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

Oscar de la Cruz Goes Six Strong at Riverview

Oscar de la Cruz hurled six innings (78 pitches - 72% strikes) of one-run/three-hit ball (run was unearned) with five strikeouts and no walks, Cam Balego drilled an RBI single and an RBI double and drew a walk, Delvin Zinn singled, doubled, stole a base, and scored three runs, Jonathan Soto belted a two-run HR and a single, and Alexander Guerra smacked a solo HR, in Cubs Extended Spring Training intrasquad game action Tuesday morning on Field #6 on John Arguello Way at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.

Alec Mills (Iowa) and Oscar de la Cruz (Tennessee) were the starting pitchers in the game. Both were left behind in Mesa by their respective full-season clubs so that they could pitch in a game on what was their normal day to pitch, with both scheduled to make regular-season starts for their teams this coming Sunday or Monday. So it was a matter of them getting both their normal-scheduled work and increasing their pitch counts closer to regular-season levels.  

Enrique de los Rios and Brendan King followed de la Cruz and Mills to the mound, getting stretched-out in preparation for being Cubs EXST SP.  
 
Here is the box score from the game:      
SQUAD "B" LINEUP:
1. Roberto Caro, LF: 1-4 (F-8, 1B, F-7, P-5, CS)
2. Gioskar Amaya, 2B: 2-4 (2B, K, K, 1B)
3. Jonathan Sierra, RF: 0-4 (F-7, P-2, F-7, 4-3 DP)
4. Alexander Guerra, C: 1-4 (K+WP, K, 6-3, HR, 2 R, RBI)
5. Rafael Mejia, 1B: 0-4 (P-6, K, 5-3, E-5)
6. Fidel Mejia, 3B: 2-4 (E-4, 3B, 1B, F-9)
7. Ramsey Romano, SS: 0-2 (F-8 SF, 1-3, F-9, RBI)
8a. Christopher Morel, DH: 0-2 (F-9, 5-3)
8b. Eric Gonzalez, PH: 0-1 (F-9)
9. Fernando Kelli, CF: 0-3 (K, F-8, P-4)

SQUAD "A" LINEUP:
X. Chris Coghlan, RF: 0-2 (BB, K, BB, P-2)
NOTE: Coghlan led-off 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 6th innings
1. Delvin Zinn, 2B: 2-4 (5-4 FC, 2B, 1B, K, 3 R, SB)
2. Jonathan Soto, C: 2-4 (K, F-7, HR, 1B, R, 2 RBI)
3. Cam Balego, 3B: 2-3 (2B, 1B, BB, 5-4-3 DP, 2 RBI)
4. Luis Diaz, DH: 1-4 (5-3, 6-3, 5-4-3 DP, 3B, R)
5. Luis Vazquez, SS: 1-4 (E-5, L-9, P-3, 1B, RBI)
6. Joe Martarano, 1B: 0-4 (K, K, 5-3, K)
7. Jose Gutierrez, CF: 0-3 (0-3, 4-3, K, K)
8. Jose A. Gonzalez, LF: 0-3 (K, F-8, 6-3)

SQUAD "B" PITCHERS:
1. Alec Mills: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 6 K, 4/2 GO/AO, 75 pitches (48 strikes)
2. Brendan King: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 2 GIDP, 4/3 GO/AO, 55 pitches (35 strikes)  

SQUAD "A" PITCHERS:
1. Oscar de la Cruz: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 5 K, 2 WP, 2/9 GO/AO, 78 pitches (56 strikes)
2. Enrique de los Rios: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HR, 1 GIDP, 3/5 GO/AO, 52 pitches (31 strikes)

SQUAD "B" ERRORS: 1
3B Fidel Mejia: E-5 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)

SQUAD "A" ERRORS: 2
1. 2B Delvin Zinn: E-4 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)
2. 3B Cam Balego: E-5 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)

SQUAD "B" CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Alexander Guerra: 0-1 CS

SQUAD "A" CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Jonathan Soto: 1-1 CS

SQUAD "A" OUTFIELD ASSIST:
CF Jose Gutierrez - batter (Fidel Mejia) thrown out 8-6-2 attempting to stretch triple into inside-the-park HR

ATTENDANCE: 16

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 80's

Arizona
Scoring
Service

"Just because it isn't official doesn't mean it didn't happen"

Comments

PHIL: I noticed the AZ and DSL inactive lists have several players listed as signed for future service. This happens every year but I forget when those guys are able to start playing.

Are those players able to participate in extended spring training? And is their any significance to the placement of some of those "signed for future service" guys on the AZ roster? Are they more advanced and likely to start the season in Mesa or is it more just a clerical thing like you can only have so many inactive players per team?

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge!

[ ]

In reply to by K Dub

K-DUB: A player who is "Signed for Future Service" is any player who signs his first pro contract after July 1st (typically an International Free-Agent, but not always) where the contract is for the following season.

These players can participate (without any restriction) in post-season Instructs, Minor League Camp (Spring Training), and Extended Spring Training, and as long as the player is not placed on a full-season affiliate's roster, the player does not count against the affiliate's reserve list limit until that affiliate's Opening Day (which isn't until June for short-season clubs like Eugene, AZL Cubs #1, AZL Cubs #2, DSL Cubs #1, and DSL Cubs #2). This effectively allows an MLB organization to sign as many IFA as it wants after July 1st without having to worry about overloading an affiliate's reserve list -- that is, until the start of the short-season leagues in June.

No more than twelve players "Signed for Future Service" can be assigned to any one affiliate, and the player loses this status if he is transferred to an MLB or full-season affiliate's roster.

The Cubs had two players with "Signed for Future Service" status (C Alexander Guerra and INF Christian Donahue) at Minor League Camp this year, but Donahue (who was Signed for Future Service as a NDFA out of Oregon State last August, and then was transferred to the South Bend reserve list a couple of days ago) no longer has "Signed for Future Service" status and so he now counts against the South Bend 35-man reserve list.

In case you are wondering why the Opening Day rosters of the Cubs four full-season affiliates (Iowa, Tennessee, Myrtle Beach, and South Bend) are described as "preliminary" and have more than 25 players listed, players on minor league rosters cannot be placed on a minor league club's disabled list (7-day or 60-day) until Minor League Opening Day, so expect a flurry of additional roster moves on Thursday as injured or rehabbing players are placed on the DL. The rosters that I provided (and updated daily) during Minor League Camp are where the players were actually assigned that day at Minor League Camp. Injured and rehabbing players on the reserve list of a full season affiliate (including pitchers in the Rehab Throwing Program) will be placed on that affiliate's DL on Thursday. Injured or rehabbing players on a short-season affiliate's reserve list cannot be placed on the DL until the short-season leagues begin play in June.

PHIL: What do you see from Stephen Bruno lately? You liked the kid 4-5 years ago (or, maybe it was 10?). Now, at 27, is it time for him to consider another career?

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

dude is made of glass. im a bit surprised he's not 100% blind, totally deaf, and in one of those wheelchairs you gotta blow into a straw to operate. seriously, though...he's had some tough luck injuries. speaking of, it's nice to see oscar de la cruz go 6 deep with 5 Ks and no walks. he's not just made of glass, he's a straight up pre-shattered Bag O' Glass.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

speaking of... it seems like a lot of these types of guys under the current developmental crew are getting a lot more "super utility" type work in the minors to see if they can add some value to their fringe skills. is this a thing or does it just seem this way?

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

CRUNCH: The Cubs have definitely placed a greater emphasis on position-versatility in their minor league system since Joe Maddon became manager.

it's unreal how the "humidor balls" are acting at Chase Field (ARZ).

stuff is dying in the OF after getting totally crushed.  pitchers gotta be loving it, though.

[ ]

In reply to by azbobbop

azbobbop: If you're talking just about position players, nobody makes harder contact than Christopher Morel. I can close my eyes during BP and tell you when Morel is hitting because it sounds like a rifle shot. He has been playing both SS and 3B at Minor League Camp (for example, he played 3B yesterday and SS today) and handles himself well at both spots. He has a high ceiling, and is probably a Cubs Top 15 prospect right now.

Miguel Amaya, Henderson Perez, and Jonathan Soto are the next wave of Cubs top catching prospects. M. Amaya is already at South Bend, while H. Perez and Soto will be at Extended Spring Training. M. Amaya is clearly a Cubs Top 15 prospect right now, but it is possible that H. Perez or Soto could jump AZL and end up at Eugene (as happened with M. Amaya last year). H. Perez is more-polished but Soto probably has the higher-ceiling (more like M. Amaya).

A couple of players you don't hear much about are 2B Luis Diaz and OF-1B Abraham Rodriguez, probably because both are "bat-first" guys (A. Rod is a train-wreck in the outfield). Both of them consistently drill hard-contact line-drives foul-line-to-foul-line.

A. Rodriguez missed the 2017 season after undergoing surgery for a torn labrum in his left (throwing) shoulder, but he is starting to get some lift in his swing, and could become a very interesting hitting prospect later this season (probably in the AZL, but maybe at Eugene).

L. Diaz is a bit stiff defensively and so 2B is probably his best-position going forward (as opposed to elsewhere in the infield). While he appears (right now) to be perfectly adequate at 2B, an eventual move to LF is possible (presuming he hits enough to play a corner OF slot). Like A. Rodriguez, L. Diaz could skip AZL and go directly to Eugene depending on how things go for him at Extended Spring Training.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Thanks, Phil! When John first wrote about Luis Diaz at Cubs Den, he called him primarily a "speed guy". Then, Luis put up some surprising power numbers last year in the DSL. He's listed as 5'9", 160 lbs. As far as you can tell, did he fill out any? If so, did it affect his speed? Is he still what you would describe as a "speedster"?

Wow, great to hear about Christopher Morel. Can't wait to see who will be coming this weekend from the D.R.

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.