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 Continue to Dominate Canadian Amateur Baseball

Eloy Jimenez ripped an RBI single, walked twice, and stole two bases, Shane Kennedy walked twice and knocked-in two runs with a double and an RBI GO, Frandy de la Rosa singled, doubled, stole a base, and scored two runs, and Carson Sands and eight relievers combined to toss a four-hitter with eleven strikeouts, as the Cubs defeated the Ontario Nationals 8-2 in Minor League Camp game action this morning on Field #6 at Mesa Cubtown at Riverview Park.

 

A member of the Premier Baseball League of Ontario, the Nationals are one of the top amateur baseball clubs in Canada, and are presently on an Arizona Spring Training Trip where they are playing minor league teams, college and high school teams, and another Canadian amateur club (the Langley Blaze, who played the Cubs last week).

The Cubs Eugene/Mesa (Extended Spring Training) squad provided the competition for the Canadian youngsters, whose next stop will be Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport for a late afternoon flight back to Toronto.

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

CUBS LINEUP
1a. Frandy de la Rosa, 2B: 2-4 (2B, 3-U, 1B, K, 2 R, SB)
1b. Eric Castillo, C: 0-1 (L-6)
2a. Shamil Ubiera, CF: 0-3 (F-7, F-8, F-7)
2b. Calvin Graves, CF: 1-1 (BB, 1B, RBI, 2 SB, CS)
3. Shane Kennedy, LF: 1-3 (6-3, P-6, 2B+E7, BB, BB, 2 RBI, PO)
4. Eloy Jimenez, RF: 1-3 (6-3, BB, BB, 5-3, 1B, RBI, 2 SB) 
5. Alex Tomasovich, DH #1: 0-4 (L-5, BB, L-5 DP, K, 5-3)
6. Varonex Cuevas, 3B: 0-3 (K+WP, F-9, BB, P-3, 2 R, 2 SB)
7a. Carlos Jimenez, SS: 0-0 (BB, R)
7b. Bryant Flete, SS: 0-3 (F-9, L-9, E-7, R)
8a. Tyler Alamo, 1B: 1-3 (E-9, F-8, 1B, RBI)
8b, Roney Alcala, 1B: 1-1 (1B, RBI)
9a. Jhonny Pereda, C: 0-2 (F-7 SF, F-7, 4-6 FC, RBI) 
9b, Tanner Witt, 2B: 1-1 (2B, R, SB)
10a. SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TWO TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER
10b. Roberto Vahlis, DH #2: 0-1 (6-3) 
10c. Miguel Rico, PH: 0-0 (BB, R, SB) 

CUBS PITCHERS
1. Carson Sands: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 1/0 GO/FO, 21 pitches (13 strikes) 
2. Justin Steele: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 1 GIDP, 1/0 GO/FO, 13 pitches (6 strikes) 
3. Oscar de la Cruz: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP, 1/1 GO/FO, 11 pitches (8 strikes)
4. Brad Renner: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2/0 GO/FO, 10 pitches (9 strikes)
5. Anthony Prieto: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K, 0/2 GO/FO, 29 pitches (14 strikes)
6. Adbert Alzolay: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1/0 GO/FO, 18 pitches (10 strikes)
7. Pedro Araujo: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 2/0 GO/FO, 21 pitches (12 strikes)  
8. Luis Hernandez: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1/0 GO/FO, 11 pitches (8 strikes) 
9. Hector Perez: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2/0 GO/FO, 13 pitches (8 strikes)

CUBS ERRORS: 2 
1. 3B Varonex Cuevas - E-5 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely) 
2. 3B Varonex Cuevas - E-5 (throwing error on attempted 5-4 FC allowed runner to reach 2nd base safely)

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE
Jhonny Pereda: 1-1 CS 

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 80's 

ATTENDANCE: 41

Comments

Was wondering if there was anywhere to find a schedule for the minor league spring training games? Or do they kinda schedule them a couple days in advance like the B games?

Hey, AZ, care to provide us an early scouting report on young Eloy? Also, any idea if other AZ squads are beating up on the Canadians or is it just the Cubs?

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

O&B: Eloy Jimenez is a man-child beast-menace. He has plus-power, as much power as any 18-year old I have seen.

He runs well for a big guy, gets good jumps on stolen base attempts, and he will not swing at pitches out of the strike zone (although he does swing & miss pitches in the strike zone).  

On the negative side, he needs a LOT of work in RF (his defense can be kind of brutal at times), and while he has enough arm to play RF, he had a sore elbow for much of last season, so that's a bit of a "yellow flag" going forward. I would say he probably projects as a 1B down the line.  

As far as how the Langley Blaze and Ontario Nationals fared in games against minor league teams from other organizations or the college & HS teams that they played down here, we didn't talk about that. But I do know that the kids from both teams were amazed by Eloy Jimenez. It was like a Sasquatch sighting for some of them. 

Boy, reading the comments about Baez from Maddon - Maddon really loves the way the kid fields. I wonder if, assuming he can at least stop swinging at the stuff Maddon is pointing at (he's agreeing with those who say it is more pitch selection than mechanics), he may just stay up. I can almost see him batting 8th and being an all field no hit guy until/if he figures it out. Problem is, that would work maybe at shortstop but at second it seems like it wouldn't. Just kinda wondering aloud.

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

well better than Herrera....let's try this

C: Montero, Ross, Castillo

INF: Rizzo, LaStella, Alcantara, Castro, Olt or Bryant, Baez

OF: Soler, Fowler, Coghlan/Denorfia

Olt does have an option left. Would give them a better backup SS and I imagine they'd move him around. LaStella has options as well. And I do think it would be wise to option Hendricks until they need a 5th starter, could carry an extra bat for a bit.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

i dont think a lot of people are buying welly sticking around...even welly...even with the recent maddon/theo noise. it'll be interesting to see how his tone changes (if it does) if he sticks around. lately he's been talking about the cubs as if he's already been traded. i think he's kinda expecting it. it's been nothing but class so far, but will it remain so when he's looking at a 200-300 PA season? that said, who wants welly? it's ARZ (need) and DET (kinda need) as the only 2 teams actually expected to attempt to compete who could use a C. d.navarro has been very publically demanding a trade since r.martin was signed and he's still with TOR...and still not happy about it.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

you're not the only one who's noticed, though it's not big chatter. it's kinda lame even if it is a coincidence. spring training means so little that it's nice to see the future as much as it is to see the guys the team is counting on right now.

[ ]

In reply to by Newport

apparently they don't want fans to see Soler or Russell either :) 2nd time I've seen the Fowler/Coghlan 1-2 punch to start game...If they can get both get on at a .350 clip, this offense will be ridiculous good. ...seems to really like Alcantara at #9 as well.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

follow-up: teams with OBP of .345 or higher out of leadoff spot last year: Cards, Astros, Nationals, Marlins, Rangers teams with OBP of .345 or higher out of #2 spot last year: Dodgers, Angels, Astros, Twins, Orioles (Nats at .344 btw and 6th). So Nats finished 9th in run scoring last year (3rd in NL and Rockies were one of the teams ahead of them). Astros finished 21st in runs scored, 16th in slugging, 21st in OBP overall. So despite Astros having nearly a perfect top of the order, they were 2nd in K's (can't bring anyone in if you swing and miss...Cubs were 1st btw), and the rest of their lineup was an OBP suckfest. Cubs with Rizzo, Soler, Montero, even Castro's paltry .325 career OBP would be better than most of the other regulars Astros had. A long way of saying, I like the path the Cubs are on and hope they're more Nats than Astros in the middle of the order this year.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

fwiw, like today, it appears to be just a single camera shooting game and synced with a radio call, probably just a stadium camera and no affiliate or regional network  is gonna put that on the air. The cost to pay a crew, have a TV truck, multiple cameras, replay probably outweighs the revenue of a middle of the week, middle of the day spring training game...at least to do it everyday.

Today's 3-4-5: 3. Soler 4. Rizzo 5. Bryant. I absolutely love this.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

Almora-CF Russell-SS Schwarzenegger-c Bryant-LF Rizzo-1b Soler-rf Castro-2b Baez-3b /ejaculates

Edwin Jackson will start second inning, late to game stuck in traffic Blake Parker will start /not cool Edwin

"paul hoynes @hoynsie Kris Bryant has hit 9 homers this spring. Albert Belle hit 11 in 1990. He did not make the big league club that year." this twitter comment has already produced a slew of cubs-based posts and message board discussion. while technically true, albert already put in a 1/2 season of work in the bigs in 89 and his "demotion" was believed to be part of a failed attitude adjustment attempt. he took it as a personal insult after a down/up/down rather than a wake up call before spending 3-4 months in an alcohol and anger managment program. i miss milton bradley joey belle.

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.