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

Trey & Whitey Toast the Brew Crew

Trey Martin belted a bases-loaded triple and Kevin Encarnacion crushed a two-run triple to highlight a nine-run 3rd, Jeimer Candelario doubled twice, walked, and drove-in a run, and Rob Whitenack threw six strong innings, allowing one run (unearned) on three hits (all singles), with no walks and seven strikeouts, to help the Cubs cruise past the Brewers 12-1 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning at Maryvale Baseball Complex Field #7 (AKA “Paul Molitor Field”) in Phoenix, AZ.

The nine-run Cub 3rd lasted about 30 minutes and was unusual for an Extended Spring Training game because the opposing manager will usually stop the inning (“ROLL IT!”) before it can get that far. But the Brewers made a pitching change mid-inning, so the scoring continued unabated.

Trailing 1-0 after two innings of play, Trey Martin led-off the top of the 3rd by drawing a walk. Wilfredo Petit then bounced a chopper to the first baseman, who made an erant throw to 2nd atempting to force Martin. Kevin Encarnacion followed Petit and made the Brew Crew pay for the error, smashing a triple off the LF fence to drive-in Martin and Petit. Encarnacion scored on an Eduardo Gonzalez ground ball RBI single through the box, and then Gonzalez stole 2nd and scored when Carlos Penalver blooped an RBI double into short CF. Jeimer Candelario ripped an RBI double into the RF corner to plate Penalver, and Xavier Batista was hit by a pitch and Wilson Contreras reached base on an E-6 to load the bases, still with no outs. After Neftali Rosario struck out and Danny Lockhart bounced into a 3-2 FC at home, Trey Martin unloaded the biggest hit of the inning, a bases-clearing two-out three-run triple over the centerfielder’s head to make the score 8-1. Martin scored the 9th run of the inning on a WP a moment later, his second run scored in the inning.

Rob Whitenack was a strike-throwing machine today (56 pitches - 45 strikes), and when the Brewers did put a bat on the ball, they mostly beat ground balls into the dirt (8/3 GO/FO).

Rehabbing from June 2011 TJS, Whitenack has been outstanding so far at EXST:
0.64 ERA
0.75 WHIP
.196 Opp BA
73% GO
73% strikes
28.0 IP, 19 H, 4 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 26 K, 2 HBP, 1 HR, 2 GIDP

I doubt that "Whitey" will be staying down here much longer.

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

CUBS LINEUP:
1a. Eduardo Gonzalez, LF: 2-3 (K, 1B, 1B, BB, R, RBI, SB)
1b. Garrett Schlecht, LF: 1-1 (2B, R)
2. Carlos Penalver, SS: 1-5 (6-3, 2B, F-9, F-9, K, R, RBI)
3a. Jeimer Candelario, 3B: 2-3 (2B, 2B, BB, F-9, RBI)
3b. Jair Bogaerts, 3B: 0-1 (E-5)
4a. Xavier Batista, 1B-DH: 0-2 (K, HBP, BB, K, R)
4b. SLOT WAS SKIPPED LAST TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
5a. SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST THREE TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER
5b. Trevor Gretzky, 1B: 0-2 (L-5, E-5)
6. Wilson Contreras, DH #1: 1-5 (6-3, E-6, K, 1B, 4-3, 2 R)
7. Neftali Rosario, DH-C: 1-5 (F-8, K, K, 2B, 4-3)
8. Danny Lockhart, 2B: 0-5 (4-3, 3-2 FC, 4-3, 3-1, F-8, R, RBI)
9. Trey Martin, CF: 1-4 (BB, 3B, K, K, F-9, 2 R, 3 RBI)
10. Wilfredo Petit, C-DH: 0-2 (FC, BB, 4-3, HBP, 2 R)
11. Kevin Encarnacion, RF: 1-3 (3B, HBP, 4-3, F-7, R, 2 RBI)

CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Rob Whitenack: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 7 K, 2 HBP, 1 GIDP, 56 pitches (45 strikes), 8/3 GO/FO
2. Brian Smith: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP, 1 PO, 13 pitches (8 strikes), 0/2 GO/FO
3. Matt Spencer: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 21 pitches (15 strikes), 0/1 GO/FO
4. Carlos Martinez: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 14 pitches (7 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO

CUBS ERRORS: 1
2B Danny Lockhart - E-4 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely – eventually scored unearned run)

ATTENDANCE: 6

WEATHER: Sunny, hot, and a bit breezy, with temperatures 100+

Comments

Phil, Candelario's always 2nd or 3rd in the game wraps with a double or two. Is he still switch hitting? If so, how does look from both sides. Fielding at 3B? Emotional, quiet, etc?

[ ]

In reply to by Childersb3

Tue, 05/22/2012 - 6:23pm — Childersb3 Phil, Candelario's always 2nd or 3rd in the game wraps with a double or two. Is he still switch hitting? If so, how does look from both sides. Fielding at 3B? Emotional, quiet, etc? ===================================== CHILDERS: Jeimer Candelario is a much stronger hitter LH than RH. He really drives the ball left-handed. (He hit a HR onto the roof of the Angels clubhouse at Diablo Park LH last week). I would think he might consider giving up switch-hitting at some point, although it's not because he can't hit RH. It's just that he doesn't drive the ball with the same authority RH. He has improved a lot defensively at 3B during the course of EXST. He's not Gold Glove, but he has shown significant improvement. Some guys are coachable and some aren't. He is. Candelario is sort of the exact opposite of Javier Baez, who is VERY emotional on the field but doesn't say much. Candelario (or "Candy" as his teammates call him) doesn't show emotion but he is VERY talkative in the field. You can hear him chirpin' away, shouting encouragement to the pitcher and reminders to the other fielders. He speaks very good English (he grew up in New York City before moving to the Dominican Republic). He runs O. K. but isn't fast. He also isn't as patient a hitter as you might think he would be given his DSL walk numbers. He's not as hyper-aggressive at the plate as Javier Baez or Neftali Rosario, but he'll swing at the first good pitch he sees. Overall I would say (as of right now) that Jeimer Candelario is the #2 Cubs prospect at EXST, behind only Javier Baez.

another game, another short leash on the pitcher. he was having a great game outside of the 1st two batters of the game and a few deep counts.

I heard from toonsterwu over at BCB that Whitenack is heading to Daytona (which AZ Phil said during ST) and Cates is heading to EXST. Makes sense, Cates has had it rough in Daytona. I would like to see him back in the MW league for a few starts. He's only 22. He could take Francescon's spot in Peoria's rotation. They haven't really replaced that spot with a move, yet.

Re: Campana Saw a couple of interesting stats while at the game on Sunday. At the time, at least (and I think I got this right) Campana had the most sacrifice bunts in the NL and was tied for the most bunt hits in MLB. Found that interesting given the discussion of his lack of bunting skill.

Iowa Cubs playing early. B. Raley called up and has given up 2 runs in 2 innings. Clevenger playing, so doesn't look like he re-injured himself yesterday.

Says Hoyer: "Patience is the key driver in our decision making. Last year the situation was nearly identical — struggling offense and Rizzo putting up huge numbers in Tucson. Clearly I made the wrong decision in bringing him up too early. His development was not complete.''

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.