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 MLB Post-Season Roster Eligibility & Draft-Excluded Player Rules

UPDATED 10/2 

Roster moves made by MLB clubs in August are sometimes made with an eye toward post-season roster eligibility and off-season roster flexibility. 

With that in mind, here are the 2018 MLB post-season roster eligibility and Draft-Excluded player rules: 

MLB RULE 40 POST-SEASON ROSTER ELIGIBILITY RULES

A club's Post-Season Eligibility List is established at midnight (Eastern) on August 31st.

A club's Active List (25-man roster) must be submitted to the MLB Commissioner prior to the start of the first game of each post-season series (Wild Card game, LDS, LCS, and World Series).

A club's Active List can be changed (tweaked) prior to the start of the first game of each series (WC, LDS, LCS, and WS)

1. A player who received a suspension for violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program (player tested positive for a prohibited substance) prior to the start of Spring Training, during Spring Training, during the regular season, or during a post-season series (Wild Card, LDS, LCS, or World Series), is ineligible to play in any MLB or minor league post-season game(s) or series in that season, even if the player has completed serving the suspension. 

2. Any player on the Disqualified List, Ineligible List, Voluntary Retired List, or Restricted List (for any reason other than being placed on Administrative Leave pending investigation of a possible violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse policy or extended Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency Leave) as of midnight (Eastern) on August 31st or who is placed on the Disqualified List, Ineligible List, Voluntary Retired List, or Restricted List  (for any reason other than being placed on Administrative Leave pending investigation of a possible violation of the MLB-MLBPA Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse policy or extended Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency Leave) anytime after midnight (Eastern) on August 31st is ineligible to be included on a Post-Season Eligibility List that season. 

3. All other players on a club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster), MLB 60-day DL, and Military List prior to midnight (Eastern) on August 31st are automatically placed on a club's Post-Season Eligibility List and are eligible to be included on a post-season series Active List (25-man roster), but a player on an MLB 60-day DL who otherwise would be eligible to be included on a Post-Season Eligibility List is NOT eligible to be included until the player has spent at least 60 days on the DL, and a player on the MLB 60-day DL is NOT eligible to play in a post-season series until the player has spent at least 60 days on the DL AND the player has been reinstated from the 60-day DL.


CUBS 2018 POST-SEASON ELIGIBILITY LIST
 (updated 9-28-2018)

40 players 

* bats or throws left
# bats both 

PITCHERS: 25
Adbert Alzolay 
Tyler Chatwood 
Jesse Chavez
Steve Cishek 
Yu Darvish 
* Jorge de la Rosa 
* Brian Duensing
Carl Edwards Jr
* Cole Hamels 
Justin Hancock 
Kyle Hendricks
Brandon Kintzler
* Jon Lester
Dillon Maples
Alec Mills 
* Mike Montgomery
Brandon Morrow
James Norwood 
* Jose Quintana
* Randy Rosario
* Drew Smyly 
Pedro Strop
Jen-Ho Tseng
Duane Underwood Jr
* Justin Wilson

CATCHERS: 3
# Victor Caratini
Willson Contreras
Bobby Wilson

INFIELDERS: 8
Javy Baez
David Bote
Kris Bryant
* Tommy LaStella
* Daniel Murphy
* Anthony Rizzo
Addison Russell
# Ben Zobrist

OUTFIELDERS: 4
Albert Almora Jr
#Ian Happ
* Jason Heyward
* Kyle Schwarber

NOTE-1: OF Terrance Gore, C-1B Taylor Davis, INF Mike Freeman, LHP Jaime Garcia, and RHP Allen Webster were on the AAA Iowa reserve list at midnight on August 31st and then were added to the Cubs MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) after August 31st, so they are not eligible to be included on the Cubs 2018 Post-Season Eligibility List unless the player replaces one of the 40 players on the Cubs Post-Season Eligibility List who is disabled due to injury or illness (as of 9/19 that would include Yu Darvish, Justin Hancock, Brandon Morrow, and Drew Smyly).  

NOTE-2: OF Mark Zagunis was on the Cubs Post-Season Eligibility List on 8/31, but he was removed from the 40-man roster on 9/4 when he was placed on the MLB 60-day DL (right shoulder inflammation), and because he will not be eligible to be reinstated from the 60-day DL until after the World Series, he cannot be replaced on the Cubs Post-Season Eligibility List be another player (see NOTE-1 above).   

4. A player on a Post-Season Eligibility List at midnight (Eastern) on August 31st must remain on his club's MLB Reserve List, MLB 60-day DL, and/or Military List continuously throughout the remainder of the MLB regular season and post-season in order to be automatically included on his club's Post-Season Eligibility List. If a player is sent outright to the minors after midnight (Eastern) on August 31st, he is no longer automatically eligible to be included on a Post-Season Eligibility List.

5. A "26th man" (must be a catcher) may (with approval of the MLB Conmissioner) be listed on a club's Active List for the LDS, LCS, or World Series as a replacement for a catcher who is suffering from an acute concussion. The catcher who suffered the concussion would be eligible to return to his club's Active List after seven days (even if it is prior to the conclusion of the series) at which point the "26th man" would be deactivated.

6. A post-season eligible player who is placed on the Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List or on the Paternity List during a post-season series can (with approval of the MLB Commissioner) be replaced by another player on the club's Post-Season Eligibility List (a pitcher must replace a pitcher and a position player must replace a position player, but it is not necessary for a catcher to replace a catcher, an infielder to replace and infielder, or an outfielder to replace an outfielder), as long as the absent player is reinstated after no more than seven days (for a player on the Beareavement/Family Medical Emergency List) or after no more than three days (for a player on the Paternity List). If the series ends before the player is reinstated, he will automatically be reinstated prior to the next series, even if he has not returned to his club. 
NOTE: The absent player is not eligible to be replaced during a series if the player is a pitcher who has started a game in the series unless he has not pitched in a game for at least three days.

7. An injured post-season eligible player can (with the approval of the MLB Commissioner) be replaced on his club's Post-Season Eligibility List by a player (regardless of position) who was on an Active List, Reserve List, 60-day DL, or Military List of a minor league affiliate from that organization prior to midnight (Eastern) on August 31st, or by a player who was on the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster), MLB 60-day DL, or Military List prior to midnight (Eastern) on August 31st but who was subsequently sent outright to the minors. (In the case of a player who is sent outright to the minors after August 31st, the player must remain on a Reserve List of a minor league affiliate from that organization continuously throughout the remainder of the MLB regular season and post-season in order to be eligible to replace an injured post-season eligible player).

8. A minor league player who replaces an injured player on the Post-Season Eligibility List must have his contract selected and be placed on the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) before he can be placed on the club's Post-Season Eligibility List. If the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) is full, a player must be removed (traded, released, or sent outright to the minors) from the club's MLB Reserve List to make room for the replacement player. 
NOTE: A player cannot be placed on the MLB 60-day DL after the conclusion of the MLB regular season, so placing an injured player on the MLB 60-day DL during the post-season to make room on the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) for a post-season minor league replacement player is not an option.

9. A post-season eligible player who is injured during a post-season series (LDS, LCS, or World Series) can (with the approval of the MLB Commissioner) be replaced during the series by another player on the club's Post-Season Eligibility List, or by a player who was on an Active List, Reserve List, 60-day DL, or Military List of a minor league affiliate from that organization prior to midnight (Eastern) on August 31st, or by a player who was on the club's MLB Reserve List (40-man roster), MLB 60-day DL, or Military List prior to midnight (Eastern) on August 31st but who was subsequently sent outright to the minors. (In the case of a player who is sent outright to the minors after August 31st, the player must remain on a Reserve List of a minor league affiliate from that organization continuously throughout the remainder of the MLB regular season and post-season in order to be eligible to replace an injured post-season eligible player). An injured player replaced during a post-season series is ineligible to be reinstated to his club's Active List (25-man roster) for the balance of that series and the next series (LCS or World Series). Also, a pitcher must replace a pitcher and a position player must replace a position player. However, it is NOT necessary for a catcher to replace a catcher, an infielder to replace an infielder, or an outfielder to replace an outfielder. NOTE: If the injured player suffered an acute concussion, the injured player is eligible to be reinstated to his club's Active List after seven days even if the next post-season series is still in progress.   

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

MLB RULE 6: DRAFT -EXCLUDED PLAYER RULES

A "Draft-Excluded Player" is any minor league player who has accrued less than three years of MLB Service Time and who is eligible for selection in the MLB Rule 5 Draft, whose contract is selected, and who is added to an MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) between August 15th and the Rule 5 Draft.

1. A Draft-Excluded Player can be non-tendered on 12/2, released, or traded at any time, but he cannot be sent to the minors by Optional Assignment beginning with the conclusion of the MLB regular season up until 20 days prior to MLB Opening Day.

2. A Draft-Excluded Player can be sent outright to the minors only if Outright Assignment Waivers are requested no later than 2 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day following the final game of the World Series, and if a Draft-Excluded Player is not outrighted to the minors prior to the Rule 5 Draft, the player cannot be Designated for Assignment or sent outright to the minors any earlier than 20 days prior to the start of the MLB regular season.

CUBS WITH POST-2018 RULE 6 DRAFT-EXCLUDED STATUS: (last updated 9-22-2018)
Terrance Gore, OF
Taylor Davis, C-1B
Mike Freeman, INF  
Allen Webster, RHP 

Comments

Just to reinforce this a bit, recently-acquired Terrance Gore (likely to be the Cubs 5th OF/PR in September) and Chris Gimenez (likely to be the Cubs #3 catcher in September) do - NOT - need to be added to the Cubs MLB Reserve List (40-man roster) prior to September 1st in order be eligible to play in a post-season series (WC, LDS, LCS, or WS). However, a player must be on a club's MLB 40-man roster prior to September 1st in order to be AUTOMATICALLY eligible to play in a post-season series. 

But in the case of Gore and/or Gimenez (or maybe a pitcher who comes up in September and throws "lights out"), the player can replace a player on the Cubs Post-Season Eligibility List as of midnight 8/31 who is injured. Right now that would appear to be just RHRP Justin Hancock (presuming he remains on the MLB 60-day DL for the rest of the season), but it could maybe be Brian Duensing, or Drew Smyly and/or Yu Darvish (if they are not reinstated from the 60-day DL in September).    

The main thing is, an injured player has to remain Post-Season Roster eligible in order to be replaced, so if the Cubs (as I would expect) recall RHP Adbert Alzolay from his Optional Assignment on September 1st and place him on the 60-day DL, while it will open up a slot on the Cubs 40-man roster for another player (Gore, Gimenez, maybe Anthony Bass, Kyle Ryan, Mike Freeman, Taylor Davis, or Allen Webster), it would make Alzolay ineligible to be on the Cubs Post-Season Eligibility List because the earliest he would be eligible to be reinstated from the 60-day DL is October 31st (after the start of the World Series), so (unlike Hancock, Duensing, Smyly, and Darvish) he could not be replaced on the Cubs Post-Season Eligibility List by another player. Alzolay also would be ineligible to pitch in the AFL until October 31st (at the earliest) if he were to be recalled from his Optional Assignment on 9/1 and placed on the Cubs MLB 60-day DL (players on the 60-day DL are ineligible to play in the AFL), so winter ball in Venezuela would probably be a more-likely post-season destination for Alzolay if the Cubs want to use his 40-man roster slot for another player in September but also want him to make-up innings lost in 2018.    

In the case of Brian Duensing, unlike Alzolay, Duensing WOULD remain Post-Season Roster Eligible even if he is transferred from the 10-day DL to the 60-day DL in September because he was placed on the 10-day DL on August 3rd and thus would be eligible to be reinstated from the 60-day DL on October 2nd (the day of the N. L. Wild Card game). If Duensing were to be transferred from the 10-day DL to the 60-day DL in September to open up a 40-man roster slot for another player, he could remain on the 60-day DL during the post-season, in which case he could be replaced on the Cubs Post-Season Roster Eligibility List by a player who was not eligible on 8/31 (like Gore or Gimenez or a pitcher TBD). Or he could be reinstated from the 60-day DL during the post-season (as famously happened with Kyle Schwarber in 2016), in which case he could no longer be replaced on the Cubs Post-Season Roster Eligibility List by another player, plus a player on the Cubs MLB 40-man roster would have to be DFA'd to make room for Duensing on the 40.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

PHIL: So what you are alluding to, and I think you said something similar a bit back, is that Mgmt is going to really leverage the 60 day DL, to give them the utmost Post-Season flexibility (should they make it) with Gore, et. al.? With several players injured, and others "injured", maybe there is not that much hand-wringing over DFA-ing a player this year, as opposed to last?

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

E-MAN: The Cubs will have a lot of roster flexibility in September and roster choices and options in the post-season beyond just the 43 players who are officially on the Cubs Post-Season Roster Eligibility List right now.

A number of short-term but useful "spare parts" (like Gore, Gimenez, Bass, K. Ryan, Webster, et al) can be added to the 40-man roster in September if the Cubs DFA guys who do not project to be on the 40-man roster post-2018 (most likely some combination of Mazzoni, Tseng, Zastryzny, Mills, and Farrell), and then by use of the DL a player who is not otherwise eligible to play in the post-season can be added to the Cubs Post-Season Eligibility List and then to the 25-man Active List for a particular post-season series (WC, LDS, LCS, and/or WS) as a "replacement player." This would be where Terrance Gore (as a PR/5th OF) and Chris Gimenez (as the post-season 26th man 3rd catcher) would come into play.  

Len Kasper, the Cubs TV announcer while on a interview on the Score said in his opinion Yu Darvish will not pitch again this year.  If that happens I would look for a trade for a starter, possibly Zimmerman, who is supposed to be the Tigers starter tomorrow night, or James Shields, as the Sox have to drop a player when Kopech is activated.  There was no discussion of the possibility of another Tommy John surgery for Darvish

Someone has claimed Daniel Murphy (prior to getting to the Yankees) . Might not have to see him in the 4 games vs Nats. We shall see shortly it he gets moved.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

Hard to say.  Blauser was coming off his career year but he had a pretty good career overall prior to signing with the Cubs at 32 years of age.  Murphy has been better offensively over his career but he is 33 this year and could be beginning to break down, looking at his injury history this year.  Murphy is a free agent after this year, so this is a low risk move.

Trades can continue to be made up until 12 noon (Eastern) on Sunday 9/23 (one week prior to the scheduled conclusion of the MLB regular season). Neither MLB nor minor league trades are permitted during the last week of the MLB regular season.

The reason a trade might be made after the midnight 8/31 Post-Season Roster Eligibilty deadline is if a contending club loses a key player to injury sometime in the next couple of weeks and does not have a decent back-up alternative available in-house for that position. 

So while a player acquired after the midnight 8/31 Post-Season Roster Eligibility deadline would not be eligible to play in the post-season, he could possibly at least help the club get to the post-season.  

Just as a reminder, Trade Assignment Waivers expire and MLB players (as well as minor league players) cannot be traded beginning at 12 noon (Eastern) on this coming Sunday (9/23) up through the conclusion of the MLB regular season (including any Game #163 or Game #164 "tie-breaker" games that might be played after the originally-scheduled conclusion of the MLB regular season on Sunday 9/30).

Players can be placed on Outright Assignment Waivers and outrighted to the minors (or claimed off waivers for $50,000) and players can be released during this "quiet period" at the end of the MLB regular season, but trades are prohibited. 

So if an MLB club is looking to acquire a "rental player" (like maybe a replacement for an injured closer, SS, or catcher) for a late playoff push over the last week of the regular season or maybe a free-agent-to-be veteran SP to start a "tie-breaker" game (even though the player would not be eligible to play in the post-season), they have to make the trade no later than 12 noon (Eastern) this coming Sunday. 

PHIL: Since you first wrote this, I am thinkng that Gore could take Happ’s place on the Post Season roster at least for the 1st round. He’s scary fast and would be a cool gadget player usable in just the right moment.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

I see them going this way:

C) Contreras, Caratini

IF) Rizzo, Murphy, Baez, Bryant, Russell,  LaStella

OF) Schwarber, Heyward, Zobrist, Almora, Gore

SP) Lester, Hendricks, Hamels, Quintana 

RP) Strop, Chavez, Cishek, Edwards, Montgomery, Wilson, de la Rosa, Rosario 

I believe they'll consider Bote & Happ able to be duplicated by 6 of the position players able to play multiple positions.  LaStella too valuable a pinch hitter and Gore too critical as a PR in a tied 8-9th inning game.

Rosario beats out Kintzler, Duensing due to performance and Garcia not enough body of work.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

E-MAN: Both Ian Happ and David Bote have struggled at the plate lately, so it's possible that the Cubs would choose Terrance Gore over both Happ and Bote for a spot on the 25-man roster. However, if the Cubs play in the Wild Card game, they could go with ten pitchers (two SP and eight RP) and 15 position players in the game, meaning Gore, Happ, and Bote would be on the 25-man active list.

Because the LDS has a 2-2-1 format where all relievers can pitch in every game, the Cubs could go with 11 pitchers (four SP and seven RP) and opt to have two of three from amongst Gore, Happ, and Bote on the 25, and if it's between Happ and Bote, I would think that Bote would be the choice because he is a defensive upgrade over Kris Bryant at 3B, and he can also play 2B (and even SS in a pinch).  

That said, although Gore is an elite base-stealer, Happ is a fast runner and could be used as a PR in the late innings and then stay in the game if it goes into extra innings and provide a better option at the plate than Gore (who clearly is not a Major League hitter).

If any of you saw Gore score from 3rd on Almora’s FC, he is is more than “fast”. Elite speed is key phrase to describe him. It is going to be a long discussion w/Joe & the gang on who gets the last spot: Gore or Happ. Happ is not a good PH. So his value is in defense and maybe annoying the opposing Mgr as a switch hitter and COULD get lucky every 30th AB. Yeah, he can run, and is “fast”, but not Gore fast. Bote, however, has more D-versatility as PHIL notes. I look at Gore as the Devin Hester on the team now. He does one thing only - and does it amazingly well.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

Len and JD were discussing this -- their take was the choice is between Gore, who might win you a game, and the last guy in the bullpen, who might pitch if you are getting blown out.  Don't think I've ever seen a faster baserunner than Gore.  Truly a weapon, particularly in a one-run game where he could PR for Schwarber or Murphy in the late innings. By the way -- very nice win of a game they should have won, but, at this point, there are all precious. 

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.