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

Long Balls & Stolen Bases Lead Cubs to Victory over Brew Crew

Reggie Golden and Marco Hernandez ripped home runs and the EXST Cubs stole five bases en route to a 7-4 victory over the EXST Brewers in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action at Paul Molitor Field at the Maryvale Baseball Complex in Phoenix this morning.

Doug Davis (2010 elbow surgery rehab) got the start for the Cubs and threw four innings (62 pitches – 44 strikes), allowing one run on four hits (a triple, two doubles, and a single) and a walk, with five strikeouts (four swinging) and one WP (and a nifty pick-off, too). Davis mixed a slow fastball with a slower curve and a really slow change-up to generally keep the young Brewers hitters off-stride, although when they hit the ball, it was hit with authority. Besides the four hits (three XBH) allowed by Davis, the veteran soft-tossing lefty’s day also featured three “loud” hard-hit line drive outs (one of which required an inning-ending run-saving spectacular diving catch by LF Jose Valdez).

Angel Guzman threw an 11-pitch 1-2-3 5th inning (6-3, P-5, 2-3) in relief of Davis, as the right-hander continues his rehab from 2010 shoulder surgery.

Mixing a 91 MPH fastball with a slow curve, a change-up, and a wipe-out hard slider, Matt Loosen (Cubs 2010 23rd round draft pick out of U. of Jacksonville) followed-up his eight-strikeout performance (over 2.2 IP) versus the EXST Rockies last week with four more strikeouts in two innings of work (40 pitches) today. The 22-year old 6'2 right-hander did struggle a bit with his control, however, throwing only 53% strikes and walking two.

The Cubs took the lead in the top of the 1st inning, as Marco Hernandez (batting LH) cracked a two-run home run (his second EXST HR) over the RF fence, driving-in Jose Valdez who had reached base on a one-out opposite-field line-drive single to left. Hernandez has some pop when he hits left-handed, but is a "slap hitter" when batting from the right side. (A natural lefty swinger, Hernandez learned to switch-hit at AZ Instructs last fall).

Cubs 2010 #2 draft pick Reggie Golden clubbed a solo HR over the LF fence to lead-off the top of the 2nd, and the Cubs took a 4-0 lead after Dong-Yub Kim drew a walk, was moved up to 2nd base on a Doug Davis sac-bunt, and scored on a Wes Darvill line-drive RBI single to CF.

After the Brewers tied the score at four with a three-spot off RHP Justin Bristow (2010 non-TJS elbow surgery rehab) in the bottom of the 7th, the Cubs came right back in the top of the 8th with three runs of their own. Wes Darvill singled to open the inning, and after PH Vismeldy Bieneme and Kyung-Min Na drew one-out walks to load the bases, speedy Jose Valdez drove-in the go-ahead run with a FC, just barely beating the relay to 1st base on what otherwise could have been an inning-ending (and rally-killing) 6-4-3 DP. Valdez and Vismeldy Bieneme then pulled off a double-steal (with Bieneme scoring and Valdez taking 2nd base, and then Valdez advancing to 3rd base on an overthrow), and Valdez scored when Marco Hernandez reached base on an E-6. 

In EXST Cubs roster news, LHP Casey Harman (2010 29th round draft pick - Clemson) has been promoted to Peoria, and catcher Chad Noble (Cubs 2010 37th round draft pick - Northwestern) has been sent to Extended Spring Taining from Peoria. Harman was the #1 starter (Friday night starter) at Clemson, but the Cubs have worked him exclusively as a lefty reliever going back to his pro debut at AZ Instructs last fall (8.64 ERA – 2.04 WHIP - .359 Opp BA - 8.1 IP, 14 H, 8 R (8 ER), 3 BB, 8 K, 1 WP, 2 PO, 3/7 GO/FO, 7 GAMES at AZ Instructs) and at Minor League Camp and EXST this season (8.31 ERA - 1.61 WHIP - .350 Opp BA - 4.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R (4 ER), 0 BB, 10 K, 1 HR, 1 GIDP, 3 GAMES at EXST). He racked-up nine strikeouts over his last two EXST games (three innings). 

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

NOTE: To practice his bunting, Doug Davis took an insert-AB in the top of the 1st, 2nd, and 5th innings, striking out (foul bunt) batting fifth with a runner on 1st base and one out in the 1st inning, laying down a sacrifice bunt batting third with a runner on 1st base and no outs in the 2nd inning, and striking out (bunted through pitch) batting third with a runner at 1st base and one out in the 5th inning.

LINEUP:
X. Doug Davis, P: 0-2 (K, 3-4 SH, K)
1. Kyung-Min Na, CF: 1-3 (K, K, 1B, BB)
2. Jose Valdez, LF: 1-3 (1B, 4-3, 5-3 SH, 6-4 FC, 2 R, RBI, 2 SB)
3. Marco Hernandez, SS: 1-4 (HR, F-7, F-7, E-6, R, 2 RBI)
4. Jesus Morelli, DH-RF: 1-4 (1B, K, 6-3, 6-3, 2 SB)
5. Wilson Contreras, 3B: 1-3 (BB, 1B, K, F-9, 2 CS)
6. Reggie Golden, DH #2: 2-4 (HR, K, 1B, L-9, R, RBI)
7. Dong-Yub Kim, 1B: 1-3 (BB, P-2, 6-4-3 DP, 1B, R)
8. Wes Darvill, 2B: 2-3 (1B, BB, 1B, F-7, R, RBI)
9a. Yaniel Cabezas, C: 1-2 (5-3, 1B)
9b. Johan DeJesus, C: 0-1 (4-3)
10a. Oliver Zapata, RF-DH: 0-2 (K, K)
10b. Vismeldy Bieneme, PH: 0-0 (BB, R, SB)

PITCHERS:
1. Doug Davis: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 5 K, 1 WP, 1 PO, 62 pitches (44 strikes), 1/5 GO/FO
2. Angel Guzman: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 B, 0 K, 2/1 GO/FO, 11 pitches (6 strikes)
3. Justin Bristow: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 4 K, 2 BALKS, 36 pitches (23 strikes), 1/0 GO/FO
NOTE: Bristow’s second inning was stopped with two outs when he reached his max pitch limit
4. Matt Loosen: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 40 pitches (21 strikes), 2/0 GO/FO

ERRORS: 3
1. 1B Dong-Yub Kim E3 – fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely
2. CF Kyung-Min Na E8 – fielding error allowed batter to advance an extra base on a single to CF
3. C Johan DeJesus E2 – throwing error (overthrow) on stolen base at 3rd base allowed runner to score

CATCHERS DEFENSE
Johan DeJesus: 0-1 CS, 1 E (see above)

ATTENDANCE: 7

WEATHER: Sunny & breezy with temperatures in the 80’s

 

Comments

"Davis mixed a slow fastball with a slower curve and a really slow change-up to generally keep the young Brewers hitters off-stride" so...he's in mid-season form. cool. can't wait to see that 86mph fastball in cubbie blue. cheaper than brandon webb at least...

Barney homered to deep left, Fukudome scored. 60 mph winds out to left tonight?

Cubs 3, Starlin Castro 3 no wonder Garza is trying to strike out everyone.

what Soto's OBP is sans obvious pitch arounds when batting 8th?

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

Most people on this board praised that signing, Pena was going to be this monster who hits 30 or more hr's and drives in a ton of runs. Maybe. But I said it was a shit signing, he couldn't make contact, his avg. has plummeted 3 seasons in a row, a huge warning sign, and to give $10 million to a guy who couldn't hit .200 was insane. I was told that batting average means nothing and I was an idiot. Batting average isn't the most important stat, but it is a warning sign. Guys who lose bat speed start to drop off in average before their power completely disappears. It's happened to every hitter in MLB history. When you see an older guy suddenly still hit hr's but the avg. plummets, the next season is usually a disaster and just about the end. Pena looks like he's reaching the end of his career at this point, not someone who just had a freak bad year. The only bright side from that signing is Pena's still a good defender, it's only a 1 year deal, and perhaps it helps Hendry get fired. FWIW, AZ Phil said Pena's bat was slow as a snail during spring training.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

First base defense and corner outfield defense are severely overrated. Or at least I'll say so when it suits my bizzarre arguments. You can go cheap with a defense guy if you have some other boppers in the lineup. Or you could spend big bucks on guys who play good defense and hit, like Pujols, Fielder, Texiera an Gonzalez. Unfortunately our best every day hitters are Aramis and Soriano. So we need every bit of offense we can find. Except for our $800K middle infield are hitting better. But if we had a .158 cleanup hitter all the problems would be solved. Still thing 4/56-4/60 for Dunn is better than the 7-154 that Prince Fielder will be asking for. Yes, if you set aside defense and offense, you're probably right, but by the same token 1/10 for Pena is better than those other options.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

He may be noticing a trend, if he is not calling Pena an official "bust". Spring training stats, where he was re-united with Rudy the Hitting Guru, gave him a line of: AVG G AB R H TB 2B 3B HR RBI .282 15 39 9 11 18 1 0 2 5 .462 slugging 5 RBI. Against AA and AAA pitching. Tied with Matt Camp. So, maybe its no big deal to you right? Its only ST and only $10, 000, 000. And, so far in April, we're talking a line of : .182 .313 .200 .513 Zero HR's (why he was signed) and 5 RBI. RISP? .167 .304 .222 .527 In 18 AB's he has 3 hits from the 5-hole, and a lefty, and his 5 RBI. Clutch? 2 Outs and RISP - a -20 tOPS, with 3 k's and 2 BB's in 6 AB's. Zero. Not a bust maybe yet, as he is pretty terrific with the glove, but one more black hole at the plate. I hope he figures it out. Soon.

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Doug Davis, Todd Wellemeyer, Ramon Ortiz, Austin BD, JR Mathis, Robert Coello, Thomas Diamond. Doug Davis - in EXST, safe bet he's not ready Wellemeyer - hasn't pitched yet Ortiz - I am surprised he's not starting today Austin BD - 6.63 ERA at the moment, 5 HR's i 19 IP JR Mathes - seems like the older version of Russell Coello - 9 ERA in AAA at the moment including 5 BB, 2K start his last time Diamond - shelled by a AAA lineup the same day Russell made his first start, 9.92 ERA in the moment I don't how anyone thinks any of those guys would be reasonable bets to do better. As for saving the bullpen, they're not wasting the good pitchers. It's not like Mateo or Grab-Ass should be coming into games that matters. Ninja's been absurdly lucky to this point. The start over the Astros was understandable and the Padres offense is so bad, you hoped to sneak anyone by. I will admit tonight's start is a head scratcher.

Just heard Len Casper on WSCR. He stated much of the obvious, but one thing was interesting in that Quade may just be leaning towards a straight platoon with Pena until he starts figuring it out at the plate. As I intimate above, $10MM just doesn't buy what it used to!

Ridling is king of the hill today among Tennesseans. Leads league in average (.436) and OBP (.508), third in SLG (.764), second in OPS (1.272). Second in HRs with 5 (tied with Flaherty and one other). Ridling would have the leader board mostly to himself were it not for Paul Goldschmidt, Mobile (D'backs).

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

Submitted by VirginiaPhil on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 4:12pm. If I wanted to defend Ridling--and I would like to see the org produce a legitimate 1B prospect--I would point out that whatever his age, he has only had two full seasons as a pro. His only screw-up, age-wise, was to finish college. Twice he's been named a postseason all-star--i.e., the best 1B in the league. I believe that that sort of peer review provides useful scouting info, which is pretty scanty otherwise. And like you said, AZ Phil has praised his defense. I saw him make a nice scoop in ST, too, but that was a very small data sample. Bottom line: Wilken doesn't draft Jake Foxes! ================================================== VA PHIL: Rebel Ridling is an above-average defensive first-baseman with above-average power. I would describe him as a RH version of Micah Hoffpauir. I had rated Ridling at #16 (as one of the five who "Just Missed the Cut") in my 2010 Top 15 Cubs Prospects (post-2009), and I think that's about where he belongs. The thing about Ridling is that last year he had an appendectomy (with complications) during Minor League Camp and spent a couple of weeks in the hospital, and once he got back on the field at Extended Spring Training he was weakened and out-of-shape, and he never really got totally back to where he had been in 2009 at Peoria and AZ Instructs. I do think Ridling is an MLB prospect, probably behind only B. Jackson, Vitters, W. Castillo, Ha, Flaherty, Lemahieu, Alcantara, Silva, and Szczur among Cub position player prospects.

Top 10 BP Comps Griffey Jr., Helton, Teixeira, Dunn, J. Mayberry, Bagwell., Thome, K. Daniels, F. Thomas, B. Bonds sure wouldn't mind that guy for his age 28-32 seasons even if it means having to bear through the 33-36 years. I'll also add that Fielder seems to care by most accounts and plays hard, same can't be said about Dunn. Top 10 Dunn Comps for fun Hafner, Ortiz, C. Pena, Lee, Giambi, Delgado, McGriff, Thome, Burrell, Sexson

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

I don't feel like looking it up, but I believe most projections had Dunn at about worth 1 more win than Pena and that's him as a DH, thus meaning his defense is not negatively affecting things. pointless discussion with you since you think defense, no matter how bad will not negatively effect Dunn's value with his aging bat. I doubt anyone here would complain about Dunn in 2011, just not worth being tied up to him for 3 more years and staying out of the Fielder/Pujols and at that time Gonzalez sweepstakes. The fact that no other NL team was interested is all you need to know.

vs. a lefty I believe Castro6/Barney4/Byrd8/Ramirez5/Baker3/Soto2/Soriano7/Johnson9/Russell1

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.