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

Cub Offense Fades to Black at Indian School Park

RHSP Gregory Santos and four relievers combined to hurl a five-hitter (all five hits were singles) and Ricardo Genoves knocked-in both runs with an RBI GO and a sacrifice fly, as the Giants black squad edged the Cubs 2-1 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Saturday morning on Field #2 (AKA "Jim Davenport Field") at Indian School Park in Scottsdale, AZ. 

Cubs pitchers also allowed only five hits (all singles).

The Cubs scored their lone run in the top of the 2nd inning on three consecutive two-out singles (RBI single by Fidel Mejia).  

In EXST Cubs roster news, OF Luis Ayala (on Myrtle Beach 7-day DL - right shoulder strain) has completed his EXST rehab and has rejoined Myrtle Beach. 

Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only):  
CUBS LINEUP:
1. Fernando Kelli, CF: 0-4 (F-9, 6-3, L-4, K)
2. Reivaj Garcia, 2B: 1-4 (K, K, 1B, 4-3)
3. Alexander Guerra, DH #1: 1-3 (1B, 5-3, K)
3b. Henrry Pedra, 3B: 0-1 (6-3)
4a. Yovanny Cuevas, LF: 0-1 (6-3, HBP)
4b. Jose Alonso Gaitan, LF: 0-1 (6-3)
5. Jonathan Sierra, RF: 0-3 (3-U, K, F-7)
6. Luis Vazquez, DH #2: 0-2 (F-9, BB, L-9)
7. Cam Balego, 1B-DH: 1-3 (1B, P-4, 6-3, R)
8. Fabian Pertuz, SS: 1-2 (1B, 3-U, HBP)
9. Fidel Mejia, 3B-1B: 1-2 (1B, 4-3, 1-4 SH, RBI)
10a. Raymond Pena, C: 0-2 (4-3, 1-3)
10b. Eric Gonzalez, C: 0-1 (K)

CUBS PITCHERS
1. Riger Fernandez: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 1 BALK, 1/2 GO/AO, 33 pitches (15 strikes)
2. Yovanny Cruz: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 2/2 GO/AO, 27 pitches (20 strikes)
3. Casey Ryan: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 2/1 GO/AO, 16 pitches (12 strikes)
4. Stephen Ridings: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 BALK, 0/2 GO/AO, 21 pitches (15 strikes) 
5. Eduarniel Nunez: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 20 pitches (13 strikes) 
6. Mitch Stophel: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 16 pitches (13 strikes) 

CUBS ERRORS: NONE 

ATTENDANCE: 11 

WEATHER: Sunny and a bit breezy with temperatures in the 80's 

Arizona 
Scoring 
Service 

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

Comments

TIM: Fabian Pertuz is clearly talented both offensively and defensively, but he has a tendency to play too fast and tries to do too much. He needs to calm down a bit, especially defensively. He could probably benefit from a year in the DSL, although his assignment is still TBD.

Luis Verdugo will likely be in the AZL this year, though. He's the real deal and he looks like he's ready to roll right now. So it would appear that Luis Verdugo and Josue Huma will probably be the two primary Cubs shortstops in the AZL (one assigned to each of the two Cubs AZL teams), unless Fabian Pertuz remains in Mesa and/or Christopher Morel doesn't go directly to Eugene (Morel would likely get reps at both 3B and SS if he is assigned to one of the AZL teams, but he would probably play mainly 3B at Eugene because Luis Vazquez will very likely be the primary Emeralds SS until he gets moved-up to South Bend). 

Hey Phil, do you have any insight on Eduarniel Nunez? He's got a decent pitcher's frame and put up solid numbers in his DSL debut last season. Does he stand out to you in any way? 

Thanks!

[ ]

In reply to by K Dub

K-DUB: Prior to yesterday Eduarniel Nunez was featuring a FB that topped-out at 94 but with poor command and no usable secondary stuff. He had had much difficulty negotiating through innings and throwing strikes.

Yesterday he was used in a more-traditional relief-type role (prepped as a pre-planned one-inning stint) and he struck out the side (he also issued one walk) relying heavily on his FB which he was (finally) able to command.

The Cubs have other pitchers up from the DSL this year who are similar to E. Nunez (projectable but raw), although E. Nunez throws the hardest of the bunch. Sometimes these pitchers develop and sometimes they don't and sometimes injuries delay or derail the pitcher's career, so it takes time (sometimes a couple of years) to sort them out and see which ones (if any) are able to launch.

Oscar de la Cruz is the most-recent success story, but for every ODLC there are a dozen others who never get out of short-season ball.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

K-DUB: I know you ask about FB velocity from time-to-time, and so I have attempted to gather info about Cubs EXST FB velo:

Eury Ramos: 93-96 T-97
Danis Correa: 92-94 T 95-96
Stephen Ridings: 92-94 T-95
Jeremiah Estrada: 91-94
Eduarniel Nunez: 91-94
Fauris Guerrero 91-93 T-94
Ivan Medina: 91-93 T-94
Mitch Stophel: 91-93
Yovanny Cruz 91-93
Brailyn Marquez: 89-92 T-93
Jesus Tejada 91-92
Jose M. Gonzalez: 89-91 T-92
Faustino Carrera: 88-91
Benjamin Rodriguez: 87-90 T-91
Didier Vargas: 87-89 T-90-91
Eugenio Palma: 87-89 T-90

I don't have anything on some of the others (like Raidel Orta), and a pitcher's FB velo can vary from outing-to-outing. 

And of course command, pitch movement, deception, seconday stuff (other pitches besides the FB), stamina (including the ability to throw more than 15-20 pitches in a given inning without losing something in the process), and maintaining mechanics (like arm slot and release point) from one outing to the next are other issues that come into play, and (taken collectively) they are at least as important (or more-likely even more important) than velocity. 

Very rough go so far for Bleacher Nations #1 Cubs prospect Jose Albertos. Currently sporting an 18.23 ERA in 7 appearances (4 starts) thanks mostly to a ridiculous lack of control: 24 walks and 9 wild pitches in 10.1 IP, along with 15 hits allowed. On the bright side, only 1 HR allowed so there's that. 

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.