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

It's Skulina vs Loux at Extended Spring Training

Bryant Flete singled, doubled, walked twice, stole a base, and scored a run, Ricardo Marcano singled, tripled, and scored two runs, Adonis Paula ripped an RBI double and a single and drove-in another run with an RBI GO, and Ho-Young Son singled, doubled, stole a base, and scored a run, in Cubs Extended Spring Training Intrasquad game action this morning on Field #5 at Mesa CubTown at Riverview Park.

The game was called after 7-1/2 innings with the scored tied 3-3. 

Myrtle Beach RHSP Tyler Skulina and Iowa RHSP Barret Loux were the two starting pitchers in the game. Both were left behind in Mesa because they will not get their first scheduled start for another five or six days, and they needed to elevate their pitch counts to 80+ before their first start.

Loux was hit hard, allowing eight hits (five singles, two doubles, and a triple) in his 5.1 IP of work. Acquired from the Texas Rangers as a PTBNL in the 2012 Geovany Soto trade, Loux is attempting to come back after undergoing shoulder surgery post-2013 and UCL elbow ligament transplant surgery (TJS) last season. 

On the other hand, Skulina was really dealing, allowing just one run on three hits and a walk with seven strikeouts in five innings. 

Prior to the Intrasquad game, Frank Batista and Dylan Cease squared-off in a two-inning "sim" game on Field #4. 

Here is the box score from the intrasquad game, followed by the current Cubs Extended Spring Training Roster.   

SQUAD "A" LINEUP: 
X. Barret Loux, P: 1-1 (1-4 SH, 1B) 
NOTE: Loux batted 2nd in the bottom of the 2nd and 3rd innings 
1. Carlos Sepulveda, 2B: 1-4 (1B, L-7, K, 6-4-3 DP, PO)
2. Ho-Young Son, SS: 2-3 (F-9, 2B, 1B, R, SB)
3. Kevin Encarnacion, RF: 0-3 (F-7, K, F-7) 
4. Kevin Brown, CF: 0-1 (BB, K, BB, 2 R, SB)
5. Roney Alcala, 1B: 0-2 (F-7 SF, L-4, 4-3, 2 RBI)
6. Jhonny Pereda, C-DH: 1-3 (F-7, K, 1B, RBI)
7. Varonex Cuevas, 3B: 0-3 (K, K, F-8)
8. Carlos Jimenez, LF: 0-3 (K, P-6, 6-3) 
9. Tyler Pearson, DH-C: 1-3 (K, K, 1B) 
10. Roberto Vahlis, DH #2: 0-1 (K, BB) 
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TIME THRU BATTING ORDER

SQUAD "B" LINEUP
1. Bryant Flete, SS: 2-2 (BB, 2B, 1B, BB, R, SB)
2. Frandy de la Rosa, 2B: 1-4 (K, 1B, K, K)
3. Kevonte Mitchell, CF: 0-4 (K, 6-4 FC, 6-3, K)
4. Eloy Jimenez, RF: 0-3 (3-1, BB, K, 3-U) 
5. Tyler Alamo, C-1B: 0-4  (L-9, 4-3, L-7, K) 
6a. Miguel Rico, 1B-C: 1-3 (1B, F-9, F-9, CS) 
6b. Eric Gonzalez, PH-C: 0-1 (6-3) 
7. Ricardo Marcano, LF: 2-3 (1B, P-6, 3B, 2 R) 
8. Adonis Paula, 3B: 2-3 (2B, 1B, 5-3, 2 RBI, PO) 
9. Tyler Skulina, P: NO AB

SQUAD "A" PITCHERS
1. Barret Loux: 5.1 IP, 8 H, 3 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 4 K, 1 PO, 5/5 GO/FO, 80 pitches (53 strikes) 
2. Dillon Maples: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 16 pitches (9 strikes)
3. Sam Wilson: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2/0 GO/FO, 15 pitches (12 strikes) 

SQUAD "B" PITCHERS
1. Tyler Skulina: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 7 K, 1/7 GO/FO, 81 pitches (56 strikes) 
2. David Garner: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 15 pitches (10 strikes) 
3. Corbin Hoffner: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 1/2 GO/FO, 18 pitches (11 strikes)
4. Oscar de la Cruz: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 2/0 GO/FO, 16 pitches (9 strikes)

SQUAD "A" ERRORS: NONE 

SQUAD "B" ERRORS: 1 
P Oscar de la Cruz - E-1 (errant throw on pick-off attempt at 1st base allowed runner to advance to 2nd)

SQUAD "A" CATCHERS DEFENSE
1. Jhonny Pereda: 1-1 CS 
2. Tyler Pearson: 0-1 CS 

SQUAD "B" CATCHERS DEFENSE
1. Tyler Alamo: 0-1 CS, 1 PO
2. Miguel Rico: 0-1 CS 

ATTENDANCE: 8 

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 80's 

  
2015 CUBS EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING ROSTER: 61+5

Last updated 4-7-2015

NOTE: The Extended Spring Training (EXST) group (AKA "Eugene/Mesa") is formed during Minor League Camp. This group consists of players who are the replacement cadre for the full season affiliates, players deemed not ready for full-season leagues, and injured players.

PITCHERS: 37+2
Adbert Alzolay
Pedro Araujo
Frank Batista
Jordan Brink
Jesus Camargo
Marcelo Carreno (LIMITED ACTIVITY REHAB - post-2013 shoulder surgery)
Jesus Castillo
Dylan Cease  (ACTIVE REHAB - 2014 TJS) 
Oscar de la Cruz
* Andin Diaz
Greyfer Eregua
Scott Frazier
David Garner
Trevor Graham 
Taner Griggs
Luis Hernandez
Corbin Hoffner
Pierce Johnson (INACTIVE - lat strain)
John Michael Knighton 
Daniel Lewis 
Mark Malave (ex-C)
Dillon Maples
Brad Markey 
Trey Masek (LIMITED ACTIVITY REHAB - 2014 shoulder surgery)
Trey McNutt (INACTIVE - 2014 shoulder surgery)
Yomar Morel
Erling Moreno (LIMITED ACTIVITY REHAB - 2014 TJS)
* Ariel Ovando (ex-OF)
* Jose Paulino
Hector Perez
Austin Reed (ACTIVE REHAB - 2014 TJS)
* Carson Sands 
Alex Santana
* Justin Steele
Michael Wagner
Ben Wells 
Austyn Willis
* Sam Wilson
Jose Zapata

CATCHERS: 7+1
Tyler Alamo (also has been playing 1B)
Eric Gonzalez
* Jordan Hankins (ex-3B)
Tyler Pearson 
Jhonny Pereda
Will Remillard (INACTIVE - 2015 TJS) 
Miguel Rico (ex-3B)
Roberto Vahlis

INFIELDERS: 10+2
# Roney Alcala
* Danny Canela (LIMITED ACTIVITY REHAB)
# Varonex Cuevas
# Frandy de la Rosa
* Bryant Flete 
Carlos Jimenez
Joey Martarano (INACTIVE - attending college)
Adonis Paula 
Tim Saunders (LIMITED ACTIVITY REHAB)
* Carlos Sepulveda
Ho-Young Son 
* Logan Watkins (INACTIVE - torn achilles tendon) 

OUTFIELDERS: 7
* Kevin Brown
* Kevin Encarnacion (formerly a switch-hitter, he is now hitting only LH)
Calvin Graves (LIMITED ACTIVITY REHAB)
Jae-Hoon Ha (LIMITED ACTIVITY REHAB)
Eloy Jimenez
Kevonte Mitchell
* Ricardo Marcano

GAME MANAGERS
Carmelo Martinez (AZL Cubs Manager)
Gary Van Tol (Eugene Manager)

COACHES
Oscar Bernard (AZL Cubs Hitting Coach)
Tom Beyers (Assistant Minor League Hitting Coordinator)
Nate Maldonado (Mesa Rehab Assistant Coach)
Ricardo Medina (Eugene Hitting Coach)
Terrmel Sledge (Eugene Assistant Coach)
Anderson Tavares (Eugene Pitching Coach) 
Rick Tronerud (Mesa Rehab Pitching Coach)
Ron Villone (AZL Cubs Pitching Coach) 
Ty Wright (AZL Cubs Assistant Coach)

STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACHES 
Sean Folan (AZL Cubs)
Ryan Nordvedt (Eugene)

ATHLETIC TRAINERS
Chuck Baughman (Assistant Minor League Training Coordinator - Mesa Rehab) 
Mike McNulty (Eugene) 
Toby Williams (AZL Cubs)


Comments

AZ PHIL, after checking the Rosters of the four minor league teams,and the Extended Roster, it looks like the Cubs have bid so long to : P- Anthony Carter, Daniel Bard, Jorge DeLeon,Jose Rosario, Lars Huijer, and Matt Brazis. C- Taylor Teagarden and Jordan Hankins. Did I miss anybody?

[ ]

In reply to by Hagsag

The rosters that have been officially released for the Cubs "full season" affiliates will require further pruning. They are basically the same 27 or 28-man rosters I posted here on Saturday, but they are not the final 25. 

All minor league team active lists must be down to 25 players by Thursday, so additional moves will have to be made over the next 24-36 hours. Vague "soft-tissue" injuries resulting in a DL assignment ("calf injury" is the best one) are inevitable. 

Also, while release waivers are not required when a club releases a minor league player, sometimes the paperwork is delayed by a day or two while the club tries to find out if there is any trade interest. (This happened with Tony Zych last week, when he got traded instead of released).

And sometimes a minor league player will get "loaned" to a team in the Mexican League. The Cubs have done that most every year since about 2008, but this arrangement takes a few days to happen because it requires approval from the MLB Commissioner's office. The Cubs hosted a game against Los Toros de Tijuana at Minor League Camp about three weks ago, so don't be surprised if a Cub minor leaguers ends up temporaily in Tijuana (and hopefully NOT in the Tijuana Jail, as per the Kingston Trio!)  

[ ]

In reply to by Hagsag

HAGSAG: Confirmed RHP Lars Huijer (acquired from Seattle for LHP Mike Kickham last January) has retired. 

Cubs are still hoping to loan a pitcher or two to a Mexican League team. It was Frank Batista last year, and it could be him again this year since he's at Extended Spring Training and he's not injured. 

[ ]

In reply to by Wrigley Rat

W-RAT: Black, Zastryzny, Pineyro, and Pena have been the core Tennessee rotation for the last ten days, but Frank Batista has not been part of the group. 

Batista did throw about 40 pitches in a "sim" game yesterday on Riverview Field #4, so I would think that if he doesn't go to the Mexican League, that he will likely be the "piggy-back" with C. J. Edwards (who is not yet able to throw more than 45-50 pitches, either) at AA.

Andres Santiago or Jeffry Antigua would have been the other options to piggy-back with Edwards, so if Batista is being stretched-out to piggy-back at AA, the Cubs might just release Santiago or Antigua prior to Thursday. 

HAGSAG: Jordan Hankins is definitely at Extended Spring Training. 

Matt Brazis threw "lights-out" yesterday vs Angels in Tempe. 

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

He didn't have much of anything, after having a dead arm the last two weeks. He did have some giddyup on his fastball. The outing really wasn't all that horrible, considering he had nothing else working for him. I can't stand the idea of high priced free agent pitchers, but I'm not all that worried. The thing that stuck out for me was on the broadcast they showed the huge falloff of throws to first during the last few years. It's like he developed Steve Blass Disease for first base throws. Really weird. Can somebody go to change.org and petition ESPN to remove that idiotic pitch frame box? Or whatever they call it? Thanks.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

Old & Blue: "The thing that stuck out for me was on the broadcast they showed the huge falloff of throws to first during the last few years. It's like he developed Steve Blass Disease for first base throws. Really weird." I agree it is very weird and I didn't know it was so drastic until watching the broadcast last night. In the NL, he is going to pay a greater price as shown in game 1, so hopefully he can figure it out.

[ ]

In reply to by mannytrillo

The Cubs are stats happy. Surely they knew about this. So you'd think they've had him working on that in spring training but if I remember the only times he threw to first he pretty much bounced it in and/or threw way short. That doesn't mean that he wasn't doing drills, I guess. I'm not privvy to their regimen. Nobody tells me anything.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

he jogs toward the base and tosses...a lot of the time underhanded. that's his style. it's hard to watch a guy run to 3rd with 0 or 1 outs from 2nd while lester jogs the ball over the 1st baseman for an underhanded toss...but, that's lester. it's one of those "you're at this level and they still let you do that, huh?" things that's never been properly addressed.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

fwiw, he was throwing a no-hitter in the 6th when i wrote that. weird 6th...gave up a couple runs after dan uggla royally screwed up by bailing on a popup which i.desmond tried to field and ended up with an error for the effort. i'd rather have scherzer over lester, but i'm happy to have either. i wasn't concerned with the loss of a 2nd round pick/loot, too.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I agree I would rather have Scherzer too. But Lester brings many intangibles that should benefit the Cubs they way they are currently configured. But I don't think they could have gone wrong with either. Also, if you look at the contracts, the Lester contract is much, much better for the Cubs.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Yeah, Lester should be fine, as long as he's healthy. I'm not too worried about the dead arm thing since he had decent velocity. But anytime anyone says "dead" and "arm" in the same sentence as your $150 million pitcher, my ears do perk up a little, no matter how routine they make it sound.

[ ]

In reply to by craig

CRAIG: Pierce Johnson was suddenly and completely shut-down sometime early last week and he has disappeared from Riverview. I don't know what happened, but usually when a pitcher completely disappears like that it means he is seeing a specialist somewhere.

I do know that one of the Cubs minor league pitchers or position players had TJS last week, but I'm not sure which one it was. It was NOT Pierce Johnson, though.  

Because Johnson was shut-down and with Dallas Beeler not having thrown since pitchers & catchers reported to big league camp in mid-February, Barret Loux has rapidly increased his pitch count up to 80 (he was at 40+ just ten days ago), and now Loux is in the Iowa rotation (looks like he is the #4 or #5 starter, behind Jokisch, Roach, and Pimentel). Drake Britton is supposed to get stretched-out to be a starter at Iowa, but he might have to have a "piggy-backer" (maybe Yoanner Negrin) throwing in games with him until he can get his pitch count up to 80+. 

So the Iowa starting rotation is kind of in a state of flux right now, and at Tennessee C. J. Edwards still can't throw more than 45 pitches per game, so somebody will have to piggy-back with him, too.   

 

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

CHARLIE: Because of the right shoulder injury and third degree burns he received on his right arm in that Dominican car crash post-2013, Encarnacion can no longer switch-hit, so he is learning to hit LH against LHP, which isn't that easy to do if you've never done it that way before. He started doing it at Instructs last fall, and he is still working on it.  

d.gordon is so fast he turned a bunt single into an out by tripping over his own feet out of the batter's box. blazing...

-edit- ugg, ESPN exclusive game/timeslot...no wonder there was such odd scheduling for games today. woo...TV...the reason we have stuff like this. dat money, tho...

Shoot! I'm sure I am 3/44 as hell on this but how the hell did the Sox get Drabek from Toronto? His stock pummeled? Was he TJS?

Sweeney released.

Padres looking for a shortstop...Addison Russell ready yet? :)

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Since I haven't been on here in awhile, I am curious as to what people think about what the Cubs are going to do with SS, 2B and 3B. Do you think Castro will be traded or moved positions (2B or 3B)? Will Bryant end up in LF or 3B? Everything I have read seems like Russell is the best SS, so I can't imagine that they ask him to move. Interested to hearing what people think. I am sure it has been discussed a lot, so if you don't want to comment, that's cool, but I am sincerely interested in hearing.

[ ]

In reply to by mannytrillo

lf Bryant 3b baez ss Russell 2b Castro Lots of options. I could easily see trying to move one of those in return for other needs. Personally, I'd be more inclined to try to keep Russell and Bryant than the other two, but a lot could happen. I read someplace Russell at one point weighed 225 or so, and then lost weight, so he might outgrow SS in the long run.

[ ]

In reply to by dcf

russell SS seems to be set in stone without anyone actually setting it in stone...and bryant to LF seems inevitable even if he plays a bit of 3rd on his way there. i wish i had enough faith in baez to even envision him back in the bigs as a multi-season regular...

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

what has surprised me a little about Baez is that a lot of baseball guys (like Maddon) seem to be genuinely impressed by his ability to handle the middle infield defensively, run the bases, etc. If he could lessen the Ks, he could be really interesting. Even with higher Ks than you'd like, could he be effective at 2b as a 7 or 8 (or, with Maddon, 9) hitter with something like a 90 OPS+? Teams have accepted less from a defense first player from that spot before. Sort of like a cross between Rob Deer and Darwin Barney, except Baez's defense is not that good and he'd need to walk a lot more before he'd be like Deer.

[ ]

In reply to by dcf

he's still so young and could very well be a regular...i'm just not high on what i'm seeing right now and i dunno if it will come while he's still under cubs club control. i think we're gonna be hearing his name for quite a while (decade+). a power hitting 2nd/SS will always have a place in the game as long as they can at least sniff .300 ob% and maintain good D.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

just musing... but i think bryant is more of a "franchise" player and keeping him around as long as possible as cheaply as possible is probably important. being a SS, russell will also end up costing a ton of loot if he realizes his hit/D expectations, but he's more of a very high-end luxury "hanley ramirez type" rather than a guy you want to anchor your hitting crew. ive not heard a word about how they plan on managing him, though.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

schwarb at 3rd...given his arm, good call. given his bat, the issue could be pushed by 2016/2017. that said, he seems very dedicated to giving C a shot and the club seems willing to let him as long as he puts his work in. he may be working over his head, but he's willing to work on being that guy. he looked really comfortable this spring behind the plate.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob Richardson

does it really make sense to keep bryant down waiting 2 weeks for the AAA season to begin? they could bring him up to work on that very very very important D issue then send him down when the AAA season starts in 10 days. he's wasting away for weeks when he could be working on that major issue keeping him from a full time assignment in the bigs! i mean, it IS about the defense, not the service time right? =p

I saw a picture on Facebook of Johan Matos, Jenner Emeterio, and Jose Paniagua arriving in Phoenix for Extended Spring Training from the Dominican.

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.