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

Spoon, Hair, and Grichuk Spell Doom for Cubs

Travis Witherspoon ripped an RBI double and Randal Grichuk slammed an RBI triple to highlight a four-run 3rd, and Trevor Hairgrove doubled twice and drove-in a run, leading the Angels to a 9-3 victory over the Cubs in AZ Instructional League action this afternoon at Fitch Park Field #3 in Mesa.  

Dan Vogelbach and Jeffrey Baez provided most all of the Cub offense today, with Vogelbach reaching base three times on an RBI single and two walks, and Jeffrey Baez roping a bases-loaded two run double down the LF line.

The Cubs had other chances to score and cut the Angel lead at various points during the game, but inopportune DP balls and strikeouts deflated the Cubs hopes.

The AZIL Cubs continue to struggle offensively, what with some of the squad's best hitters (including Javier Baez, Taiwan Easterling, Dustin Geiger, Reggie Golden, and Rafael Lopez) sidelined with injuries.

Shawon Dunston, Jr did break his 1-26 slump with a 4th inning single, but he also dropped a line-drive in CF allowing an unearned run to score in the top of the 3rd.

The Cubs pitching and defense left a lot to be desired today, as the Angels collected three triples, three doubles, and five singles, and scored two unearned runs thanks to three Cub errors.

Worst outing of the day among the eight Cubs pitchers who took the mound was the one by 5'8 fireballin' RHP Tarlandus Mitchell, who managed to allow two runs without the benefit of a hit in the top of the 6th. "T" walked the bases loaded and threw two wild pitches, hurling 25 pitches (but only seven strikes) in his one inning of work.

Mitchell was the Cubs 22nd round pick out of Alto HS - Alto, TX in 2008, but he has yet to get past Boise. His four seasons in the Cubs organization have been tarnished by injuries, and bouts with wildness when he has been healthy.

RHP David Henrie (2011 NDFA - Trinidad State JC) also struggled, but in a different way. Henrie allowed four runs (two earned) on four hits (two doubles, a triple, and a single) in just 1.2 IP. He also allowed one inherited run to score (charged to Jose Rosario), and commited a fielding error that directly led to one unearned run  scoring.    

Best outings today were the innings thrown by LHP Frank Del Valle and RHP Tony Zych, but that's no surprise since Del Valle and Zych have been two of the best-looking pitchers so far at Instructs.

Here is the abridged box score (Cubs players only):

LINEUP:
1. Zeke DeVoss, 2B: 1-2 (3-U, 1B, HBP, BB, R)
2. Trey Martin, LF: 1-4 (1B, 4-6-3 DP, F-7, 4-6-3 DP, R)
3. Jeimer Candelario, 3B: 0-3 (4-3, 6-3, E-1, BB, R)
4. Dan Vogelbach, 1B: 1-2 (1B, BB, BB, 3-6 FC, RBI, SB)
5. Jeffrey Baez, RF: 1-4 (K, K, 2B, 5-4 FC, 2 RBI)
6. Shawon Dunston, Jr, CF: 1-4 (4-3, 1B, 1-3, F-7)
7a. Justin Marra, C: 0-2 (BB, F-8, F-7)
7b. Micah Gibbs, C: 0-1 (K)
8. Neftali Rosario, DH #1: 0-2 (HBP, K, K, BB)
9. Carlos Penalver, SS: 0-2 (2-3 SH, P-4, BB, 4-3 DP)
10. Mark Malave, DH #2: 0-2 (K, 6-3, BB)

PITCHERS:
1. Jose Rosario: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 0 K,14 pitches (9 strikes), 2/2 GO/FO
2. David Henrie: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 21 pitches (15 strikes), 0/3 GO/FO
3. Ian Dickson: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 13 pitches (8 strikes), 0/2 GO/FO
4. Frank Del Valle: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 9 pitches (5 strikes), 0/2 GO/FO
5. Tarlandus Mitchell: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 2 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 1 K, 2 WP, 25 pitches (7 strikes), 1/1 GO/FO
6. Charles Thomas: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 22 pitches (14 strikes), 0/3 GO/FO
7. Dustin Fitzgerald: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 24 pitches (16 strikes), 0/1 GO/FO
8. Tony Zych: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 13 pitches (8 strikes), 1/0 GO/FO

ERRORS: 3
1. P David Henrie - E-1 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely – eventually scored unearned run)
2. CF Shawon Dunston, Jr - E-8 (missed catch with two outs allowed batter to reach base safely and unearned run to score from 3rd base)
3. 3B Jeimer Candelario - E-5 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)

OUTFIELD ASSIST
RF Jeffrey Baez - Batter thrown out 9-6 trying to stretch a single into a double

ATTENDANCE: 23 (including Angels manager Mike Scioscia)

WEATHER: Sunny with a gentle breeze and temperatures in the 90’s

Comments

some asshat in DET's RF is "heckling" nelson cruz calling him variations of "f--ker" and "motherf--ker"... ...people pay money to do this to pro athletes for fun...playoff ticket money, even. interesting subculture...

Phil, Regarding Dunston's error and the ensuing run - is there an "official" scorer for these games, or just one guy from each team filling in the scorecard to send in to the bosses?

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Submitted by The Real Neal on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 9:47pm. Phil, Regarding Dunston's error and the ensuing run - is there an "official" scorer for these games, or just one guy from each team filling in the scorecard to send in to the bosses? ==================================== TRN: There is one pitcher from each team not scheduled to throw that day who keeps score for his team, and there is some weird guy from a blog who keeps score and posts it on the internets. Same thing at Minor League Camp and at Extended Spring Training. So there is no "official" scorer at Instructs like there would be in the AZL or AFL. You just have to rely on my observations coupled with the fact that I never miss a play because I never go to the bathroom (during a game).

AzPhil Couple questions, if you have the time. Trey Martin - He's been noted as the sleeper in this class by many outlets. Does he look natural in CF? How does he look at the plate? Jose Rosario - Love the velocity, but is there better consistency on the secondary pitches? Granted, 1-2 inning outings don't tell much. Dillon Maples - The clips I've seen of him, his arm action reminds me a bit of the issues with Nick Struck. Is that a fair comparison (if you remember Struck's mechanics that is)? What's your overall take on the level of concern we should have with his mechanics?

[ ]

In reply to by toonsterwu

Submitted by toonsterwu on Wed, 10/12/2011 - 11:32pm. AzPhil Couple questions, if you have the time. Trey Martin - He's been noted as the sleeper in this class by many outlets. Does he look natural in CF? How does he look at the plate? Jose Rosario - Love the velocity, but is there better consistency on the secondary pitches? Granted, 1-2 inning outings don't tell much. Dillon Maples - The clips I've seen of him, his arm action reminds me a bit of the issues with Nick Struck. Is that a fair comparison (if you remember Struck's mechanics that is)? What's your overall take on the level of concern we should have with his mechanics? ==================================== TOONSTER: Trey Martin is a younger version of Evan Crawford, a tall, lanky long-strider with a slashing style of hitting and no HR power. He looks OK in all three OF positions. He has plenty of range and a strong arm. Jose Rosario has no decent secondary pitches at this time. Breaking ball and change-up are works-in-progress. His future is probably in the bullpen. Nick Struck is probably a good comp for Dillon Maples as far as motion/mechanics. BTW, I don't think the Maples delivery is being reconstructed or reworked or revamped. If it is, why would you spend $2.5M on a pitcher whose delivery is out of whack like that? To me, he just looks rusty and/or a bit out of sync. He was the last pitcher at Instructs to be deemed game-ready, but clearly he is not.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Thanks. As a tag-along thought/question - do you think that they are simply trying to get Maples feet wet with pro ball, and thus, not worrying about mechanics as of now (and perhaps getting around to it next year), or do you think that they really aren't that concerned about it? Granted, with the way they pushed Struck up (still shocked at Struck being in AAA), perhaps it is the latter. I mean, there are pitchers that have had success with that type of, for lack of a better term, mini-windup/drag back on their deliveries. It does sound like he's a bit rusty - aren't the reports right now suggesting 89-92 on his fastball (think there were some tweets about that).

[ ]

In reply to by toonsterwu

Submitted by toonsterwu on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 1:33am. Thanks. As a tag-along thought/question - do you think that they are simply trying to get Maples feet wet with pro ball, and thus, not worrying about mechanics as of now (and perhaps getting around to it next year), or do you think that they really aren't that concerned about it? Granted, with the way they pushed Struck up (still shocked at Struck being in AAA), perhaps it is the latter. I mean, there are pitchers that have had success with that type of, for lack of a better term, mini-windup/drag back on their deliveries. It does sound like he's a bit rusty - aren't the reports right now suggesting 89-92 on his fastball (think there were some tweets about that). ================================= TOONSTER: I doubt that the Cubs are doing anything to revamp Maples mechanics now. If they were inclined to do that I think they would probably want him to get a lot of reps & innings using the new mechanics, and he just can't do that in a month of Instructs followed by four or five months back home in North Carolina. This is the time when you tell a young pitcher to just relax and do whatever he has been doing that got him there, and then if changes become necessary (and Pitching Coordinator Dennis Lewallyn is probably observing & evaluating Maples closely to determine that), the Cubs will more-likely do it at Minor League Camp & Extended Spring Training 2012 when they will have have a good, solid three months of continuous work & reps at Fitch Park, followed by another 2-3 months of AZL Cubs or Boise, and then another month of Instructs post-2012. What I see with Dillon Maples is a HS pitcher who signed late and didn't get a chance to pitch for the AZL Cubs or Boise, and so Instructs is serving as an "Intro to Pro Ball" for him, where he runs through daily PFP drills and learns about throwing "live" BP and side-sessions and preparing for games and getting to the ballpark on time. I suspect he probably was told to throw just two-seamers and curves in his most-recent outing after he obviously was over-throwing his fastball (probably trying to impress everybody with velocity) in his first outing last week when he walked three and couldn't finish even one inning. He still had poor command in the second game, but at least he battled and didn't walk anybody, and at least he did get through his two innings.

If you were watching Liga Venezolana - LA Guaira vs. Caribes de Anzoátegu on ESPN3 tonight you were treated to a long, no, endless interview (I finally said "Basta" and stopped watching) in Spanish with a fresh happy looking Carlos Zambrano. Carlos said he's excited about...not a pending trade to Florida (in fact he said no one's come to him with anything about a trade)...he's excited about Theo Epstein taking over as Cubs GM! Z still wants to be a Cub. He made that clear. He loves the Cubs and hopes Epstein will let him finish his career in Chicago. And it came across as very sincere.

what exactly did Jacoby Ellsbury come back from?

[ ]

In reply to by Tito

I guess it depends on how you look at it. If the awards is "take all the guys who were bad or injured last year, and give the award to whoever has the best stats this year" then Ellsbury is the best pick. If you look at it as "take a look at all of the guys who had good years this year, and see what they had to come back from, and whoever came back from the most prolbems" then Colon would be a better pick. I prefer the later. I don't know if I would consider Volgesong a candidate though, because he was never good before.

Bryan LaHair, 1B, Cubs (VEN Navegantes): 4-for-4, 2B, 2 HR (2), 2 R, 3 RBI. I generally abhor 'Free Player X' movements; but I'm on board with this one. The guy can hit.

once we knew Red Sox weren't going to let Theo take anyone with him Am hearing there's a good chance Theo Epstein will hire #Padres exec Josh Byrnes to join him with #Cubs.

says Cherington has been told he'll be the next GM. I feel like I can almost celebrate.

ROB G it may be time to change the name of this great blog: THEO CUB REPORTER

According toWscr City Hall source Mayor Rahm told Cubs " to make it work" and he would get state to get $$ for Wrigley. He sees Wrigley as major economic player for Chicago. /FU Daley

beats Australia 2-1 in 7 innings B. Jackson 2/2 with a 1 2B and a sacrifice Beliveau with the win.. 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 K, 0 BB gave up a 2B to leadoff 9th and patterson gave up the inherited run.

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/6784/sources-ricketts-ha… Two major league sources told ESPNChicago.com that owner Tom Rickets has turned over a list of Cubs players to interim general manager Randy Bush, director of player personnel Oneri Fleita and scouting director Tim Wilken to evaluate for compensation for Epstein. They were to report back to Ricketts which player or players they would be comfortable with trading.

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.