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 

 



 

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Rule 5 Draft 
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Cubs @ Pirates - Hammel vs. Worley; Game 14 Thread

Well last night was fun...I had my KANG!!! headline all set to go before the 9th inning comeback.

Jason Hammel vs. Vance Worley tonight.

#Fowler CFHarrison 3B
Soler RF*Polanco RF
*Rizzo 1BMcCutchen CF
Bryant 3B#Walker 2B
Castro SSMarte LF
*Montero C*Alvarez 1B
*Coghlan LFCervelli C
Hammel PKang SS
Russell 2BWorley P

Unfortunately I was on my way home when most of the fun started last night, first to hear Schlitter blow another game, then the mini-comeback, then the big hit by Kang and didn't know about the comeback until I checked scores way later in the night. But the highlights looked fun...Josh Harrison seemed to play the game-tying chopper by Castro about as poorly as you could, but nice to be on the good end of bad plays.

Russell's debut wasn't much, an 0/5 with 3 K's, but hey, look at Bryant since less-than-stellar first game.

Oh yeah, I installed a little chat box on the right sidebar below the comments. Since many of us are watching on Gameday or delayed broadcasts, I don't want spoilers right at the top of the page. But if you want to try it, click the arrow in the upper right to pop it out on its own box and create an account (preferably use something that we'll recognize as a TCR username, even if it's not exact). See if you guys like it, or just continue to use the comments. I'll take it up and down for the games.

Comments

Since I'm sure many of you don't read the posts, I put a chat box in the right sidebar, see the post for instructions. Or keep using the comments, but I'll be less cranky about doing play-by-play in the chat box.

this game is poops. ham not liking the cold weather...or PIT f'n loves it cold.

We're going to wind up moving Bryant to OF not because of bad play at 3B, but because we need someone who can cover some ground out there.  Yeesh.

How are these people logging 2-seam and 4-seam fastballs. Is it easy to tell visually which is which if the pitcher throws both?

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

traditionally you can tell by the velocity difference if you know the guy changes speed with different fastballs. there's more to it than velocity, though...some people get better break than others on their fastballs (especially 2-seam), so it's not really fair to ignore the quality of the break on a certain fastball unless you're doing it solely for ID purposes.

How in the world did Bryant miss that last pitch? 93mph fastball down the middle, from a lefty, on 3&2. That was the pitch I was hoping he would get. Bummer. Still -- it's always worth sticking around to the end with these guys -- great AB by Rizzo to give them a chance.

Well I signed up for the chat room but didn't get a chance to stick around, although I did see the last couple innings of the game. Wow, Maddon plays every game like it's a playoff game. Crazy mother. One of these days he's going to end up in a 16 inning game and the only guys on the field are gonna be a pitcher and a catcher.

I know this is really off topic and about the NFL, but had to share this great line from Arizona Cardinals GM Steve Keim talking about the NFL draft: "If Hannibal Lecter ran a 4.3, we'd probably diagnose it as an eating disorder." That is great!

You know, for the past few years, I would often say that the Cubs "got lucky" when they won and usually when the lost they got decidely beaten by the other team. But this year I am starting to feel the opposite a lot. Last night, I felt like the Pirates got lucky and that the Pirates probably also feel like they got lucky and stole one. They had a bunch of cheap hits fall in off Hammel to squeeze out a couple of runs, and they played with fire by putting lots of Cubs on base with some of their best hitters up. Those guys just missed a few pitches that would have turned the game around quickly, and they have to know that they won't happen all too often. Refreshing to feel as a fan. 

German looked filthy last night. He did OK out of the pen in 2013 for the Mets, but slipped a bit last year. Still young though (27) and under club control through 2020. Maybe he's another Strop type player the Cubs can turn around and make into a contributing piece. He was just a waiver claim this off-season so anything he provides is a plus.

Kris Bryant starting in CF? Yes, Kris Bryant is starting in CF!!!

Denorfia LF, Rizzo 1B, Soler RF, Bryant CF, Castro SS, Castillo C, Russell 2B, Hendricks P, Herrera 3B

Can't wait to hear that explanation, although he's probably the fastest of the 3 outfielders out there today. Please don't get hurt.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I... My biggest problem with this is that Herrera is starting at 3rd. Definitely should have called up an outfielder. Also, somewhat off-topic, anybody know why Almora has been playing so much LF of late?

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

Did they even have time to call up a player with a 12 hour window between games? I've flown in and out of Des Moines frequently, not many late flights out of Des Moines, doubt if there is even a direct to Pittsburgh. So whomever they are calling up catches a 6 or 7am flight with a O'hare layover, cutting it pretty tight. Do Cubs have a private jet for these type of situations? May have been logistics issue.

I have been watching Cubs games for a long time. They have had better teams over the years, but this team is flat assed fun to watch!

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.