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

Cashner First Rehab Start Stillborn at Salt River Fields

Stephen Cardullo ripped a two-run walk-off double to cap a three-run 9th, as the EXST Diamondbacks rallied to edge the EXST Cubs 3-2 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning on Whirlwind Field at Salt River Fields at the Talking Stick Resort, east of Scottsdale, AZ.

Andrew Cashner was scheduled to make his first Extended Spring Training rehab start in today’s game at Talking Stick, but was scratched after warming in the bullpen before the game. Whether this latest setback will significantly delay his return to the mound is not clear at this time, but it certainly is not good news for Cashner or for the Cubs.

With Cashner unavailable, RHP Matt Loosen got the emergency start (he was supposed to “piggyback” with Cashner) and had another fine outing, working three shutout innings, and allowing three hits (two by Diamondbacks IF-OF Wille Bloomquist, who is at Extended Spring Training rehabbing from a hamstring injury) and no walks, while striking out three. RHPs Yao-Lin Wang and Jin-Young Kim followed Loosen and were just as good, as the three Cubs pitchers combined to shut-out the D’backs on six hits and one walk (and 11 strikeouts) through the first eight innings. But RHP Dustin Fitzgerald could not convert the save in the bottom of the 9th, allowing a lead-off four pitch walk, a single, a SH-FC, a WP, and the game-winning two-run double, all without retiring a batter.

The Cubs offense did score two runs, but should have had more. The Cubs loaded ther bases with one out in the top of the 1st but could only score one run (on a ground out), Wes Darvill led-off the top of the 2nd inning with a triple but did not score, and Pin-Chieh Chen led-off the top of the 3rd with a single, and after stealing 2nd base, was thrown-out at the plate trying to score from 2nd on a wild pitch... with no outs. The entire Cubs Player Development staff (Minor League Field Coordinator Dave Bialas and all of the coordinators and instructors) is at Fitch Park this week, so hopefully they can address some of the mental mistakes the EXST Cubs have been making all too frequently lately, on the mound, on the bases, at the plate, and in the field. Cubbery must be nipped in the bud!  

Cubs 2010 2nd round draft pick Reggie Golden went hitless again today (with two strikeouts), and is now 0-20 (with eight strikeouts) since hitting a home run last Tuesday.  

With CF Kyung-Min Na having been moved up to Peoria (after a brief emergency two-game stop this past weekend at AA Tennessee), Pin-Chieh Chen got a chance to play CF today. While Chen struggles defensively in the infield (especially when he played SS for a while last year, but even after moving to 2B), he looks perfectly at home in CF. With his speed and athleticism, playing CF and hitting lead-off could be his future full-time gig. Unfortunately, he is blocked by several more highly-regarded Cub prospects at that position (Na, Szczur, Silva, Ha, and B. Jackson).

And speaking of Peoria, yesterday’s Midwest League transactions listed 1B Ryan Cuneo as being assigned to Peoria from Extended Spring Training (with OF Rubi Silva moving up to Daytona from Peoria, and OF Jae-Hoon Ha getting promoted to AA Tennessee from Daytona), but Cuneo was in the EXST Cubs lineup today (he went 1-4). Perhaps the news of Cuneo’s promotion has not yet reached Mesa.

While rehabbin’ Willie Bloomquist was having a great time, going 3-4 with three singles and a walk in his five plate appearances for the EXST Diamondbacks, Iowa Cubs SS Augie Ojeda continued his rehab with the EXST Cubs, playing 2B for six innings and going 1-3 with a single (ending an 14 PA hitless streak) and two strikeouts (both swinging). So far in four Extended Spring Training games (16 PA), Ojeda has exactly one hit. Ojeda was heard to remark (joking, I think), “This is a tough league!”… WelI, maybe it is when you are Augie Ojeda.

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

LINEUP:
1. Pin-Chieh Chen, CF: 2-3 (BB, 1B, F-7, 3B, SB, 2 R)
2a. Augie Ojeda, 2B: 1-3 (K, 1B, K)
2b. Marco Hernandez, 2B: 0-0 (F-8 SF, RBI)
3. Ryan Cuneo, 1B: 1-4 (1B, L-4, K, F-8)
4. Wilson Contreras, 3B: 1-4 (E-6, F-7, 6-3, 1B)
5. Yaniel Cabezas, C: 0-3 (5-3, HBP, 6-3, F-9, RBI)
6. Reggie Golden, RF: 0-4 (P-2, K, K, 5-3)
7. Wes Darvill, SS: 1-4 (3B, K, 6-3, K)
8. Jesus Morelli, DH: 0-3 (6-3, 4-6 FC, BB, 1-3)
9a. Blair Springfield, LF: 0-3 (5-2 FC, K, F-9, CS)
9b. Gregori Gonzalez, LF: NO AB

PITCHERS:
1. Matt Loosen: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 GIDP, 40 pitches (32 strikes), 3/3 GO/FO
2. Yao-Lin Wang: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K, 45 pitches (33 strikes), 1/3 GO/FO
3. Jin-Young Kim: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 29 pitches (19 strikes), 1/2 GO/FO
4. Dustin Fitzgerald, 0.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 1 WP, 14 pitches (7 strikes)

ERRORS: NONE

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Yaniel Cabezas: 0-1 CS

ATTENDANCE: 6

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

 

Comments

top of first Fukudome K, Barney BB, Castro BB, Ramirez BB, Soriano K, Byrd K

that was fun...much like going on a ferris wheel and falling to your death

How about Darwin Barney? It certainly is early, but I would never have expected him to be starting much less hitting .340+. Not much to be excited about this year at the majors, some good prospects at the minors though some notable struggles (Simpson, for example) and a likelihood that Wilken will not maximize the value of a relatively high pick. But the Castro-Barney combination has certainly been a fun thing to be excited about.

I used to laugh at the Pirates or the Mets for how poorly run their franchises were, all the while forgetting about the teams I grew up watching here. Now we're back to the crappy teams, and with GM/Owner/Manager who don't seem to have a grasp of how to run the team. The only difference is, at least under Wrigley, the teams always sucked because we were the cheapest franchise in the league. Now we have one of the highest payrolls and are still incompetent.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Byrd's reaction to team meeting “First-year manager, full season starting from the beginning, things don’t go right and we’re not playing up to our capabilities,” Marlon Byrd said. “Enough is enough and you can only watch it for so long. We have to start doing better, starting with myself. The veterans have to step up and it needs to start with me.” looks like the honeymoon is over.

[ ]

In reply to by Paul Noce

If it is Scott Moore, I sure can see why -- .272/.333/.398, 24k in 103 AB, made his 8th error of the season in the game. For a guy who is already 27 years old, he should have been removed from the game to be released, rather than called up. If you want an older player rather than a prospect, why not Brad Snyder, who at least is giving .336/.379/.598 with his significant strikeout total. I am sure Scott Moore's relatively more extensive major league experience is a factor, but I can't imagine that anyone thinks either will be overly productive at the major league level and Snyder's numbers at Iowa at least provide some basis that the promotion is reward for production. Meanwhile, in that Iowa Cubs game tonight, Steve Clevenger continues his strong performance after being called up...2-4 with a triple and HR. He's now 6-17 at Iowa after being called up to allow Castillo to learn from Koyie Hill for 15 days.

I think I'm going to take the rest of the season off and just censure baseball news from my life. They call up a pinch runner with interleague games coming up and the DH needed. This is just...fascinating. It's like watching a train wreck that never ends. Ohh, the horror, the horror.

Same on two butthole computers. I log in. Read new comments, then go back to the homepage. When this happens the 'latest' thread is now Doug Davis's Goose Getting Cooked (or whatever). I click My Account. It says 'access denied'. Click My Account again and 'log out'. Then My Account again and 'log in'. Repeat. What the balls is going on?!

Phil Thanks for this and all your reports. It's a pleasure to have these reports when the parent club licks balls. I was struck by this comment: Unfortunately, he is blocked by several more highly-regarded Cub prospects at that position (Na, Szczur, Silva, Ha, and B. Jackson). How many up the middle prospects do we have to amass before we go after a few mashers? Maybe equally important is how many guys end up getting bigger and move to the corners? It looks like Lemahieu has a chance to do it, but he's not really hitting for a lot of power right now. Maybe Flaherty, too, but more than anything he seems to be moving off of SS. Getting back to CF, I guess we'll all just be happy if Jackson comes up and hits well enough to man CF. We won't be worrying about how to fit Na into the lineup. I just hope they don't play three CFs across the outfield because they don't have corner bats. I guess if they did that with homegrown players I'd be happier than watching these overpaid, underproductive jerks they have now.

"But I agree that he is exactly what this team doesn't need ..." The Cubs have one SB this season not by Castro and Barney, and only six by those two. They have one stolen base by an outfielder (Byrd). Are you sure a center fielder who stole 112 bases the past two seasons isn't something the team could use? If running isn't an issue, why didn't Soriano score on a single to the outfield? Besides, Campana is the one real positional prospect at Iowa. That's what we want to see the Cubs doing, promoting prospects, right? Did we really need to see the latest incarnations of Montanez and Moore?

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

"He's not particularly good at [getting on base]." Campana is a pretty good hitter who has gotten better at every level--unlike the Vitterses and the Flahertys who bump their heads when they're promoted. Campana's OBP was .378 last year and .383 this year. "He'll be on the bench." He can play center or left. I don't think he has the arm for right. Whenever he's on a team, some other centerfielder (Brett Jackson or Fernando Perez) plays right. On my team, he would start ahead of Soriano or Byrd, or he would alternate between left and center. He could see quite a bit of playing time, batting either first or eighth. Quade likes to talk about speed (and the team's lack of it), so now is his chance to do something about it.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

Campana is a pretty good hitter who has gotten better at every level--unlike the Vitterses and the Flahertys who bump their heads when they're promoted. Campana's OBP was .378 last year and .383 this year. Campana had a BABIP of .382 last year and it's .423 this year. Here's a list of major league hitters who maintian that level of BABIP: (null) Ichiro, who was extremely fast, and now is just very fast, sprays the ball around and hits line drives (20% compared to 15% for Campana) the three keys to haveing a high BABIP has a career BABIP of .356. Not only are major league pitchers better, but the fielders are a lot better, which means if you're in the majors by virtue of a high BABIP, you're in trouble. When you're striking out 85 times and not hitting any home runs, you're not a "pretty good hitter". Remember Ced Landrum? He was a better hitter than Campana.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Ichiro has struck out 70 times a year, on average, in the majors. Byrd is a singles hitter who struck out 98 times last season. (He's the guy I want Campana to replace.) How do you know that Campana doesn't spray the ball around and hit line drives? You don't know anything about him except his BABIP, which isn't much. Most of the time you're just blowing smoke with your stats. That's about what they're good for. Take away a guy's strikeouts, and yeah, his BABIP goes up. Campana is hitting .342, so if you take away his strikeouts it goes to .423. Sure, that's high, and hard to maintain--but so is a .342 BA. How about giving me a null list of major-league hitters who maintain that level of BA? If all you're saying is that Campana won't maintain a .342 BA in the majors, or over the course of a season in AAA, thanks, but I didn't need a sabre-metrician to tell me that.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

Maybe you should do a google search for "BABIP definition" before you start pointing out flaws in my logic. FYR, if you take away a guy's strikeouts, it doesn't change his BABIP at all. Let's just go way out on a limb and assume that Tony Campana won't be joining Ichiro in the Hall of Fame. Say he is able to maintain a .330 BABIP, still a very good number (better than the .314 of Juan Pierre, for example). If you adjust his stats this year to a BABIP of .330, his hitting line in Iowa is .267/.304/.367 (assuming he only loses singles on the slugging, which, of course is a generous assumption). Marlon Byrd, as terrible as he has been has managed to go for .316 .345 .392 in the majors, ie a lot better than Campana.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

"FYR, if you take away a guy's strikeouts, it doesn't change his BABIP at all." I phrased it poorly. If you take away a guy's strikeouts, you get his BABIP. Campana doesn't hit home runs. The point is that all you are really saying is that his BA can't be maintained. Why not just say that? I agree that Campana is not a .340 hitter in the minors, and certainly not in the majors. "Tony Campana won't be joining Ichiro in the Hall of Fame." Really, Neal--as if I'm the one who had the idea of comparing Campana to Ichiro. Byrd: 73 home runs in 9 seasons (leaving out a handful of at-bats in 2002). What kind of hitter is he? I know you don't like him at #3. Where do you like him? What role does he perform in the lineup? Is there a name for that role? Is he a run producer? Is he an on-base guy? Campana is a leadoff hitter. A list of starting players in the NL who have a similar skillset to Campana's would include Torres, Bourne, Theriot, Fowler and Pagan.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

Sorry, I am trying to empathize here, but no. Campana is a leadoff hitter. A list of starting players in the NL who have a similar skillset to Campana's would include Torres, Bourne, Theriot, Fowler and Pagan. I just showed you what a luck neutralized line for Campana at AAA is - it's .267/.304/.367 (.671 OPS) That's what he's is going to do in the major leagues, if he doesn't K more than he does in AAA and maintains a BABIP that probably 2% of major league hitters can manage. Those guys you listed have OPS's of .762, .680, .703, .749 and .757. Only Bourn is close to what Campana has done in AAA, and he's faster as well as a legitimate gold glove center fielder not to mention he has yet to register a 100 run season, despite the advantage of speed and lineup position. I think Byrd is a 4th outfielder, but that is two slots above what Tony Campana legitimately should aspire to. Byrd had 82 doubles across two full seasons (to go with 32 HR's). It would take Campana about 4 years to match that doubles total, and if he played in the big leagues until he was 40 he's unlikely to match those home runs.

if tony campana & the i-cub batboy appeared in street clothes in a police lineup the eyewitness would be uncertain as to which of the boys put the sack of flaming dogshit on her porch, rang the bell & ran; he makes sam fuld look like methusaleh & better pack his id...can dejesus break ww's record for executions @ the plate? do they track #'s of runners thrown out @ home? cubs gotta lead the league in that - every time they try to break out of the 4 singles = 1 run formula & advance somebody 2 bases in one gulp they get reminded of why, for them, 4 singles = 1 run...

I worried that injury issues could happen with a stretch from the pen to the rotation with Cashner. Is it too soon to shift him back and just let him be a reliever? Is this going to be a Samjay 2.0 where the organization has too much money invested to let a reliever just be a reliever?

Probably nothing here that hasn't already been pointed out, but here are my impressions from last night's game in Cincy: * Cold. * The game felt lost when Mateo entered, even though the Cubs had a lead. The guy needs to be taken back behind the barn and put down. It's only the humane thing to do. I mean Ricketts is so confused by why people aren't showing up... are you even watching the games, Tom? * The Cubs looked way way over-matched. The Reds lineup is good top to bottom. They have an infield that can play the ball very well and reliably (a novel concept, I know... but god could you imagine the hand wringing and whining if the Cubs got a guy like Renteria? wahh wahhh... he only hits .250 wahhh...). They have a bullpen that has effective relievers. Simply put- The better team won last night. * The number of empty seats at GAB is a damn shame considering the team Cincy put together. * I had the pleasure of sitting next to some other cub fans who were equally as annoyed and jaded as I am. * There was at least one very drunk Cincy fan yelling racist unpleasantries at Fuku last night. I guess it's not surprising for the midwest, but don't let anyone tell you that only Cub fans are obnoxious when drunk. * Did I mention it was cold?

assuming colvin regains stroke @ iowa...what are chances byrd can be moved @ deadline so fuku can play cf rest of year & open rf for colvin before b. jackson takes cf next year when we shed aram [quarter into season & he has half the homers colvin does; tied w/ the dreadful hill]& fuku, add the prince & still reduce payroll again? favorite team has become the type i most hate - slow, fat, weak & stupid...

RF Fukudome, 2B Barney, SS Castro, 3B Ramirez, 1B Pena, CF Byrd, LF Soriano, C Castillo, P Garza vs. Stubbs CF, Janish SS, Votto 1B, Phillips 2B, Bruce RF, Rolen 3B, Lewis LF, Hernandez C, Volquez P

Maine up along with Campana via Witty

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    18-year old SS Jefferson Rojas almost made the AA Tennessee Opening Day roster, and he is a legit shortstop, so I would expect him to be an MLB Top 100 prospect by mid-season. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Among the relievers in the system, I expect RHRP Hunter Bigge at AAA Iowa and RHRP Ty Johnson at South Bend to have breakout seasons on 2024, and among the starters I see LHP Drew Gray and RHP Will Sanders at South Bend and RHP Naz Mule at ACL Cubs as the guys who will make the biggest splash. Also, Jaxon Wiggins is throwing bullpen sides, so once he is ready for game action he could be making an impact at Myrtle Beach by June.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I expect OF Christian Franklin to have a breakout season at AA Tennessee in 2024. In another organization that doesn't have PCA, Caissie, K. Alcantara, and Canario in their system, C. Franklin would be a Top 10 prospect. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The Reds trading Joe Boyle for Sam Moll at last year's MLB Trade Deadline was like the Phillies trading Ben Brown to the Cubs for David Robertson at the MLB TD in 2022. 

  • 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.