 1-3, 1B)
6. Jesus Morelli, RF: 1-4 (5-3, E-6, HR, 4-3, 2 R, RBI)
7a. Johan DeJesus, C-DH: 0-2 (5-3, L-7 SF, K, RBI)
7b. Max Kwan, PH: 0-1 (5-3)
8. Eduardo Gonzalez, LF: 0-3 (K, 3-1, 6-3)
9. Hector Suarez, DH-C: 0-3 (3-1, K, 4-3)
10. Gregori Gonzalez, 2B: 0-3 (K, 3-1, P-4)

PITCHERS:
1. Doug Davis: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 24 pitches (20 strikes), 6/1 GO/FO
2. Todd Wellemeyer: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 13 pitches (9 strikes), 1/1 GO/FO
3. Matt Loosen: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 47 pitches (35 strikes)
4. Yao-Lin Wang: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 46 pitches (29 strikes), 2/3 GO/FO
5. Casey Harman: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 33 pitches (26 strikes)

ERRORS: 1
3B Dustin Geiger E5 – fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely

ATTENDANCE: 11

WEATHER: Partly cloudy & breezy with temperatures in the 80’s 

Comments

much better 1st inning for Russell

not that bad a pitch Ludwick hit out, low and inside curve haven't seen the Maybin one yet... back to .500 looming once again

WSox on verge of losing their 7th straight... schadenfreude at its finest

twitter buzz is that Q-Ball said Russell is better suited as situational lefty from here on out. They'll need a starter for Tuesday.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

BR has him at 6-3" and yeah, he's not going to catcher. Cubs have played him (in order of most games played) at 2B, LF, SS, 3B so we can see where that's going... maybe he shows enough to get the regular 2b job, which would be great, but more likely his best chance at the majors is the utility role. His power drop last year could be easily be explained by his HR's turning into doubles in the more pitcher-friendly FSL. also his drop from 2009 was .814 to .793 from A to Hi-A, there was 84 poor AA PA's that make it look a lot worse. Anyway, I don't know if he'll ever be a regular, but he's basically got 2 years to get there...certainly the early returns are promising right now.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

Serious Phil, are you unable to read post #33 and #36? A guy who plays every infield position including shortstop and hits with power from the left side should have some value. 3rd basement, Josh Vitters, Shorstop Starlin Castro, first basemen Prince Fielder, right field Colvin, left field Soriano. Based on what we've seen thus far, he may hit just well enough to play second, but if he can't field there, he's not going to get a lot of starts ahead of those other guys, with the exception possibly of Soriano, so we'll have a converted infielder playing left without the bat to support it... and LeMehieu may already have claimed the same super-sub spot by that time. Meanwhile, our backup catcher is Chris Robinson. I am not saying it's a slam dunk or anything, but to me it's certainly an intriguing idea. Now if he hits 30 HR's this year, then he becomes a legitimate starting prospect, and you think of his downside as a bench bat. But typically guys who are 4th and 5th outfielders and super utility players hit the bigs with the expectations of winning full-time jobs. As a rule of thumb - take what you hope the guy is gonna be in AA - down grade it one notch, and that's what he becomes.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

I assume that was a slip-up and you meant lefties, which is of course a big difference. But yeah, I'm going with the Cubs and Flaherty probably don't want to waste 2-3 years while he figures out how to be a catcher which wouldn't start until this fall, while he's currently kicking AA pitching around and seemingly good enough to play a variety of infield and outfield positions. I doubt he'll be a regular, although at 24, he still has a small window to improve and get in the conversation. And if he is 6'5" (or 6'3") that's probably one of the reasons why Wilkin drafted him and figured he'd grow into his frame and some power and not a guy they'd look to move to catcher even if there are some exceptions around the league.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

He's two years away right now at his current pace I guess, But let's say I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the majors next year, or even this September depending on how his season and the Cubs goes. so you're saying it would take 4-5 years? Chirinos started at age 24 with the catching thing and now at 28 is still not in the majors, so yeah, about that. You can start him converting him right now, you don't have to wait until the fall. you can, but that's not how it ever really works to my knowledge. Flaherty I'm sure still thinks of himself as still being a possible starter in the majors (as well he should), so he has to agree with the idea. That's the key issue imo. He also has to notice that Darwin Barney is the current 2b-men and Ramirez is gone next year or possibly two, so there's some openings or at least a chance to compete there. It's catching, not brain surgery. Isn't he also a coach's son? He is, but doesn't mean wants to do it. We can point to Chirinos as an example, but from Phil's report, Cubs thought of him as a future coach from the get-go and were probably on the verge of cutting him. .Also the Cubs have Soto, Castillo, Flores, Brenly, Robinson, Clevenger that he would fall behind because most organizations value defense from there backup catchers. At the moment, he's the Cubs best 2b prospect.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

Submitted by Charlie on Thu, 04/21/2011 - 7:06am. Flaherty's power is looking more legit. He hit 20 HRs in 2010, and he's got 4 already this year. If he is capable of 25+, can play good defense at 3B, fill in at 2B, 1B, LF and RF, and he can play SS in a pinch, then he's DeRosa, right? I doubt a conversion to Catcher is in the plans for Flaherty. He's 6'5" and he's hit well if not spectacularly. ================================ CHARLIE: Ryan Flaherty is a left-handed version of Jeff Baker, but with more HR power. But like a reverse Baker, Flaherty murders RHP, struggles against LHP, and his best positions are 3B-1B-2B. He seems to look most-comfortable at SS, because that's where he played in HS and college (Vanderbilt), even though he has very likely outgrown the position and lacks the range to play there at the big league level. I have seen him try to play LF, and he really struggles to track fly balls in the outfield. I don't know why, but he does. Flaherty would probably take Blake DeWitt's roster slot if he were to get called up to Chicago this year. (Flaherty is eligible for selection in next December's Rule 5 Draft, so he will very likely get added to the Cubs 40-man roster by the 11/20 deadline, if not during the season).

Hey Phil - Any Brian Schlitter sightings? I'm wondering if he is actually out for the year or if he could rehab and become a AAA arm by the end of the year. Hendry says he's happy to have him back, so I imagine he's hoping for more than just a roster exemption for the playoffs! Thanks!!!

[ ]

In reply to by craig

Submitted by craig on Thu, 04/21/2011 - 12:10pm. Phil, any info on Austin Reed? He looked very good last year, but I don't recall him being mentioned in any of your reports. Is he damaged goods? ================================== CRAIG: Austin Reed is on the EXST Cubs Active List. He was supposed to have pitched last Thursday, but I wasn't at that game so you wouldn't have seen an abridged box score for it. I think he's supposed to pitch tomorrow or Saturday. The problem right now is that there are just too many pitchers at Extended Spring Training, and the younger ones keep getting bumped from their outings by the rehab guys, who always get first priority. So then some pitchers end up throwing sim games if they get pushed back too far.

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.