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

2018 Cubs Minor League Camp Rosters

UPDATED 4/3:

Other than players who will be going on the DL in the next couple of days, here are the last of the Minor League Camp roster moves left-over from Monday

IOWA to TENNESSEE: RHP Daury Torrez

MYRTLE BEACH to EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING: RHP Kyle Miller and RHP Erling Moreno

NOTE: See updated Cubs Minor League Camp, Extended Spring Training, and Dominican Academy rosters below (IOWA - 28, TENNESSEE - 26, MYRTLE BEACH - 27, and SOUTH BEND - 27... all four affiliates must get rosters down to 25 by Thursday)  

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

UPDATED 4/2
:

Roster moves Sunday night and Monday morning at Minor League Camp:

TENNESSEE to MYRTLE BEACH: LHP Ryan Kellogg

TENNESSEE to EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING: RHP Adbert Alzolay and INF Gioskar Amaya

MYRTLE BEACH to SOUTH BEND: RHP Elvis Diaz

SOUTH BEND to MYRTLE BEACH: RHP Matt Swarmer (this was a last-minute addition to the Myrtle Beach squad before Pelicans left town)

SOUTH BEND to EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING: RHP Ivan Medina

EUGENE/MESA to SOUTH BEND: INF Christian Donahue (this was a last-minute addition to the South Bend squad before the SB-Cubs left town) 

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

UPDATED 4/1
 

Roster moves Sunday at Minor League Camp: 

TRADED: LHP Daniel Camarena to New York Yankees for PTBNL or cash

IOWA to TENNESSEE: RHP Zach Hedges 

IOWA to EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING: RHP Jose Rosario and LHP Kyle Ryan 

MYRTLE BEACH to SOUTH BEND: LHP Yapson Gomez

MYRTLE BEACH to EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING: RHP Enrique de los Rios

SOUTH BEND to EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING: RHP Luis Aquino

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


UPDATED 3/31


Roster moves Saturday at Minor League Camp 

IOWA to TENNESSEE: INF Gioskar Amaya

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


UPDATED 3/30
:

Roster moves Friday at Minor League Camp:

SOUTH BEND to MYRTLE BEACH: RHP Jhon Romero, C-1B Tyler Alamo, OF Kevonte Mitchell, and OF Connor Myers

SOUTH BEND to EUGENE/MESA (EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING): RHP Fauris Guerrero, RHP Brendan King, RHP Casey Ryan, and 1B-OF Joe Martarano

ASSIGNED TO EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING: RHP Garrett Kelly (was acquired from Schaumburg - Frontier League on 3/21) 

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


UPDATED 3/29
:

Roster moves Thursday at Minor League Camp: 

CLAIMED OFF WAIVERS: The Cubs have claimed (actually re-claimed) RHP Cory Mazzoni off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers and he has been optioned to AAA Iowa. (Mazzoni was claimed off waivers by the Dodgers on Tuesday). So the Cubs MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) now stands at 38. 

SIGNED: OF-INF Chris Coghlan signed a minor league contract and he has been assigned to EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING. (Coghlan had been at Minor League Camp as an unsigned player since last Saturday, unofficially participating in morning baserunning and fielding drills and BP, but he was not actually offered a contract until today).     


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


UPDATED 3/28
:

Roster moves Wednesday at Minor League Camp: 

CUBS (MLB) to MINOR LEAGUE CAMP: RHP Shae Simmons was optioned to AAA Iowa (MLB Active List now stands at 25), and RHP Anthony Bass, RHP Justin Hancock, LHP Kyle Ryan, C-1B Taylor Davis, C-1B Chris Gimenez, IF-OF Ryan Court, INF Mike Freeman, and 1B-OF Efren Navarro have been assigned to AAA Iowa. 

IOWA to TENNESSEE: RHP James Pugliese, C-1B Ian Rice, C Erick Castillo, 1B-OF Yasiel Balaguert, 3B-1B Jason Vosler, and OF Charcer Burks   

IOWA to MYRTLE BEACH: C P. J. Higgins

TENNESSEE to YUCATAN (Mexican League): RHP Mario Meza (loaned)

TENNESSEE to MYRTLE BEACH: RHP Casey Bloomquist, RHP Kyle Miller, LHP Jordan Minch, C Tyler Pearson, INF Vimael Machin, and OF-1B Chris Pieters

TENNESSEE to SOUTH BEND: C Tyler Payne  

MYRTLE BEACH to TENNESSEE: RHP Oscar de la Cruz

MYRTLE BEACH to SOUTH BEND: RHP Brian Glowicki, RHP Manuel Rodriguez, C-1B Michael Cruz, and OF Brandon Hughes

MYRTLE BEACH to EUGENE/MESA (EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING): C-1B Gustavo Polanco, C-1B Kevin Zamudio, and OF Roberto Caro 

SOUTH BEND to EUGENE/MESA (EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING): RHP Sean Barry, LHP Eugenio Palma, RHP Jeffrey Passantino, RHP Jake Steffens, RHP Mitch Stophel, C-INF Cam Balego, C Alexander Guerra, C-1B Richard Nunez, INF Christopher Morel, INF Ramsey Romano, INF Delvin Zinn, and OF Kwangmin Kwon    

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

UPDATED 3/27
:

Roster moves Tuesday at Minor League Camp: 

CLAIMED OFF WAIVERS: RHP Cory Mazzoni by Los Angeles Dodgers

RELEASED: RHP David Berg, LHP Marc Huberman, RHP Mark Malave, RHP Steve Perakslis, LHP Carson Sands, LHP Tommy Thorpe, C-1B Cael Brockmeyer, 1B-3B Kevin Cornelius, 1B-3B Adonis Paula, and OF Robert Garcia 

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


UPDATED 3/23


The Cubs optioned LHRP Randy Rosario to AAA Iowa on Friday, so the Cubs now have 36 players on their MLB Spring Training squad (including ten NRI).

Roster moves at Minor League Camp on Friday:

PLACED ON RESTRICTED LIST: AAA Iowa RHRP David Garner has been suspended for 50 games (second positive test for Drug of Abuse)

TENNESSEE to MYRTLE BEACH: C Jhonny Pereda, INF Andruw Monasterio, OF Robert Garcia, and OF Daniel Spingola  

TENNESSEE to SOUTH BEND: C-1B Tyler Alamo

MYRTLE BEACH to SOUTH BEND: RHRP Mark Malave, RHRP Jhon Romero, C Will Remillard, INF Yeiler Peguero, OF Chris Carrier, OF Kevonte Mitchell, and OF Connor Myers

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


UPDATED
3/22:

Roster moves Thursday at Minor League Camp:

IOWA to TENNESSEE: RHP Thomas Hatch, RHP Steve Perakslis, and OF Eddy Julio Martinez

TENNESSEE TO IOWA: RHP Duane Underwood Jr and RHP Daury Torrez

C Marcus Mastrobuoni has reported and has been assigned to the South Bend squad

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


UPDATED 3/21
:

Roster moves Wednesday at Minor League Camp: 

CLAIMED OFF WAIVERS: LHP Dario Alvarez by Seattle Mariners

IOWA to TENNESSEE: RHP Trevor Clifton

TENNESSEE to MYRTLE BEACH: OF Connor Myers 

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


UPDATED 3/19
:

Roster moves Monday at Cubs Minor League Camp:

RETIRED: C Carlos Diaz

IOWA to TENNESSEE: C Tyler Pearson

TENNESSEE TO MYRTLE BEACH: RHP Oscar de la Cruz, RHP Elvis Diaz, RHP Mark Malave, RHP Jhon Romero, LHP Wyatt Short, C Will Remillard, and INF Austin Upshaw 

MYRTLE BEACH TO SOUTH BEND: RHP Luis Aquino and INF Ramsey Romano   

MYRTLE BEACH to EUGENE/MESA: C Henderson Perez

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

UPDATED 3/16:


The Cubs optioned RHP Dillon Maples and OF Mark Zagunis to AAA Iowa on Friday, so the Cubs now have 37 players on their MLB Spring Training squad (including ten NRI).  

Roster moves Friday at Cubs Minor League Camp and at Cubs Dominican Academy:

IOWA to TENNESSEE: RHP Mario Meza, RHP Preston Morrison, RHP Tommy Nance, RHP Jake Stinnett, RHP Daury Torrez, and INF Vimael Machin

TENNESSEE to MYRTLE BEACH: INF Adonis Paula

MYRTLE BEACH to SOUTH BEND: RHP Ivan Medina, 1B Joe Martarano, and OF Chris Singleton

RELEASED FROM CUBS DOMINICAN ACADEMY: RHP Luiz Escanio, RHP Miguel Estevez, and RHP Francisco Garay

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

UPDATED 3/14
:

Roster moves Wednesday at Cubs Minor League Camp and at Cubs Dominican Academy:

IOWA to TENNESSEE: OF Jeffrey Baez, 3B Jesse Hodges, OF Trey Martin, and SS Carlos Penalver

TENNESSEE to MYRTLE BEACH: LHP Bryan Hudson, RHP Erick Leal (REHAB), LHP Jose Paulino, and LHP Manuel Rondon (REHAB)   

MYRTLE BEACH to SOUTH BEND: RHP Jesus Camargo, RHP Fauris Guerrero, RHP Brendan King, and LHP Eugenio Palma    

RELEASED FROM CUBS DOMINICAN ACADEMY: OF Carmelo Alfonzo, RHP Anyel Beato, OF Jorge Jules, 1B Fidel Matos, RHP Bryan Molina, RHP Edison Novas, 1B-OF Jose Rojas, and OF Tony Rijo


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


UPDATED 3/13:

The Cubs optioned LHP Dario Alvarez, INF David Bote, RHP Luke Farrell, RHP Cory Mazzoni, RHP Alec Mills, RHP Jen-Ho Tseng, and LHP Rob Zastryzny to AAA Iowa and reassigned NRI INF Chesny Young and OF Jacob Hannemann to Minor League Camp.

Corresponding roster moves at Cubs Minor League Camp on Tuesday:

IOWA to TENNESSEE: RHP Dave Berg, LHP Ryan Kellogg, and RHP Kyle Miller

IOWA to MYRTLE BEACH: RHP Tyler Peyton and RHP Matt Swarmer

TENNESSEE to MYRTLE BEACH: RHP Ben Hecht and RHP Erling Moreno

MYRTLE BEACH to SOUTH BEND: RHP Cory Abbott, RHP Jose Albertos, RHP Jeffrey Passantino, RHP Casey Ryan, and LHP Carson Sands   


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


UPDATED 3/9:

Today is the first day that players with MLB Rule 6 Draft-Excluded status can be sent to the minors, and the Cubs have optioned RHPs Adbert Alzolay, Oscar de la Cruz, and Duane Underwood Jr to AA Tennessee. (Alzolay and de la Cruz were two of the Cubs five Draft-Excluded players, the others being David Bote, Dillon Maples, and Jen-Ho Tseng).

Also, ten NRI (RHPs Craig Brooks, David Garner, and Tom Hatch, LHPs Alberto Baldonado, Daniel Camarena, and Michael Roth, C Ian Rice, INF Jason Vosler, and OFs Charcer Burks and Bijan Riademacher) have been reassigned to Minor League Camp.

As a result, there should be a number of corresponding roster moves made at Minor League Camp over the next two or three days (especially involving pitchers) to make room for the players who were sent down, once they physically report to the backfields (and that usually takes a couple of days).

So the Cubs MLB Spring Training roster now stands at 49 (including twelve NRI).   


ORIGINAL POST 3/5:

Here are the 2018 Cubs Minor League Camp rosters as of 12 noon 3/5. 

Keep in mind that players at Minor League Camp are often initially assigned to a level one or sometimes even two levels above where they will be on Opening Day. As players are sent to Minor League Camp from the MLB squad (the first "batch cut" should be next Sunday or Monday), there is a cascade effect as corresponding roster moves are made at each level (players are moved-down or released).  


2018 CUBS MINOR LEAGUE CAMP ROSTERS
 (last updated 4-3-2018):

*  bats or throws left 
# bats both

 
IOWA: 28
 
AAA

PITCHERS: 15
* Alberto Baldonado 
Anthony Bass
Craig Brooks
Luke Farrell
Justin Hancock
Dillon Maples
Brad Markey
Cory Mazzoni
Alec Mills  
* Randy Rosario
* Michael Roth
Shae Simmons
Jen-Ho Tseng
Duane Underwood Jr 
* Rob Zastryzny

CATCHERS: 3
Taylor Davis
Chris Gimenez
Ali Solis
 
INFIELDERS: 6
David Bote
Stephen Bruno 
Ryan Court
* Mike Freeman
* Efren Navarro
Chesny Young
 
OUTFIELDERS: 4
Wynton Bernard
* Jacob Hannemann
* Bijan Rademacher
Mark Zagunis
 
 
TENNESSEE: 26
 
AA

PITCHERS: 14
Trevor Clifton
Oscar de la Cruz
Scott Effross
Thomas Hatch
Zach Hedges
Dakota Mekkes
Preston Morrison
Tommy Nance
James Norwood
James Pugliese
Duncan Robinson 
Michael Rucker
Jake Stinnett 
Daury Torrez

CATCHERS: 2  
Erick Castillo
Ian Rice
 
INFIELDERS: 6
Yasiel Balaguert
Trent Giambrone
Jesse Hodges
Carlos Penalver
Zack Short
* Jason Vosler

OUTFIELDERS: 4 
Jeffrey Baez
Charcer Burks
Trey Martin
Eddy Julio Martinez
 
 
MYRTLE BEACH: 27
 
Hi-A

PITCHERS: 13 
Casey Bloomquist 
Chad Hockin
* Bryan Hudson
* Ryan Kellogg
Alex Lange  
Tyson Miller
* Jordan Minch   
* Jose Paulino   
Tyler Peyton 
Jhon Romero
* Wyatt Short
Matt Swarmer
Keegan Thompson
 
CATCHERS: 4
Tyler Alamo
P. J. Higgins
Tyler Pearson
Jhonny Pereda
 
INFIELDERS: 5   
* Aramis Ademan 
Wladimir Galindo 
* Vimael Machin
Andruw Monasterio
* Austin Upshaw 
 
OUTFIELDERS: 5
Kevonte Mitchell
Connor Myers
* Chris Pieters 
* Daniel Spingola
* D. J. Wilson 

 
SOUTH BEND: 27
 
Lo-A

PITCHERS: 14
Cory Abbott
Jose Albertos 
Javier Assad   
Jesus Camargo
Bailey Clark
Elvis Diaz
Brian Glowicki 
* Yapson Gomez
Ben Hecht
Rollie Lacy
* Brendon Little 
Manuel Rodriguez
* Ricky Tyler Thomas
Erich Uelmen

CATCHERS: 3
Miguel Amaya
* Michael Cruz
Tyler Payne
 
INFIELDERS: 6
Jhonny Bethencourt
# Christian Donahue
Austin Filiere
Rafael Narea
# Yeiler Peguero
* Jared Young 
 
OUTFIELDERS: 4
Chris Carrier
# Zach Davis
# Brandon Hughes 
Chris Singleton

 
EUGENE/MESA (EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING): 67+17

NOTE
: The Eugene/Mesa squad is formed when Minor League Cactus League games begin. Players assigned to the Eugene/Mesa squad will eventually form the Cubs Extended Spring Training group after the conclusion of Minor League Camp in March. 

PITCHERS: 35+11 
Adbert Alzolay
Luis Aquino
Sean Barry
Corey Black (REHAB THROWING PROGRAM - February 2017 TJS)
* Faustino Carrera 
Alfredo Colorado (REHAB THROWING PROGRAM - ???)  
Danis Correa
Enrique de los Rios
Jeremiah Estrada
Emilio Ferrebus  
Hector Alonso Garcia (REHAB THROWING PROGRAM - ???)
David Garner (ACTIVE - on RESTRICTED LIST while serving 50 game Drug of Abuse suspension) 
Fauris Guerrero
* Danny Hultzen (REHAB THROWING PROGRAM - 2016 left shoulder surgery)
Garrett Kelly
Brendan King
Erick Leal (ACTIVE REHAB - right elbow)  
Chi-Feng Lee 
(ACTIVE REHAB - right elbow) 
Braxton Light
 (ABSENT - present status unknown)
Gabriel Lima (INACTIVE - Restricted List)
* Brailyn Marquez 
Ivan Medina
Ryan McNeil (ACTIVE REHAB - back, hip, and right elbow) 
Brady Miller 
Kyle Miller
M. T. Minacci (ACTIVE REHAB - right elbow)
Erling Moreno
Carlos Ocampo 
* Pablo Ochoa
* Eugenio Palma
Jeffrey Passantino  
Yunior Perez (REHAB THROWING PROGRAM - ???)
Eury Ramos 
Peyton Remy
Stephen Ridings 
Andry Rondon (ABSENT - present status unknown) 
* Manuel Rondon (ACTIVE REHAB - ???)
Jose Rosario  
Casey Ryan
* Kyle Ryan 
Justin Steele (REHAB THROWING PROGRAM - July 2017 TJS) 
Jake Steffens
Mitch Stophel
Nathan Sweeney 
Allen Webster (REHAB THROWING PROGRAM - ???)
Ryan Williams (REHAB THROWING PROGRAM - 2017 right shoulder surgery)

CATCHERS: 11+1  
Cam Balego (ex-INF)
Eric Gonzalez
Alexander Guerra
Marcus Mastrobuoni
Richard Nunez
Raymond Pena
Henderson Perez
Gustavo Polanco
Will Remillard (ACTIVE REHAB - April 2016 TJS #2)
* Jonathan Soto
Franklin Tineo (ex-INF - LIMITED ACTIVITY - left wrist)
Kevin Zamudio

INFIELDERS: 10+2 
Gioskar Amaya
Luis Diaz 
Luis Hidalgo 
Joe Martarano
# Fidel Mejia
Rafael Mejia
Christopher Morel
Yonathan Perlaza (INACTIVE - knee surgery)
Ramsey Romano
* Carlos Sepulveda (LIMITED ACTIVITY - post-2017 right shoulder surgery)
Luis Vazquez
Delvin Zinn

OUTFIELDERS: 11+2 
Luis Ayala (LIMITED ACTIVITY - right shoulder)
# Roberto Caro
* Chris Coghlan 
Yovanny Cuevas
* Tolly Filotei
Jose A. Gonzalez
# Jose Gutierrez
Fernando Kelli  
* Kwangmin Kwon
Ruben Reyes (ABSENT - present status unknown)  
* Abraham Rodriguez
* Jonathan Sierra
Nelson Velazquez

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

 
DOMINICAN ACADEMY: 82+3

NOTE: Cubs minor leaguers from Latin America who do not attend Minor League Camp in Mesa have their Spring Training at the Cubs Dominican Academy in Boca Chica, DR. About twenty of these players (mostly pitchers) will be moved-up to Extended Spring Training in April and compete for jobs with Eugene or one of the two Cubs AZL teams.  

SS-R 
 
PITCHERS: 47+3
Maikel Aguiar 
Keiber Arredondo 
* Andres Bonalde (LIMITED ACTIVITY - complications from appendectomy)
* Jonathan Bruzual 
Willy Cabrera
Fernando Calderon  
Kleiber Carreno 
* Alejandro Carrillo 
Yovanny Cruz  
Yan de la Cruz
Wilfre Delgado (INACTIVE - Restricted List - 72-game PED Suspension 1-12-2018) 
Luis Devers  
Moises Diaz
Manuel Espinoza   
Kelvin Feliz 
Wander Feliz (ex-OF)
Francisco Fermin
* Riger Fernandez
Jean Garcia
* Miseal Garcia 
* Jesus Gomez
Jose Gomez 
Edmar Gonzalez
Jose M. Gonzalez 
Francisco Gracia
* Ferrol Heredia  
Andy Hernandez
Elias Herrera 
* Johan Lopez
Ronaldo Lopez (ex-INF)
Junior Marte
Hector Matos 
Eduarniel Nunez
Raidel Orta  
* Alex Pacheco (INACTIVE - Restricted List)
Carlos Paula 
Luis Ramos
Jorge Remon 
Benjamin Rodriguez
* Luis Rodriguez 
Aneuris Rosario 
Florencio Serrano    
* Luis Silva
Jesus Tejada 
Freddy Tineo 
Sucre Valdez
* Didier Vargas 
Edward Vasquez
* Saul Vazquez 
Omar Ventura

CATCHERS: 4
Miller Chacon
Daniel Diaz
Miguel Fabrizio  
Brayan Mancilla
 
INFIELDERS: 16 
# Santiago Blanco 
Jeinser Brete
* Rochest Cruz
# Reivaj Garcia
Nestor Heredia  
# Josue Huma  
Juan Mora
Orian Nunez
Ignacio Otano
Widimer Joaquin 
Henrry Pedra
# Herson Perez 
Fabian Pertuz
Oswaldo Pina
Luis Verdugo  
* Oliver Zapata

OUTFIELDERS: 15 
# Josue Fernandez  
Jose Alonso Gaitan
* Kelvin Hidalgo
# Albert Hinirio 
* Ervis Marchan 
* Kevin Miranda
Kevin Moreno
Carlos Morfa
* Alexander Ovalles 
Carlos Pacheco 
* Brailin Pena
Jonathan Rodriguez
Luis Ubiera 
* Marco Valenzuela  
* Ricardo Verenzuela 
 

CUBS MINOR LEAGUE PLAYER DEVELOPMENT FIELD STAFF
FIELD COORDINATOR & CATCHING COORDINATOR: Tim Cossins
PITCHING COORDINATOR: Brendan Sagara
ASSISTANT PITCHING COORDINATORS: Mike Mason (full season clubs) and Steve Merriman (EXST & short-season clubs)
HITTING COORDINATOR: Jacob Cruz
ASSISTANT HITTING COORDINATOR: Tom Beyers
INFIELD COORDINATOR: Jeremy Farrell
OUTFIELD & BASERUNNING COORDINATOR: Doug Dascenzo
BASERUNNING INSTRUCTOR: Mike Roberts
LATIN AMERICAN FIELD COORDINATOR: Dave Keller
MENTAL SKILLS PROGRAM DIRECTOR: Josh Lifrak
MENTAL SKILLS PROGRAM COORDINATOR: John Baker
LATIN AMERICAN MENTAL SKILLS COORDINATOR: Raymond Fuentes
IOWA: Marty Pevey (Manager), Rod Nichols (Pitching Coach), Desi Wilson (Hitting Coach), and Chris Valaika (Assistant Coach)
TENNESSEE: Mark Johnson (Manager), Terry Clark (Pitching Coach), Jesus Feliciano (Hitting Coach), and Ben Carhart (Assistant Coach)
MYRTLE BEACH: Buddy Bailey (Manager), Anderson Tavarez (Pitching Coach), Ty Wright (Hitting Coach), and Carlos Rojas (Assistant Coach)
SOUTH BEND: Jimmy Gonzalez (Manager), Brian Lawrence (Pitching Coach), Ricardo Medina (Hitting Coach), and Paul McAnulty (Assistant Coach)
EUGENE: Steve Lerud (Manager), Armando Gabino (Pitching Coach), Osmin Melendez (Hitting Coach), and Jacob Rogers (Assistant Coach)
AZL CUBS #1: Carmelo Martinez (Manager), Steve Janssen (Pitching Coach), Wes Long (Hitting Coach), and Leo Perez (Assistant Coach)
AZL CUBS #2: Jonathan Mota (Manager), Jamie Vermilyea (Pitching Coach), Claudio Almonte (Hitting Coach), and Steve Carter (Assistant Coach)
MESA REHAB: Ron Villone (Rehab Pitching Coordinator) and TBA (Rehab Coach)
DSL CUBS #1: Lance Rymel (Manager), Eduardo Villacis (Pitching Coach), TBA (Hitting Coach), Antonio Valerio (Assistant Coach), and Jose Zapata (Assistant Pitching Coach)
DSL CUBS #2: Pedro Gonzalez (Manager), Jose Cueto (Pitching Coach), TBA (Hitting Coach), Jovanny Rosario (Assistant Coach), and Carlos Ramirez (Assistant Pitching Coach)
MINOR LEAGUE ATHLETIC TRAINING COORDINATOR: Chuck Baughman
ASSISTANT MINOR LEAGUE TRAINING COORDINATOR (MESA REHAB): Jonathan Fierro
LATIN AMERICAN TRAINING COORDINATOR: Jose Alvarez
ATHLETIC TRAINERS: Ed Halbur and Mike McNulty (Iowa), Toby Williams (Tennessee), Logan Severson (Myrtle Beach), James Edwards (South Bend), Sean Folan (Eugene), Ike Ojata (AZL Cubs #1), Matthew Hussey (AZL Cubs #2), Brennan Connelly and German Suncin (DSL Cubs #1), and Arnoldo Goite (DSL Cubs #2)
MINOR LEAGUE STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COORDINATOR: Doug Jarrow
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACHES: Ryan Clausen (Iowa), Jason Moriss (Tennessee), Keegan Knoll (Myrtle Beach), Ryan Nordtvedt (South Bend), Dallas Lopez (Eugene), Mike Megrew (AZL Cubs #1), TBA (AZL Cubs #2), Tomas Sanchez and Amaury Gonzalez (DSL Cubs #1), and Manny Estrada (DSL Cubs #2)

Comments

"LIVE" BP at Minor League Camp yesterday (Sunday) and today (Monday):

SUNDAY

TWO INNINGS (30 pitches - 15 pitches each inning):
Trevor Clifton
Jose Paulino
Duncan Robinson
Michael Rucker 

ONE INNING: (25 pitches)
Kyle Miller
Jake Stinnett 
 
MONDAY

TWO INNINGS (30 pitches - 15 pitches each inning): 
Kyle Abbott
Erling Moreno
Ricky Tyler Thomas
Erich Uelmen

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

More "LIVE" BP at Minor League Camp Tuesday. All pitchers threw two innings (30 pitches - 15 pitches each inning).

Jesus Camargo
Bryan Hudson
Rollie Lacy
Alex Lange
Brendon Little   
 
So (obviously) Camargo is not only in camp, he is ready to roll.

Lange and Little threw to the AAA squad on Field #6 with most of the Cubs front office watching up close & personal, and they weren't disappointed. Both pitchers broke bats, got swings & misses, and invoked weak contact throughout their respective two innings.

No velo numbers available, but Lange's CV was exceptional and clearly unhittable, and Little's curve and change-up were both plus pitches for him. Hitters had trouble squaring up both pitchers' FB as well (probably because they couldn't sit on the heater), so a good time was had by all (except for the I-Cubs hitters!).   

And Bryan Hudson got a ton of ground balls (natch) in his two innings pitching against the South Bend squad on Field #3, Camargo's CH was his usual plus-plus go-to pitch versus the Myrtle Beach squad on Field #4 (with the way young hitters flail against it, Camargo probably wonders if it would be possible to just throw his change-up on every pitch), and Lacy was OK (nothing special, especially when compared to the other four who threw). 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Thanks for updates, Phil.  Would be super great if Little and Lange impressed this summer, glad that first-glance was impressive.  

Q1:  Did we ever find out what Lange initially "failed" his physical over?  

Q2: Little was really wild at Eugene, and by report had no velocity, even though draft reports were positive about his velocity.  You see a million guys in camp; just from an eye-ball glance, did he look average, below-average, or faster-than-average?  (I know for me, watching TV games, with everybody having different delivery, it's hard to tell a 93 from an 87, so it's usually only unusually slow guys or unusually fast ones that stand out; I'm assuming Little probably is neither notably slow nor distinctively fast....)  

 

[ ]

In reply to by craig

CRAIG: I don't know what the physical or medical issue was that caused the Cubs to somewhat reduce their signing bonus offer to Lange, but whatever it was, both sides were OK with the signing bonus adjustment. Based on past similar situations in the past (like with Daniel Poncedeleon and Ryan Williams), it would tend to indicate that a physical defect or a chronic medical condition that wasn't previously known (perhaps even to the player) became apparent during the course of the physical, something that could perhaps become a problem later, but isn't a problem yet. As for Brendon Little's "live" BP yesterday, he had some difficulty commanding his FB. He hit at least one batter or maybe two (the second one might have hit the player's bat), and it was his CV and CH that got the swings & misses (he commanded both of those pitches very well). When batters did make contact with his FB, they made weak contact. Nobody could square it up. It was what pitchers who have difficulty commanding their fastball like to call being "effectively wild." But he definitely needs to improve the command of his FB if he wants to move quickly through the system, so I would describe him as a bit "raw" at this point. I think that's why the Cubs assigned Little to the South Bend squad at Minor League Camp instead of to the Myrtle Beach group. Lange had much better command of his FB than Little did and Lange's CV is REALLY good (plus-plus). He probably needs to perfect a third pitch, though, in order to be a SP long-term. At the very least he would project as a legit MLB reliever, and actually he could move very fast if he is moved to the bullpen at AA or AAA. It would take longer for him to reach MLB (because of the need to develop a reliable third pitch) if he remains a SP.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

"[Little] hit at least one batter or maybe two (the second one might have hit the player's bat), and it was his CV and CH that got the swings & misses (he commanded both of those pitches very well)."

Thanks, that's interesting.  Usually fastball is the easiest to control, and CV and CH are really difficult pitches to control.  *IF* he could command those two pretty well, that would be pretty neat.  Hopefully fastball will improve.  

Obviously it's super early in camp, and any pitch can look much different on another day, so command of each of those three pitches might vary wildly from one day to another.  

Hopefully he'll have a lot of days when he can command all three.   

Hi Arizona Phil, Thank you very much! Do you know where Adbert Alzolay is? I haven't seen his name in any ST box scores. I hope he isn't hurt!

[ ]

In reply to by Raisin101

RAISIN: The last time I saw Adbert Alzolay was at PFP drills on the half-field a few days ago. As far as I know he is not injured, although he might have been shut-down from throwing for a few days (that happens sometimes, especially in Spring Training). If so, it could be soreness or it could be stiffness, or maybe he had the flu, or maybe his velocity is down and nobody knows why.

It's not all that unusual for one pitcher to take longer to get ready to pitch in games than another. For example last year David Garner was left behind at Extended Spring Training because his velo was down (for no apparent reason) and the Cubs felt he needed more bullpen side work before he was ready to pitch in games. He wasn't hurt, he wasn't in the Rehab Throwing Program, he just wasn't game-ready. Same may be true with Alzolay this year.

Another more-recent example would be Josh Hancock. He just now (finally) pitched in a game ten days into the Cactus League season. It took him longer to get game-ready than it did for most of the other NRI pitchers, but he finally got there.

My First Comment Using the New Formatting Tools
 

 

Wow --
check out the fancy new options we got for typing in our comments!  Makes me want to do crazy stuff!  Just for the fun of it!

royals sign j.jay...3m with 1.5m incentives.

also, l.lynn supposedly turned down a 2/20m offer from the twins...which i don't blame him...

crazy that only 1 of the top FA SP's has signed...and the cubs got him...and it was the best available one...neat.

Cubs pitchers in Tuesday's MLB Cactus League game vs LAD. 

FB velocity: 
Darvish: 93-97
Camarena: 87-90
Morrow: 95-97 
Cishek: 88-89 
Edwards: steady at 92 
Mazzoni: 92-94 (T-95)
R. Rosario: 94-95 
Mills: 89-92 

Darvish had command issues with all of his pitches in his 1st inning but settled-down and was outstanding in inning #2... Camarena threw a lot of CV and CH and set up the off-speed stuff with his "show-me" FB... Morrow had excellent velocity on his FB but otherwise looked rusty (this was his first Cactus League outing)... Cishek looked uncomfortable on the mound, had difficulty throwing strikes, and blew his cool a couple of times (mad at himself)... Edwards' FB was hittable and he struggled to throw his CV for strikes and so he seemed to nibble more than I've seen in the past... Mazzoni (somewhat surprisingly) topped-out at 95 (his last pitch of the inning), worked fast, and mostly kept the ball down at knee level... Randy Rosario had a plus-SL going today in addition to a mid-90's FB (he's a legit lefty reliever prospect, although I doubt that he's ready for MLB yet)... Mills mixed-in all of his pitches (FB, SL, CV, and CH) just like a starting pitcher should (even though he pitched the 9th and got the save)...   

I’m surprised that Will Remillard is listed as rehabbing his 2016 TJS. He played several games at C last year. Did he have some sort of re-injury (I sure hope not)?

[ ]

In reply to by bradsbeard

he returned late last year to finish the season, but barely got any work before going home for the winter.  he hasn't had a good workload since 2014.  barely 25 and he's got 2 TJ surgeries behind him...and he's a f'n catcher.  yow.  hopefully he can still play C well enough to stick there because he's not a power guy, nor speedy.

s.boras is throwing the notion out there that some of his guys (specifically, moosetacos) may not sign until after the draft when the draft pick compensation is no longer an issue.

the market is "broken."

televised evening/night game tonight vs CLE (8pm eastern)...WGN/MLB.TV

Q going for the cubs.

Happ DH, Schwarber LF, Almora CF, La Stella 3B, Gimenez C, Navarro 1B, Bourjos RF, Court 2B, Freeman SS. Quintana P

Impressed with Quart the Spring. He has played all four IF spots. Good insurance at Iowa. Has hit a little too.

More "live" BP at Minor League Camp today. All six pitchers threw two innings (30 pitches - 15 pitches each inning). 

Jose Albertos
Brady Clark 
Ben Hecht 
Tyson Miller 
Jake Stinnett 
Keegan Thompson  

Phil, interesting that so many are throwing 2-inning outings.  My memory is probably off, but I thought I recalled that often rotation-track guys got 2-inning outings early in camp like this, but relief-track often got only one?  

Seems here like either all/most are getting 2-inning practice; or else that perhaps guys I assume for relief (Stinnett, for example) may still be getting some at-least-early-in-camp inclusion with the rotation guys? 

Or perhaps with some new minds in the system, Benedict and Hickey and perhaps others, they may have some modified usage compared to springs past...

Other Q:  How did Keegan Thompson first-glance strike you in terms of velocity?  After seeing Albertos and Clark and Little and Lange, does he just look a little slower, a little less zip?  Or did his first-glance fastball look more-or-less indistinguishable in terms of velocity, compared to the other guys?  Heh heh, I'm always an optimist/hope guy, but last year was his first year back pitching after the surgery, and baseball people sometimes say the second year back is better.  He had good command already last year, but it would be kinda cool if his fastball velocity picked up a tick this year, to make that a better pitch.  

[ ]

In reply to by craig

CRAIG: In previous years the starters went three innings in "live" BP and the relievers threw one or sometimes two innings. It's possible that there has been a change where all pitchers are now throwing a maximum of two innings in "live" BP, and then the pitchers who are designated as starters or piggy-back guys will be extended beyond two innings once the games start, while all other pitchers will just work one or two innings. Not everybody is cut-out to be a starting pitcher or piggy-backer. 

As for Keegan Thompson, he throws a FB, SL or CV, and CH, and he commands all of his pitches very well. I don't know what his FB velo was today, but it was probably low 90's. He's a mature and polished pitcher, and he works fast. It looks like he has a lot of confidence in his stuff. He could move fast. 

phew...david garner...

caught a lazer comebacker and started walking off the mound...forgot that was only out 2...had an easy out at 2nd if he would have pivoted and thrown there to get out of the inning.

anyway, a grand slam later the game is tied in the 3rd...

First Cubs viewing of the year, first work with the new commenting interface.  Neats.

  • I like bullet points.
  1. And I also like being able to number things

And I just had a Holy Cow moment when I realized the thin lefty at the plate was Kyle Schwarber, who then launched one.

 

shae simmons left the game with "shoulder tightness"...for those that care about shae simmons related things...

the trainer + maddon came out after they saw something with him.  he tried to laugh it off, but they took him out anyway.  he hung around in the dugout talking to the trainer afterwards rather than retreating to the clubhouse.

j.baez pulled with "hamstring tightness" after coming up limping on a double. his replacement c.young also injured after running into a.rizzo the following inning.

Just from what I’ve seen it looks like the lefties in camp (other than Monty and Wilson) have been in this order:

1. Baldonado

2. Rosario

3. Alvarez

4. Ryan

5. Camarena

Phil would you agree? The top 3 look like they could all be solid MLB relievers, but Man Baldonado has pitched well.

[ ]

In reply to by AstronautInsurance

It's Cory Abbott. For whatever reason I keep having a brain fart with his first name. Like when I kept calling Zach Hedges "Trey Hedges." But I do appreciate your comment, and I'll try and remember his correct first name going forward.

de la cruz to start the year at AA.  sweet.  maybe he can get more than 75 innings in this season.  sigh...

as much as he'd probably be one hell of a relief option (even a closer-type), there's still a bit of hope he can remain a starter if he can put in the workload this season.  it would be nice to be able to slot him in as a "sure thing" rotation candidate for 2020+.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

CRUNCH: Minor league optional assignments are subject to change. Players normally are not moved up a level once they are optioned to a particular minor league affiliate during Spring Training, but a player could be moved down another level by Opening Day. 

Also, players who are cut from the MLB squad can continue to play in MLB Cactus League games. The main difference between being assigned to the MLB squad (even as an NRI) and being assigned to Minor League Camp is the player doesn't receive the MLB Spring Training allowance (about $150 per day to cover food & lodging) unless the player is called up to the MLB squad for a specific game. (The Minor League Spring Training allowance is about $35 per day, so obviously it's a big drop-off once a player gets cut from big league camp, and then it's cause for joy when the player does get called up for the MLB game even if it's just for the day).

cowart tried to steal home on a delayed double steal.  that don't work when the guy trying to take 2nd is pretty much already at 2nd thanks to his lead and going on arm action is unlikely to work out when the catcher is going to eat the SB of 2nd anyway.

spring training, yo.

also, the schwarber power is warming up.  unf.  this team could hit a ton of homers this season.

lester put in 4 innings of 39 pitch ball so far...aside from a self-imposed sketchy 3rd inning where a double play was turned into a single out (which led to the attempted double steal that got him out of the inning) it's been all smooth and his stuff looked good.  he was hitting his spots and the movement looked good.  he may not be ready to throw 100+ pitches at this point in spring, but his stuff is just waiting on the stamina to catch up.

De La Cruz looked good.  He's not that fast (Coomer mentioned a 93 today), but his fastball seems to have some good movement/life, and his delivery just "looks" good.  Mostly fastballs today, though, didn't see a lot of good breaking stuff mixed in.  But it's easy to see how scouts would like the look and the fastball.  

When it's spring and you've got one inning to pitch, that might be different then when it's the 5th inning of some game in July and you've been pitching every 5th day.  Will be interesting to see if he can put together a full season, and if so how his stuff and velocity hold up.  

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Phil, do you know how fast Lester was?  I haven't seen any velocity on his recent outings.  Thought I'd heard his first spring outing he was only in the 80's.  Just curious if his velocity is relatively normal (for him), or if he's mayb slowing down a little.  Hoping he's fine.  

Thanks, Phil.  That's helpful on De la Cruz.  Morrow being a consistent 95+ seems pretty appealing.  

both cubs games televised today (CWS, now...LAD, night game)...both "away" feed announce crews, though.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

bottom of the 1st and steve stone is already killing my will to live.

k.hendricks put up dissapointing numbers last season, and breaking balls are only 60% effective in arizona because of the air...also, yoan moncada is such an amazingly rare hitter he's going to empty concession stands as people rush to their seats to see his ABs (shortly before he Ks on 4 pitches).

MIN signs l.lynn to a 1-year deal...12m...damn, these late deals are killer.

A's picked up j.lucroy 1/6.5m, too.

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

t.chatwood should have to give back at least $8m of his contract...put that loot toward a small video board in CF advertising upcoming in-season music concerts and discount rates for the Hotel Zachary opening next year.

speaking of field upgrades, they do have new dugouts this season.  it'll be interesting to see if they're much different.

baez's "just a muscle cramp" seems to have turned into a trip to get a MRI and...allegedly...minimal damage that will keep him out until sometime near the beginning of next week.

also, both games today were f'n great considering one was a tie and the the cubs lost the other in the bottom 9th (alec mills fail).

happ played CF in the dodgers game...ryan court is trying to make a case for being a super utility guy...maples continued his crappy spring training...heyward is still sucking...we're probably gonna miss having eloy jimenez around...mark prior as a coach wearing dodgers gear is weird...

phew...

d.maples starting his season in AAA seems to practically be a sure thing at this point.  4 out of his 6 spring outings have resulted in 2+ runs given up.  lots of walks, lots of hits...

5.2ip 9h 6bb 7k....14.29era / 2.65whip

it's extra bad if you exclude his 1 "perfect" outing of 1ip 0h 0bb 3k.  he's got 2 great pitches and a decent curve...they're just not clicking right now.  his slider is especially nice when it's working...crazy break on it.

The Cubs have purchased the contract of 23-year old RHRP Garrett Kelly from Schaumburg (Frontier League).

Kelly attended Wake Forest University, and was converted from catcher to RHRP in 2015 (so he's only been pitching for three years). He was signed as a NDFA college senior by the Minnesota Twins in June 2016 and made his pro debut with the GCL Twins that summer. 

Kelly was released by the Twins at the end of Minor League Camp last March before signing with Schaumburg in April. He spent the 2017 season pitching for the Boomers in the independent Frontier League, where he allowed just 17 hits (and just one HR) in 40.2 IP, with 25/52 BB/K. a 1.03 WHIP, and 1.77 ERA. (Kelly allowed no HR in 27.0 IP in his pro debut with the GCL Twins in 2016, so he apparently is very good at keeping the ball in the park).

Presuming he passes his physical, Kelly will likely be assigned to Extended Spring Training in Mesa and then perhaps eventually to South Bend.

Thanks much, Phil.

Minor league season starts next Thursday, 8 days. 

Question:  Do they break up and head out this Saturday, or wait till like Monday?  8 days seems like maybe still lots of time to sift things out; but if it's only 2 or 3 more days of games and then everybody is packing and moving, maybe not that many days left to make roster changes, and perhaps then mostly only back-of-roster ones, rather than ones impacting significant prospects and significant roles?  

Two transactions today struck me as especially significant.  Morel going down to extended; he seemed to be having a good camp and routinely batting 3rd in South Bend lineups.  Hopefully the more teaching-oriented format of extended will serve him very well, but he'll earn his way up in good time.  

The other is de la Cruz going UP, at a time in camp when most moves are DOWN.  I find that very encouraging.  Hopefully means he's had a really good camp, and has looked so impressive that they figure "why wait"?  Hopefully it also means the Myrtle crowd was all doing really well, and hadn't thinned itself out with anybody hurt or needing to move down.  (Paulino, Lange, Thompson, Moreno, Hudson.  Not confident on Hudson, but that could be a very nice group, even without Oscar).  

That also gives Tennessee a very strong look:  Alzolay, De la Cruz, Hatch, Clifton, and Robinson seem like a very interresting group.  

The Myrtle roster seems to be pretty trim already, player-wise.  So, it looks like Ademan might really start there?  Very interesting, if so.  I'm not seeing any surplus of guys who need PT at Tennesse infield; obviously they can drop somebody down to take Ademan's place if they decide he's better served at South Bend, but if so that's on his account only.  Agree?  

Interesting that with De la Cruz up, that would seem to leave Rucker out of Smokies rotation.  Does that seem consistent with what you've seen or heard in camp, Phil?  Is he maybe hurt or something?  Or just being used in relief?  

Last Q:  Have you seen Moreno this camp?  He's been in-and-out with injuries, and has been inconsistent when he has been healthy.  But I'm curious whether he might be something of a breakout candidate?  There were some reports of inconsistently high velocity last summer, and some games where he either had high K's (I assume the rare days when both fastball AND curveball were "on"); and other games where he had strong groundball rates.  Phil, from first-hand view, does Moreno "look" like he could have plus big-league stuff, fastball included?  Or does he look much like most A-ball rotation guys; low-90's-but-nothing-"wow" for fastball, and if he makes it it will be by virtue of unusual control more than by having unusually good velocity or stuff?  

Thanks as always, Phil!

[ ]

In reply to by craig

CRAIG: The four "full season" affiliates don't always leave on the same day, but it will most-likely be next Monday. As you noted, the Oscar de la Cruz move-up probably was a combination of the way he has been throwing this Spring (he's been impressive) and the SP log-jam at both Myrtle Beach and South Bend (both rotations are loaded). A six-man rotation is a possibility at Myrtle Beach and/or South Bend, although five starters with two stretched-out "piggy-backers" is more-likely. I wouldn't say it's necessarily going to happen, but I wouldn't be too surprised if another SP gets moved up prior to Opening Day (probably from Tennessee to Iowa, as happened last week with Duane Underwood Jr), because it appears that Rob Zastryzny has been moved to the Iowa bullpen, and that would leave Michael Roth and Daniel Camarena battling it out for the #5 slot. If a pitcher does get moved-up from Tennessee to Iowa in the next few days, I would think it would most-likely be Adbert Alzolay, but it also could be Duncan Robinson. (And that's only if the Cubs are unhappy with their other choices for the 5th starter at Iowa).

[ ]

In reply to by Hagsag

HAGSAG: Paulino isn't MIA. He's listed on the Myrtle Beach squad on the Minor League Camp rosters post that I update daily, but in my haste I somehow inadvertently erased him from both the Organization Depth Chart and the Minor League Reserve List page. I have now fixed that. Thanks for double-checking the lists. If you notice something else let me know.

Why is Mazzoni being fought over by two teams that have met in successive LCS, while the Reds/Tigers/Marlis seem uninterested?

 

Rhetorical question.

Phil, any roster/contractual insight into why Cubs waived Mazzoni from 40-man, but then reclaimed him back onto 40?  Does that have any salary or options-advantage nuance or anything?  I'm assuming neither, certainly not the latter....

Perhaps just hoping to free that 40-man spot now .... if possible?  But Dodgers prevented that when they claimed him?  Or perhaps thought that somebody they preferred might become available for 40-man as other teams finalized their 25-man rosters, but ended up with nobody better than Mazzoni anyway, so just reclaimed him?  

He's now 2-years off of shoulder surgery, so maybe he'll settle in and be a little more anti-awful as a yo-yo option than Florio and Frankoff were last year?    

Hi, Phil, I think I've seen rosters now for all four levels.

Only surprise:  Erling MOreno isn't on Myrtle's roster.  (Myrtle has only 13 pitchers on it's roster, the fewest of any.)  http://www.milb.com/documents/0/8/2/270626082/2018_04_03_Roster.pdf

I'm not sure I've seen Moreno appear in any of your box scores, either.  Have you seen him pitch at all, or seen him around camp at all?  He'd been a favorite "breakout" possibility in my mind, obviously contingent on being fully healthy for a change.  

Any insights?  Hopefully this is a small delay, ala Alzolay, and maybe Moreno will still have something of a  breakout after all.

Thanks as always!

 

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.