Cubs MLB Roster

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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 

 



 

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Alzolay Stifles Snakes at Salt River Fields

Pedro Martinez drilled an RBI single to drive-in Rochest Cruz and put the Cubs on the board in the top of the 3rd and then Diamondbacks Joey Rose and Keshawn Lynch belted back-to-back doubles with one out in the bottom of the 5th to knot the score, and that's the way it ended as the Cubs and D'backs played to a 1-1 tie in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Thursday morning on Whirlwind Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick Resort east of Scottsdale, AZ.    

SP Adbert Alzolay (on Iowa 7-day IL - lat strain) hurled three innings of shutout ball for the Cubs (F-9, P-5, 4-3 * P-4, 1B - CS, K * K, K, 1B, 6-4 FC). He threw 39 pitches (11 in the 1st, 12 in the 2nd, and 16 in the 3rd), of which 22 were strikes. All three of his strikeout victims went down swinging. Alzolay velo was FB 92-95 (T-96), CH 83-86, and CV 79-82, and he was generally able to command all three of his pitches. The FB gained velo during the outing, starting at 92-94 in the 1st inning before consistently sitting at 94-95 (touched 96 once) in the 2nd and 3rd. He mixed his FB & CV (only) in his first two innings, before introducing his CH (he threw five) in his third inning. Alzolay was almost too efficient, because after finishing his three innings of work in the game, he was directed to throw an additional 15 pitches in the bullpen (five FB, five CV, and five CH). 
 
The Cubs played only one Cactus League EXST game today, so the squad that traveled to Salt River Fields consisted of elements of both the "A" team and the "B" team. 

Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only): 

CUBS LINEUP:
1. Jacob Hannemann, CF: 1-3 (1B, 5-3, 3-U)
2. Rochest Cruz, DH #1: 1-2 (4-3 DP, BB, K, R, 2 SB)
3. Pedro Martinez, SS: 1-3 (F-9, 1B, P-6, RBI, CS)
4. Wladimir Galindo, DH #2: 1-3 (2B, 5-3, 6-3)
5. Fabian Pertuz, 3B: 0-3 (L-3, P-4, P-6)
6a. Jonathan Soto, C: 0-2 (P-2, L-7)
6b. Alexander Guerra, C: 0-1 (6-3)
7. Reivaj Garcia, 2B: 1-3 (5-3, 1B, K, CS) 
8. Jake Slaughter, 1B: 1-3 (F-8, E-6, 3B)
9. Dalton Hurd, RF: 0-3 (6-3, P-6, K)
10. Fernando Kelli, LF-DH: 0-2 (5-3, K)
11a. Widimer Joaquin, DH #3: 0-1 (K) 
11b. Brandon Vicens, LF: 1-1 (1B, CS)

CUBS PTCHERS:
1. Adbert Alzolay: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 2/3 GO/AO, 39 pitches (22 strikes) 
2. Chi-Feng Lee: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 2/2 GO/AO, 27 pitches (18 strikes)
3. Fauris Guerrero: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 1/3 GO/AO, 24 pitches (16 strikes)
4. Benjamin Rodriguez: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 0/5 GO/AO, 27 pitches (16 strikes) 

CUBS ERRORS: NONE 

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE
Jonathan Soto: 1-1 CS 

ATTENDANCE: 14 

WEATHER: Partly cloudy with temperatures in the 80's 

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

Comments

Hey PHIL! Thanks for the eyes on the ground there, sir! What is the level of competition out there right now? Curious and trying to gauge what level the hitters he faced are at. 

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

E-MAN: In terms of the Cubs it would be approximately equivalent to Eugene, but it's a mix of guys from various levels. For example, this was the AZ lineup that faced Alzolay this morning (2018 level in parenthesis):

1. Matt Szczur, CF (MLB/AAA - post-2018 minor league FA - age 29) 
2. Kevin Watson Jr, LF (AZL/SS-A - AZ 2017 18th round pick - age 19)
3. Liover Peguero, SS (DSL/AZL - AZ 2017 IFA - age 18)
4. Jesus Marriaga, RF (AZL/SS-A - AZ 2016 IFA - age 20) 
5. Joey Rose, 3B (SS-A/Lo-A - AZ 2016 5th round pick - age 21) 
6. Keyshawn Lynch, 2B (SS-A - AZ 2017 14th round pick - age 22) 
7. Joe Gillette, 1B (AZL - AZ 2018 36th round pick - age 23) 
8. David Sanchez, DH #1 (SS-A - 2015 IFA - age 20)
9. Ryan January, C (SS-A - AZ 2016 8th round pick - age 21) 
10. Rafael Jimenez, DH #2 (DSL - AZ 2016 IFA - age 19) 

Alzolay struck out Lynch, Gillette, and Sanchez (all swinging), and Rose and January got the two hits (both singles). 

OF Kristian Robinson and SS Blaze Alexander are among the Diamondbacks Top 10 prospects and they are both at EXST, but they did not play in the game. 

cj picks up the win in relief for iowa and b.duensing has given up earned runs in his last 5 appearances without missing many bats (5.2ip 14h 4bb 1k, 7er)...

Thank you, Phil. Is Jose Albertos still in Arizona? I know that the kid is still only 20, but after last season's difficulties, what can we expect from him this year?

[ ]

In reply to by Karl Pagel Blues

KPB: Jose Albertos is at EXST working on finding the strike zone, and he did that (more-or-less) on Friday, throwing only 18 pitches (61% strikes), issuing no walks, and inducing six soft-contact ground-ball outs in his two innings of work. His CV and CH are both plus pitches, but he still has some difficulty comanding his FB (which is consistently 91-94 MPH), but it looks he may be turning the corner somewhat. 

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.