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

Angels/Cubs Surprise Rangers with Offensive Deluge

Victor Caratini (Cubs) belted an RBI triple and an RBI double and scored two runs, Bo Way (Angels) stroked a two-run double and a single and score a run, Zach Houchins (Angels) rifled a two-run single, reached base on an HBP, and scored a run, and Michael Strentz (Angels) ripped an RBI double and a single, walked, and scored a run, leading the Angels/Cubs co-op squad to a 10-2 drubbing of the Rangers in AZ Advanced Instructional League game action this afternoon on Nolan Ryan Field at the Surprise Recreation Campus in Surprise, AZ. 
The Angels/Cubs co-op squad has done OK so far, winning four of their first five AZ Advanced Instructional League games.

And through his first five AZ Advanced Instructional League games, Cubs catcher Victor Caratini is 5-10 with two singles, a double and two triples, a walk, three RBI, and three runs scored. 

VICTOR CARATINI'S 2015 MONTH-TO-MONTH TRIPLE SLASH-LINE (AVG/OBP/SLG) PROGRESSION:  
APR: 204/278/245 (54 PA at Myrtle Beach)
MAY: 250/341/338 (91 PA at Myrtle Beach)
JUN: 256/364/402 (99 PA at Myrtle Beach)
JUL: 261/349/375 (106 PA at Myrtle Beach)
AUG: 284/329/432 (79 PA at Myrtle Beach)
SEP: 367/457/633 (35 PA combined at Myrtle Beach & AZ Advanced IL) 

Here is the box score from today's game (Cubs players are highlighted in bold and underlined

ANGELS/CUBS LINEUP:
1. Bo Way, LF-DH: 2-4 (K, 2B, 1B, F-8, R, 2 RBI, PO)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIFTH TIME THRU BATTING ORDER 
2. Shawon Dunston Jr, DH-CF: 1-2 (1B, P-3, PO)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST THREE TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER
3. Chesny Young, 2B: 1-4 (4-3, 4-3, 1B, 5-3, R, RBI)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIFTH TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
4. Zach Houchins, 3B: 1-3 (4-3, HBP, 1B, K, R, 2 RBI)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIFTH TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
5. Dan Vogelbach, 1B: 1-4 (1B, 6-3, K, F-8, R)
NOTE:  SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIFTH TIME THRU BATTING ORDER 
6a. Victor Caratini, C-DH: 2-3 (3B, 2B, K, 2 R, 2 RBI)
6b. Wade Wass, PH: 0-1 (L-8)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIFTH TIME THRU BATTING ORDER 
7a. Natanael Delgado, RF: 1-3 (K, 1B, K, RBI)
7b. Jeffrey Baez, RF: 0-2 (5-3, 5-3)
8a. Kody Eaves, 2B: 1-2 (1B, K, R, RBI)
8b. Andrew Daniel, 2B: 0-2 (BB, 1-3, 5-3, R)
9a. Rashad Crawford, CF: 1-3 (1B, 3-U, K, R)
9b. Charcer Burks, LF: 0-2 (4-3, K)
10. Michael Strentz, DH-C: 2-3 (K, BB, 2B, 1B, R, RBI) 

RANGERS LINEUP
1a. Christopher Garia, CF: 1-3 (1B, 5-3, 4-3, R, SB)
1b. Jairo Beras, CF: 0-1 (L-8)
2. Jurickson Profar, DH: 0-2 (BB, BB, K, F-8, SB)
3a. Travis Demeritte, 2B: 0-1 (K, BB)
3b. Dylan Moore, 2B: 1-2 (1B, K)
4. Ronald Guzman, 1B: 0-4 (3-U, 4-6-3 DP, 3-6-1 DP, F-9)
5a. Tyler Sanchez, C: 0-1 (P-6)
5b. David Lyon, C: 0-3 (K, P-5, F-7)
6a. LeDarious Clark, RF: 1-2 (2B, K, R, SB)
6b. Jose Almonte, RF: 2-2 (1B, 1B)
7. Luis Marte, SS: 0-3 (K, BB, 6-4-3 DP, K, PO)
8. Darius Day, LF: 0-3 (4-3, K, 3-1)
9. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, 3B: 1-3 (F-9, E-6, 1B, SB)

ANGELS/CUBS PITCHERS
1. Tyler Skulina: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 4 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 1 PO, 1 GIDP, 4/2 GO/AO, 70 pitches (38 strikes) 
2. James Pugliese: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 GIDP, 2/1 GO/AO, 24 pitches (17 strikes) 
3. Steve Perakslis: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 2/2 GO/AO, 24 pitches (16 strikes) 
4. Matt Brazis: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 0/2 GO/AO, 13 pitches (9 strikes) 

RANGERS PITCHERS
1. Sam Wolff: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2/0 GO/AO, 13 pitches (7 strikes) 
2. Luis Ortiz: 1.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R (4 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 PO, 28 pitches (18 strikes)
3. Brett Martin: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 2/0 GO/AO, 25 pitches (15 strikes)
4. Jefri Hernandez: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1/0 GO/AO, 24 pitches (11 strikes) 
5. Scott Williams: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 4 pitches (3 strikes) 
6. Joe Filomeno: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO/AO, 25 pitches (13 strikes) 
7. Peter Fairbanks: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 PO, 2/2 GO/AO, 24 pitches (14 strikes) 
8. John Kukuruda: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2/1 GO/AO, 11 pitches (9 strikes) 
9. Joseph Palumbo: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2/0 GO/AO, 13 pitches (7 strikes)

ANGELS/CUBS ERRORS: 2
1. C Victor Caratini: E-2 (errant throw on stolen base attempt at 3rd base allowed runner to score)  
2. SS Chesny Young: E-6 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely)  

RANGERS ERRORS: NONE 

ANGELS/CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE
1. Victor Caratini, 0-3 CS, 1 E (see above) 
2. Michael Strentz: 0-1 CS 

WEATHER: Sunny and a bit breezy with temperatures 105+ 

ATTENDANCE: 28 (mostly scouts) 

Comments

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/13774883/female-coach-justine-siegal-… "OAKLAND, Calif. -- Justine Siegal, who was the first woman to throw batting practice for a Major League Baseball team, will serve as a guest instructor during the Oakland Athletics' instructional league that begins Sunday at the team's spring training facility in Mesa, Arizona. Siegal will assist the A's player development staff both on and off the field during instructs, which run through Oct. 17." neat.

are we supposed to be hoping for and cheering cubs losses to set up a better draft pick? thank god that shitty aspect of cub fandom (some fans) is done...hopefully for a long time.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

Dunno -- this team is pretty bad at everything. I can't see them beating the Pack, Lions or Vikings with AP -- that's a total of 10 losses right there. They don't have the personnel to play a 3-4 dense, can't cover kickoffs and have no threat at WR. 12 losses is very achievable.

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

"13-14 not out of the realm of possibility" Let's be ambitious, shoot for fifteen losses and then draft a QB. Even a proud franchise like the Lakers was able to maintain their focus on losing and outdo the Sixers last year. If your team smells, invest in noseplugs. This was certainly the "Cubs' way" a couple of years ago. Mediocrity is the enemy. Cutler (62-61) is the enemy. Don't let him on the field.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

Cutler is not the issue right now though I'm sure we'll have to draft a QB in the next couple years. We have one good offensive lineman, an aging running back who will be a free agent, receivers who can't stay healthy and maybe one or two defensive players who can be starters in the future. I think Cutler has been massively underrated his whole time here but even if hate him drafting a QB this next draft (and I'm not even sure there are guaranteed stars in the draft) and putting him behind this awful line with a defense that will still be bad is setting him up for failure from the start and will guarantee that mediocrity you talk about. We need to rebuild our lines on both side and we're gonna probably have to replace Forte and Alshon both. We also need new linebackers and Kyle Fuller looks like a bust. This team is in such awful shape it's depressing.

[ ]

In reply to by johann

Everyone points at Cubs and Hawks on how they took lumps and then rebuilt. One major key no one mentions is that there was a change in ownership. Rocky came in knew it needed fixing, and Ricketts did the same. If you think that fossil, who proposes to ban the forward pass at every owners meeting, and her dim wit family will make a change, I have a bridge to sell you.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

I hated George Halas growing up. He coached way too long and presided over the humiliating loss--66-24--to a team, the KC Chiefs, that wasn't even in the NFL at the time. Reading Halas's biography in Wikipedia not too long ago, I changed my thinking. I don't at all mind the Bears having a direct connection to that great man. (I invite you to go read his story yourself.) Virginia wasn't going to make decisions about the team so she passed it down the line, starting with her husband Ed, who wasn't, after all, a Halas, and next to Mike, and now to George. I say, keep the line moving. Supposedly they had eleven kids. There must be someone in that group who is made of stuff similar to the old man's.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

crunch, if you want to take the short-sided view of a complete rebuild that's on you. Don't ridicule the fans that understood the process, the importance of high draft picks to that process and hoped for it. The pick of Kris Bryant wouldn't have been possible if they hadn't had the draft position they had. And if Bryant isn't on the Cubs now, they're not in the post-season. You sound like the grumpy uncle screaming "get off my lawn!"

[ ]

In reply to by K Dub

1- it was a joke 2- not liking it doesn't mean you don't understand it. i clearly understood the shit-fest i sat through for years setting this current situation up. it doesn't take a single braincell to understand it. 3- this was not the only way to get it done, but it's the way it got done. they at least delivered what they promised. ...beyond this...watching people root for losses, watch reverse standings like a hawk, and cheer winter signings for what they'll bring mid-season...for 3 years...yeah, that was a thing.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

1-It wasn't a funny one. 2-If you can understand why the draft picks are so important to the process, you should also be able to tolerate those who root for the highest draft pick possible instead insult them. 3-It pretty much is the only and best way to do a complete rebuild of an organization. ...beyond this...listening to people bash and complain about committed Cubs fans who are excited about how the overhaul and ground up rebuild is going...for 3 years...yeah, that was a thing, too. Have fun yelling at the kids to get off your lawn now that no one is on it and the grass is lush and green. Way to needless bring up the past that is no longer present. Or is that just your way of celebrating how successful this rebuild has been?

[ ]

In reply to by K Dub

i do/did tolerate them, i don't insult them, i will joke about them. different people have different senses of humor, stop the presses. just because you don't like the joke doesn't make it an insult any more than what happened was the "only and best way" for a rebuild. oh yeah, and get the fuck off my lawn. :D

Thanks for the Instructs updates, Phil. Caratini is en fuego! I'm excited to see how his bat handles the quality of pitching jump he'll face in AA. If his bat can develop, he sounds like a real future asset.

From what I have read, TheoJed have always liked Caratini, and he's been able to hit in stretches. He and Contreras are the catching future pretty much right now. CRUNCH, I see your constant point re A Jackson. He cannot hit much anymore, can't steal a base (if he ever gets on), and his fielding so far in limited Cubs action is not what I had expected (last night's whiff in RF not outstanding).

Catching-wise, I saw Cael Brockmeyer in Woodbridge, VA, (Pelicans at Nats) the other week and was struck by the way he convinced the umpire that Duane Underwood's chronic low fastballs were actually strikes at the knees. Brockmeyer is a defense-first catcher, but he's also a big strapping fellow and can swing the bat. It was laughable, anyway, when there was a conference on the mound, to see the 6-5 Brockmeyer standing next to first baseman Ben Carhart, listed generously at 5-10. (Carhart does catch, and Brockmeyer plays a little first.) They obviously like Caratini's bat--in the playoffs, he was their hitting star while Brockmeyer sat--but I think both catchers are real prospects.

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.