Cubs MLB Roster

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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

Olt & Ramirez Ready to Rumble at Riverview

Ho-Young Son tripled, singled twice, stole two bases, scored three runs, and drove-in two more, Kevonte Mitchell belted a bases-loaded triple, singled, and walked, and Joey Martarano drilled a double and an RBI single and scored a run, helping the Eugene Emeralds thrash the Mesa Cubs 10-2 in Extended Spring Training intrasquad action this morning on Field #1 at Mesa CubTown at Riverview Park. 

Neil Ramirez (on Cubs MLB 15-day DL - right shoulder inflammation) saw his first game action since April 16th, and Mike Olt (on Cubs MLB 60-day DL - fractured right wrist) saw his first game action since April 20th,

Getting the start for Eugene, Ramirez allowed singles to the first two men he faced (an infield single followed by a line-drive single to right) and then the runners pulled off a double-steal. Ramirez then struck out the next two hitters, one swinging and one looking. He threw 17 pitches (11 strikes), and was pulled from the game when he reached his pre-planned pitch limit.

Mike Olt played 3rd base for three innings for the Mesa Cubs and got four Plate Appearances, one in each of the first four innings. He struck out (swinging) on three pitches against Neil Ramirez in the top of the 1st, was called out on strikes on a 1-2 pitch in the 2nd, drew a walk and scored a run in the 3rd, and grounded out 6-3 in his fourth and final PA in the 4th (with the last three AB coming against LHP Jose Paulino). He did not handle any chances in the field.

Here is the abridged box score from today's game: 


MESA CUBS LINEUP
X. Mike Olt, 3B: 0-3 (K, K, BB, 6-3, R)
NOTE: Olt batted third in the top of the 1st, 2nd, and 4th innings, and led off the top of the 3rd
1. Roberto Caro, CF: 1-3 (1B, K, BB, 6-3, R, SB)
2. Andruw Monasterio, DH-SS: 0-2 (5-U FC+E5, 3-1)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TWO TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER
3. Carlos Sepulveda, 2B: 1-4 (1B, 6-3, F-9, F-7, SB)
4. Jose Paniagua, 1B: 0-2 (K, 4-3)
5. Carlos Jimenez,  SS-3B: 0-3 (1-3, 4-3, 4-3) 
6. Jhonny Pereda, C: 1-2 (1B, 6-3, BB) 
7. Jenner Emeterio, RF: 0-2 (K, K, HBP)
8. Calvin Graves, LF: 1-3 (1B, F-8, P-3)
9. Roney Alcala, DH #2: 0-3 (6-4 FC, 5-3, P-4) 
10. Danny Gutierrez, CF: 2-3 (2B, 1B, K, RBI)

EUGENE LINEUP:
X. Shawon Dunston Jr, DH #1: 0-3 (4-6 FC, K, 1-3 SH, F-8)
NOTE: Dunston batted third in the bottom of the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th innings 
1. Robert Garcia, CF: 2-4 (P-6, 3-U, 1B, 1B, R)
2. Kevonte Mitchell, LF: 2-3 (BB, 1B, 3B, F-8, R, 3 RBI)
3. Joey Martarano, 1B: 2-4 (3-1, K, 1B, 2B, R, RBI)
4. Eloy Jimenez, RF: 0-4 (F-8, P-3, 5-3, 6-3)
5. Frandy de la Rosa, 2B: 1-4 (F-8, K, 2B, 3-1, R, RBI)
6. Ricardo Marcano, DH #2: 0-2 (F-8, 3-1, F-8 SF, RBI)
7. Varonex Cuevas, SS-DH: 1-2 (K, 2B, BB, 2 R)
8. Ho-Young Son, DH-SS: 3-3 (1B, 1B, 3B, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 SB)
9. Adonis Paula, 3B: 1-2 (1B, K, F-8 SF, 2 RBI)
10. Erick Castillo, C: 1-2 (4-6 FC, BB, 1B, R)

MESA CUBS PITCHERS
1. Carson Sands: 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 2/4 GO/FO, 40 pitches (25 strikes)
2. Alexander Santana: 3.1 IP, 8 H, 6 R (6 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 5/2 GO/FO, 58 pitches (37 strikes)
3. Jesus Castillo: 1.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R (4 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 2/3 GO/FO, 30 pitches (17 strikes) 
NOTE: Game was called with two outs in bottom of the 8th

EUGENE PITCHERS:
1. Neil Ramirez: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 17 pitches (11 strikes)
2. Jose Paulino: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 4/0 GO/FO, 34 pitches (23 strikes) 
3. Enrique de los Rios: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 7/1 GO/FO, 54 pitches (29 strikes) 
4. Scott Frazier: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 0/2 GO/FO, 17 pitches (9 strikes)
5. Dillon Maples: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 3/0 GO/FO, 9 pitches (6 strikes)

MESA CUBS ERRORS: NONE 

EUGENE ERRORS
3B Adonis Paula - E-5 (two-base throwing error allowed batter to reach 2nd base and runner to score from 2nd) 

MESA CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE
Jhonny Pereda: 0-2 CS

EUGENE CATCHERS DEFENSE
Erick Castillo: 0-2 CS 

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures 100+ 

ATTENDANCE: 5

Comments

Mike Olt was wearing a Cubbie blue t-shirt with a large backward "K" on the front, the backward "K" being the universal scoring symbol for "called out on strikes."
 
He actually was wearing the t-shirt in the game for a half-inning before somebody gave him a regulation Cubs jersey (#17) to wear. Apparently he does not have his #20 jersey at Riverview (or maybe he can't find it, or maybe it's in the laundry), although the other Cubs MLB rehabbers who are now at--or have been at--Extended Spring Training this season (Ramirez, Denorfia, Grimm, Turner, LaStella, et al ) do wear their own jerseys in EXST games.

And yes, Neil Ramirez did get to use official MLB baseballs (the ones with Rob Manfred's signature stamped on them)  in the game, and then they switched-back to minor league baseballs once Ramirez had left the game. So Olt got to hit against both major league baseballs and minor league baseballs in the game. (Unlike MLB pitchers rehabbing in EXST games, MLB position players like Olt have to play with whatever baseball is being used).  

Nice to see Ramirez is throwing the ball again. I'm pretty amazed Olt is already getting playing time. -- Cult of Olt

PHIL: How has young Eloy J. been looking? Does he take instruction well? Are you projecting he'll be a contributing MLB player within the next 2 years?

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

E-MAN: Eloy Jimenez is a lot like Jorge Soler, in that he's a nice kid, but he knows he's good so whatever instruction he gets better have cred. 

As for his MLB ETA, that depends on how fast the rough edges (like defense) get polished. I think he will end up in LF, so defense isn't going to be a big concern, but never-the-less he does need to improve his defense, and (especially) get a lot of game reps.  

So barring a career limiting injury or some other unexpected setback, I could see him making his MLB debut (hopefully playing for the Cubs) sometime in 2018, or possibly as soon as late 2017 (but that's only if he keeps hitting like he has at EXST as he moves up through the pipeline).

He will be Rule 5 Draft eligible for the first time post-2017, so he wil likely get added to the Cubs MLB 40-man roster no later than 11-20-2017. 

Hi, Phil! Thanks as always for the report. I wondered if you have an opinion on Mark Zagunis's outfield defense. I noticed that he started in CF yesterday, and his offensive toolset would be much more appealing if he can play CF than if he is strictly a LF option. Is CF a position you think he will be able to play, or is that a reach for him?

CHARLIE: I saw Mark Zagunis play RF and LF at Instructs last Fall, and after reporting to Minor League Camp with the Pitchers & Catchers, he switched to OF (full-time) the last two weeks of Minor League Camp and hasn't been catching since. And I doubt very much that he ever will be a catcher again. 

From what I saw of him playing corner OF (but not CF) at Instructs post-2014 and at Minor League Camp this past March (where I did see him play CF only once in a game), he looks like a natural outfielder to me. He has plus-speed and plus-range, and a strong and accurate arm.

I don't know if he can play CF, but he does have the physical tools you look for in a centerfielder. 

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.