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

Eddie Butler Gets a Start at Minor League Camp

Isaac Paredes drilled an RBI double and two singles and scored a run, Rafael Mejia blasted a three-run home run, and SP Duncan Robinson hurled three innings of one-hit ball and combined with four relievers to toss a six-hitter with 13 strikeouts, leading the South Bend Cubs (Lo-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) to a 6-1 victory over the Kane County Cougars (Lo-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks) on Field #5, and Luis Alejandro Basabe belted a three-run HR, Ramon Hernandez singled and doubled and scored two runs, Kyle Smith stroked an RBI double and a single and scored a run, and SP Mack Lemieux threw four innings of one-hit shutout ball (albeit allowing four walks, an HBP, and two WP along the way), as the Visalia Rawhide (D'backs Hi-A affiliate) defeated the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs Hi-A affiliate) 7-3 on Field #6, in Cactus League Minor League doubleheader action Tuesday afternoon at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.     

The MLB squad had the day off, so recently acquired RHSP Eddie Butler was sent to Minor League Camp to get his scheduled game work versus the Diamondbacks Hi-A affiiate (Visalia) on Field #6. Butler allowed four runs (all earned) on six hits (three singles, two doubles, and a triple) in 4.2 IP (69 pitches - 65% strikes), allowing no walks while striking out five with a 3/5 GO/AO. He retired the last five hitters he faced (K, F-9, K, 4-3, L-8). Butler's FB sat at 93-94 and he was able to throw his secondary pitches for strikes, but D'backs (Rawhide) hitters consistently squared-up his pitches and made hard contact up until the last five outs. 
   
Cubs 2016 3rd round draft pick RHSP Thomas Hatch (Oklahoma State) followed Butler to the mound on Field #6 and worked 3.2 IP, allowing the Basabe three-run homer, but he got stronger as he got deeper into the outing, eventually retiring the last eight men he faced in a row (four of the last five by strikeout). Hatch had all of his pitches working (92-93 MPH two-seam FB, slider, and CH) over the last eight outs. 

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


FIELD #5:

SOUTH BEND LINEUP:
1. Luis Ayala, CF: 0-3 (BB, 4-3, K, K, R, SB)
2. Yeiler Peguero, 2B: 1-3 (6-3, BB, 1B, 4-3, R, SB)
3. Jonathan Sierra, RF: 0-4 (K, E-6, L-7, 4-3, R)
4. Isaac Paredes, SS: 3-4 (3-U, 2B, 1B, 1B, R, RBI)
5. Zack Short, 3B: 0-3 (6-3, 6-3, 1-5-3 DP, BB, R)
6a. Jhonny Pereda, C: 0-2 (BB, 4-3, 5-3)
6b. Gustavo Polanco, C: 0-1 (6-3)
7. Rafael Mejia, 1B: 1-3 (6-4-3 DP, F-7, BB, HR, R, 3 RBI, CS)
8. Kevin Zamudio, DH: 1-4 (5-3, F-8, 1B, F-7, PO)
9. Tolly Filotei, LF: 1-3 (1B, 1-3, F-9, PO)

SOUTH BEND PITCHERS:
1. Duncan Robinson: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 5/1 GO/AO, 44 pitches (30 strikes)
2. Marc Huberman: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 3/0 GO/AO, 27 pitches (14 strikes)
3. Dakota Mekkes: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 32 pitches (21 strikes)
4. John Michael Knighton: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2/0 GO/AO, 12 pitches (8 strikes)
5. Chad Hockin: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 0/1 GO/AO, 18 pitches (12 strikes)

SOUTH BEND ERRORS: 3
SS Isaac Paredes: E-6 (fielding error allowed batter reach base safely)
P Dakota Mekkes: E-1 (errant throw to 1st base on infield single allowed batter to advance to 2nd)
Dakota Mekkes: E-1 (errant throw on pick-off attempt at 2nd base allowed runner to advance to 3rd) 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

FIELD #6

MYRTLE BEACH LINEUP:
1a. Kevonte Mitchell, RF: 0-3 (K, E-6, E-8, HBP, R, SB)
1b. Jose Gutierrez, RF: 0-0 (BB)
2a. P. J. Higgins, C: 1-3 (K, 1B, 4-6-3 DP, SB)
2b. Jhonny Bethencourt, 2B: 0-1 (K)
3. Chris Pieters, 1B: 0-2 (HBP, F-9 SF, 6-3, P-6, RBI)
4. Wladimir Galindo, 3B: 0-4 (K, P-4, K, K)
5. Trent Giambrone, 2B-DH: 0-3 (BB, 6-3, L-5, 6-3, CS)
6. Sam Tidaback, DH-C: 1-2 (BB, BB, 1B, F-9, R, CS)
7a. Carlos Penalver, SS: 1-2 (BB, 5-4 FC, 1B)
7b. Andruw Monasterio, SS: 0-1 (4-3)
8. Brandon Cummins, CF: 2-4 (4-3, 1B, 1B, K, R, RBI, SB)
9. Zach Davis, LF: 0-3 (K, BB, 3-U, 5-3)

MYRTLE BEACH PITCHERS:
1. Eddie Butler: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R (4 ER), 0 BB, 5 K, 1 WP, 3/5 GO/AO, 69 pitches (45 strikes)
2. Thomas Hatch: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP, 1 HR, 5/1 GO/AO, 48 pitches (29 strikes)
3. Wyatt Short: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/0 GO/AO, 16 pitches (10 strikes)

MYRTLE BEACH ERRORS: 1
3B Wladimir Galindo: E-5 (errant throw to 1st base on infield single allowed batter & baserunner to advance an extra base) 

MYRTLE BEACH CATCHERS DEFENSE
P. J. Higgins: 2-2 CS

ATTENDANCE: 65

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 90's 

Comments

As things stand right now, these are the starting rotations for the four Cubs minor league full-season affiliates plus projected Extended Spring Training squad. SP who are not yet "stretched-out" could piggy-back with a "swing-man" or begin the season at Extended Spring Training (TBD). * throws left IOWA: Eddie Butler Alec Mils * Rob Zastryzny Aaron Brooks Jake Buchanan Williams Perez (not stretched-out yet) Casey Kelly (likely SP/RP "swing") Seth Frankoff (likely SP/RP "swing") TENNESSEE: Trevor Clifton Zach Hedges Preston Morrison Jake Stinnett Jen-Ho Tseng Duane Underwood Jr (not stretched-out yet) Jonathan Martinez (likely SP/RP "swing") Brad Markey (likely SP/RP "swing") MYRTLE BEACH: Thomas Hatch * Justin Steele Adbert Alzolay Kyle Miller * Ryan Kellogg (not stretched-out yet) Oscar de la Cruz (not stretched-out yet) Casey Bloomquist (likely SP/RP "swing") * Kyle Twomey (likely SP/RP "swing") SOUTH BEND: Dylan Cease * Manuel Rondon Erling Moreno Tyson Miller Duncan Robinson * Bryan Hudson (not stretched-out yet) Matt Swarmer (likely SP/RP "swing") EUGENE (EXST): Javier Assad Junior Marte Andry Rondon Manuel Rodriguez Nathan Sweeney Bailey Clark (Limited Activity right now) NOTE: SP at EXST will be gradually stretched-out over a period of weeks. A number of pitchers are expected to arrive in Mesa from the Cubs Dominican Academy within the next couple of weeks, and some of them will be primed as SP for AZL Cubs at EXST.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

CRUNCH: I did leave Ryan Williams off the Iowa SP list, but that's kind of a tricky one because as I explained in my post about the new MLB 10-day DL, MLB clubs now need five starters at AAA who are on the MLB 40-man roster and who can be easily shuttled back & forth from AAA to MLB when an MLB starting pitcher goes on the 10-day DL and misses a start, and while Butler, Mills, Zastryzny, Buchanan, and Brooks are on the 40, Williams is not. 

Even though he is starting the Cubs MLB Cactus League game tonight in Goodyear, the Cubs will probably be very careful with Ryan Williams in 2017. They will probably have Williams on a strict innings limt.because of last year's shoulder issue, and it also might not be good for him to open the season at Iowa in April. It really wouldn't surprise me that much if Williams begins the regular season at Extended Spring Training (even if he is already stretched-out) and remains there until the Iowa SP situation shakes itself out a bit and the weather warms up. 

[ ]

In reply to by Dolorous Jon Lester

DJL: The Cubs are indeed bringing Oscar de la Cruz along VERY slowly at Minor League Camp. He could begin the regular season "piggy-backing" with a SP/RP swing-man like Casey Bloomquist or Kyle Twomey at Myrtle Beach, or he could be left behind at Extended Spring Training for an extra couple of weeks or so to get him fully stretched-out. 

The Cubs are clearly being more cautious with de la Cruz this time around after rushing him a bit at Minor League Camp last year, which resulted in elbow/forearm inflammation that cost him about a half-season of development time. The Cubs will almost certainly limit de la Cruz's innings in 2017 one way or another, either by initially leaving him behind at EXST for a while, or by piggy-backing him with another pitcher at Myrtle Beach, and/or by shutting him down once he reaches his pre-planned 2017 innings limit.   

Thanks for rotation post, Phil. Q's: 1. Kellogg: What's up with him and why is he not already stretched out? Injury of some kind? 2. Bailey Clark: Any info on why he's limited-activity? 3. Any views of Albertos, or insights into how unhealthy he may be? 4. Is Hudson pitching? Seemingly fine, just behind? Hope they all get healthy and have good seasons.

[ ]

In reply to by craig

CRAIG: Ryan Kellogg was used as a reliever with Team Canada in the WBC and he arrived back at Cubs Minor League Camp just a few days ago, and so he is a bit behind schedule as far as getting stretched-out as a starter. 

I don't know what's up with Bailey Clark, but he is able to participate in PFPs. He just isn't throwing right now (and he is not yet in the Rehab Throwing Program). 

Jose Albertos is still in the Rehab Throwing Program, and there is no ETA for completion for those guys. It's an individual thing, but once Albertos is ready (cleared) he can start throwing bullpens and then eventually "live" BP.  So I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens. Hopefully there will be no setbacks.

Bryan Hudson finished the Rehab Throwing Program last week (he began Minor League Camp there), but I have not seen him throw "live" BP yet, although he is probably is throwing bullpen sessions. I would think he will probably begin the seaaon at Extended Spring Training and take as much time as he needs to get stretched-out, and if all goes well, he will probably eventually get moved-up to South Bend (if there is room for him there).

RIP Dallas Green The man who changed the losing culture of the Cubs. Thank you for 1984.

radar pictures has bought the film rights to david ross's uncompleted book (due out this summer). that said, things like this don't always lead to a project being done.

It seems like 18 YO CF Jose Gutierrez has been doing really during these minor league ST games go. As a potential switch hitting speed/defense CF who showed some pop and refinement last year I am really rooting for this guy to be a thing as a prospect. Right now I'm still relatively excited about Isaac Paredes' potential despite the age and distance. He just needs to do what he did last year a few more times, adding some more HRs along the way. Of the many guys with talent in this system I think he is one of the extremely few who might just have the right blend of tools and skills to one day break into the Cubs lineup. I'm liking 2B as a long term destination right now, but not ruling him out as a SS. I continue to like Hatch as a potential Tanner Roarkish addition to the ML staff. The idea of Butler is intriguing to me - basically signalling the Cubs will look at cheap, young, unproven pre-injured pitchers to maybe get a Jake DeGrom out of it. The guy I like is Mike Clevinger on the Indians, but Patrick Corbin and Tyler Skaggs fall into this pool. Not really big on Butler, but I like what I imagine they're shooting for.

[ ]

In reply to by KingKongvsGodzilla

KKvG: There are four Cubs position players moving up to the AZL from the DSL this season who are legit prospects: SS Aramis Ademan, C Miguel Amaya, CF Jose Gutierrez, and RF Jonathan Sierra. Others may emerge as well, but right now those four are looking good. 

As I've mentioned here before, I don't see Isaac Paredes remaining at shortstop long-term, although the Cubs are leaving him there for now because he feels comfortable playing the position and he has the actions of a SS. It's possible he could end up at 2B, but his body-type best fits the profile of a third-baseman. Maybe he'll eventually play all over the infield. BTW, one scout (from another organization) told me last year that he thinks Paredes will end up at catcher (like Willson Contreras).

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

I really think that 2015 IFA crop is going to be studly. I believe one or even two of these guys might become serious enough talents to make the Cubs one day: Paredes Amaya Gutierrez Sierra Ademan Marquez Carrera Ocampo What's your take on Amaya and Gutierrez in camp? Gutierrez is my deeeeep sleeper in the system, he was surprisingly good last year. The way Paredes gets talked about on defense reminds me of both Baez and Russell. Baez actually played catcher in HS, both were sentenced to 3B with 2B not mentioned enough, meanwhile their actions, hands, arms, and feet all got praised. What's your take on Gutierrez so far? Is he over 6'? Just curious about that one

[ ]

In reply to by KingKongvsGodzilla

KKvG: Miguel Amaya is probably the Cubs top catching prospect right now, although he is several years away from MLB. It takes time to develop a catcher and there is so much to learn. Amaya has a quiet confidence about him, he has natural leadership qualities, he shows promise as a hitter, he has a strong arm, and he is athletic behind the plate. At this point that's all you can reasonably expect from a young catching prospect. It will be fun watching him develop. Jose Gutierrez is a hyper-aggressive player in the field and on the bases (sometimes too aggressive), but he has above-average speed, he is a good flyhawk with a plus-arm (he can already play all three OF positions), he's a slash hitter with gap power, and he's chaos on the bases. At this point he profiles as the protypical lead-off hitter, but as with Amaya, he will have to continually develop all phases of his game (especially his hitting, pitch recognition, and patience) beyond where they are now. As I've mentioned here previously, the AZL Cubs should be very interesting in 2017 and in the years ahead at higher classifications, with Amaya, Gutierrez, Sierra, and Ademan (plus about a half-dozen pitching prospects with upside) together as a group. However, I would say none of the four position players are in the class of Gleyber Torres and Eloy Jimenez. The closest would be Amaya.

Recent comments

  • 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...

  • 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.