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 & D'backs Split the Difference at Salt River Fields

Jeff Smith ripped a two-run triple, singled, doubled, and scored two runs, Alex Brown hammered an RBI triple, singled, walked and scored two runs, Fernery Ozuna drilled an RBI double, tripled, walked, and scored a run, Austin Byler singled twice, walked twice, drove-in a run, and scored another, Marty Herum smacked a two-run home run and singled, and RHSP Sam McWilliams and four relievers combined to spin a five-hitter, as the Diamondbacks crushed the Cubs 12-4 on Whirlwind Field, and Wladimir Galindo (two-run single), Tyler Pearson (two-run double), and Jhonny Bethencourt (RBI single) contributed run-scoring hits to highlight a five-run 7th and RHSP Pedro Silverio tossed three innings of shutout ball with four strikeouts, as the Cubs rallied to defeat the D'backs 7-5 on Jackrabbit Field, in Cactus League Extended Spring Training split-squad doubleheader action this morning at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick Resort east of Scottsdale, AZ. 

The game on Jackrabbit Field was called after eight innings of play. 

Yeiler Peguero singled twice, drove-in a run, and scored another and Miguel Amaya belted a two-run double and walked for the Cubs in a losing cause on Whirlwind Field, and Jose Herrera and Gerard Hernandez drilled two-run singles for the D'backs in a losing cause on Jackrabbit Field.  

RHSP Junior Marte had difficulty finding the strike zone in the game on Whilrlwind Field, walking six in just 1.1 IP (he threw only 43% strikes), and surrendering two run-scoring triples when he did throw the ball over the plate.  

RHP (ex-INF) Francisco Garay and RHP (ex-OF) Wander Feliz saw their first Cactus League EXST game action since being converted to pitchers this season (they had previously thrown only "live" BP and in intrasquad games at Riverview Park), throwing an inning a piece in the game on Jackrabbit Field. Garay got through his inning relatively unscathed (although his fastball topped out at only 86 MPH), while Feliz walked the bases loaded and then surrendered a two-run single (like Marte, Feliz could not find home plate, recording only 33% strikes).  

A 17-year old 6'2 Panamanian, Garay hit just 126/190/146 with a whopping 96 K in 220 PA while playing both 3B and SS for the VSL Cubs in his debut pro season last year, and the 18-year old 6'2 Feliz hit 235/375/333 in 202 PA and 54 games (mostly in RF) for the DSL Cubs in 2015 (his rookie season). Garay received a $200K signing bonus in July 2014, so his failure as a position player is especially noteworthy. 

Stephen Bruno saw his first game action since Minor League Camp, playing 2B for four ininngs and going 1-2 (a single and a FC) at the plate on Jackrabbit Field. 

Here are the abridged box scores from the two games (Cubs players only) 


WHIRLWIND FIELD 

CUBS SQUAD "A" LINEUP
1a. Robert Garcia, CF: 0-3 (BB, K, F-7, 3-6 FC, R, SB)
1b. Ruben Reyes, CF: 0-1 (3-6 FC, R)
2. Yeiler Peguero, SS: 2-4 (1B, F-7, F-8, 1B, R, RBI, PO)
3a. Rafael Mejia, DH #1: 0-1 (BB, K)
3b. Miguel Amaya, C: 1-1 (BB, 2B, 2 RBI)
4. Jose Paniagua, 1B: 0-4 (5-3, K, L-4, 3-1)
5. Kevonte Mitchell, DH #2: 0-3 (K, 6-3, 6-3)
6. Kwang-Min Kwon, LF-DH: 0-2 (K, HBP, K)
7. Marcus Mastrobuoni, C-DH: 0-3 (E-6, K, F-7)
8. Vimael Machin, 3B: 1-2 (BB, F-7, 1B)
9. Jonathan Sierra, DH-LF: 0-3 (5-4-3 DP, L-7, K)
10. Roberto Caro, RF: 1-3 (3B, F-9, 1-3, R)
11. Edgar Rondon, 2B: 0-1 (6-3, BB, BB, RBI, SB)

CUBS SQUAD" A" PITCHERS
1. Junior Marte: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R (3 ER), 6 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 49 pitches (21 strikes) 
2. Daniel Lewis: 2.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R (4 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 2 GIDP, 2/1 GO/AO, 39 pitches (29 strikes) 
3. Pablo Ochoa: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 1/4 GO/AO, 32 pitches (20 strikes) 
4. Scott Frazier: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 1/1 GO/AO, 21 pitches (12 strikes) 
5. Mark Malave: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 1 DP, 1/1 GO/AO, 18 pitches (11 strikes) 

CUBS SQUAD "A" ERRORS: 2 
1. 1B Jose Paniagua: E-3 (missed catch on pick-off attempt at 1st base allowed runner to advance to 2nd) 
2. P Pablo Ochoa: E-1 (errant throw on pick-off attempt at 1st base allowed runner to advance to 3rd) 

CUBS SQUAD "A" CATCHERS DEFENSE
Marcus Mastrobuoni: 1-2 CS 

CUBS SQUAD "A" OUTFIELD ASSISTS
CF Robert Garcia - batter thrown out 8-6-5 attempting to stretch double into triple 


JACKRABBIT FIELD

CUBS SQUAD "B" LINEUP
1a. D. J. Wilson, CF: 1-3 (3B, 3-U, P-2, RBI)
1b. Jose Gonzalez, CF: 0-1 (BB, 5-3, R)
2. Andruw Monasterio, SS: 1-5 (K, 1-2 FC, F-8, F-7, 1B)
3a. Stephen Bruno, 2B: 1-2 (FC, 1B)
3b. Yohan Matos, PH-RF-LF: 1-2 (1B, BB, K+WP, R)
4a. Alex Bautista, DH #1: 0-1 (6-3, BB, BB, HBP, R)
4b. Rafael Narea, PH: 0-0 (BB, SB)
5a. Chris Pieters, 1B: 0-3 (F-9, 6-4 FC, K)
5b. Eric Gonzalez, 1B: 0-2 (P-2, P-4)
6. Wladimir Galindo, 3B: 2-5 (1B, P-3, 3-U, 1B, 5-3, R, 2 RBI)
7a. Abraham Rodriguez, RF-DH: 0-2 (P-2, E-3, R)
7b. Tyler Pearson, PH-C: 1-1 (BB, 2B, R, 2 RBI)
8. Jhonny Bethencourt, DH-2B: 3-4 (K, 1B, 1B, 1B, R, RBI)
9. Ricardo Marcano, LF: 0-2 (4-3, K, 1-3 SH, BB)
10. Tyler Payne, C-DH: 1-2 (1B, BB, K, R)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FOURTH TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
11. Luis Ayala, DH-RF: 0-2 (SH-FC, BB, F-7, K)

CUBS SQUAD "B" PITCHERS
1. Pedro Silverio: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 GIDP, 1/3 GO/AO, 38 pitches (29 strikes) 
2. Francisco Garay: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 0/2 GO/AO, 12 pitches (7 strikes) 
3. Alexander Santana: 1.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 1/2 GO/AO, 28 pitches (16 strikes) 
4. Yapson Gomez: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 17 pitches (6 strikes) 
5. Wander Feliz: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 0 K, 1 WP, 1/2 GO/AO, 27 pitches (9 strikes) 
6. M. T. Minacci: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2/1 GO/AO, 14 pitches (8 strikes) 

CUBS SQUAD "B" ERRORS: NONE

SQUAD "B" CATCHERS DEFENSE:
1. Tyler Payne: 1-2 CS 
2. Tyler Pearson: 1-1 CS 

ATTENDANCE: 24 

WEATHER: Partly cloudy & breezy with temperatures in the 70's 

Comments

Phil, Seems like Kevonte Mitchell is struggling. Agree or disagree?

[ ]

In reply to by Childersb3

CHILDERS: Kevonte Mitchell (Cubs 2014 13th round draft pick - Kennett HS - Kennett, MO) is hitting 250/425/357 in ten Cactus League EXST games (40 PA), with a 30% BB rate (he is second on the team in walks) and a 30% K-rate (he is also second on the team in strikeouts, behind only Kwang-Min Kwon, who has twelve K in just 29 PA). Mitchell is also second on the team in RBI, but he has only one SB (and one CS), even though speed is his best tool. 

Mitchell is what's known by scouts as an "athlete," meaning his overall athleticism is greater than his ability to play that particular sport. In the case of Mitchell, he was an outstanding HS basketball player, where baseball was not his #1 sport. He is an OK but not great defender in the outfield (he has plus-range and a plus-arm but he's only so-so at tracking fly balls) who can play all three OF slots. But he isn't a very good hitter at this point (too many swings & misses, and he has been unable to translate BP HR power into "game-usable" power). He also should be a better base-stealer than he is, but his jumps need work.  

Although he would appear to have the tools needed to improve as a baseball player, how much he will improve over time is the big question. He needs to have a good 2016 season at EXST and Eugene, and then build on that. 

.250 is better than I thought. I know BA isn't the end all beat all anymore, but I thought his was lower. Do you think the high walk rate is a product of a patient approach or more of a guessing approach? Thanks. I like tracking athletes. Potential is a four letter word but you cannot stay good in the Majors without a certain level of pure talent.

CHILDERS: Kevonte Mitchell is very patient and perhaps even somewhat passive at the plate. He's certainly not what I would call a "hacker," that's for sure. He actually fits the profile of a lead-off hitter because of the high OBP and raw speed combo, but he almost always hits 3-4-5 at EXST (which is probably why he's second on the EXST Cubs in RBI).   

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    18-year old SS Jefferson Rojas almost made the AA Tennessee Opening Day roster, and he is a legit shortstop, so I would expect him to be an MLB Top 100 prospect by mid-season. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Among the relievers in the system, I expect RHRP Hunter Bigge at AAA Iowa and RHRP Ty Johnson at South Bend to have breakout seasons on 2024, and among the starters I see LHP Drew Gray and RHP Will Sanders at South Bend and RHP Naz Mule at ACL Cubs as the guys who will make the biggest splash. Also, Jaxon Wiggins is throwing bullpen sides, so once he is ready for game action he could be making an impact at Myrtle Beach by June.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I expect OF Christian Franklin to have a breakout season at AA Tennessee in 2024. In another organization that doesn't have PCA, Caissie, K. Alcantara, and Canario in their system, C. Franklin would be a Top 10 prospect. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The Reds trading Joe Boyle for Sam Moll at last year's MLB Trade Deadline was like the Phillies trading Ben Brown to the Cubs for David Robertson at the MLB TD in 2022. 

  • 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...