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

Cubs Have Little to Show for 2017 First-Round Pick

Eddy Julio Martinez reached base on a HBP, tripled, singled, stole a base, and scored, and collected an RBI with a sacrifice fly, Yonathan Perlaza tripled, singled, stole a base, and scored a run, Oswaldo Pina ripped a two-run double and a single, and SP Brendon Little tossed two perfect innings and combined with five relievers on a two-hitter, as the Cubs "A" team defeated the Giants Orange squad 5-1 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Saturday morning on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

The game was pre-planned as a ten-inning contest. 

The Cubs 2017 1st round draft pick out of SCF - Sarasota-Manatee, Little saw his first game action of the season after suffering a lat strain in his first "live" BP session the first week of Minor League Camp in March. And Little didn't miss a beat, either, easily retiring all six Giants he faced (P-2, F-8, K * F-9, 4-3, 5-3) on just 14 pitches. He displayed a 92-94 MPH FB, a plus-CV, and a CH, and he had command of all three of his pitches and threw all three pitches for strikes. In fact he was so efficient that after he finished his two innings, he was sent down to the bullpen to throw an additional 15 pitches (five FB, five CV, and five CH). So things are looking up for Little. 

Prior to the Cactus League EXST game on Field #1, RHSP Keegan Thompson (on AA Tennessee 7-day IL since April 11th) threw a two-inning "sim" game on Field #5. 

Here is the abridged box score from the Cactus League EXST game on Field #1 (Cubs players only): 

CUBS "A" TEAM LINEUP:
1. Fernando Kelli, CF: 1-4 (K, K, K, 1B, R, SB)
2. Angel Pagan, LF-RF: 0-4 (1-3, 1-3, L-8, F-7)
3. Eddy Julio Martinez, RF-DH: 2-2 (HBP, 3B, 1B, F-9 SF, R, RBI, SB)
4. Yonathan Perlaza, 2B: 2-4 (K, L-7, 1B, 3B, R, SB)
5. Henderson Perez, C: 1-4 (4-3, HBP, 6-U FC, 1B, 2 RBI, SB)
6. Jake Slaughter, 1B: 1-3 (1B, 6-4-3 DP, K, HBP, R)
7. Luis Diaz, 3B: 1-4 (1B, K, K, K, R)
8. Oswaldo Pina, SS: 2-4 (2B, 1-3, 1B, 5-3, 2 RBI)
9. Carlos Pacheco, DH-LF: 0-4 (K, K, 5-4 FC, K)
10. Danny Zardon, DH #2: 1-4 (P-6, 2B, L-8, F-8)

CUBS "A" TEAM PITCHERS
1. Brendon Little: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2/3 GO/AO, 14 pitches (10 strikes)
2. Chad Hockin: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1  (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 1 BALK, 3/0 GO/AO, 34 pitches (18 strikes)
3. Enrique de los Rios: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 GIDP, 2/2 GO/AO, 23 pitches (15 strikes) 
4. Blake Whitney: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1/2 GO/AO, 17 pitches (14 strikes)
5. Elias Herrera: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 3/0 GO/AO, 12 pitches (5 strikes)
6. Riley McCauley: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 21 pitches (12 strikes)

CUBS "A" TEAM ERRORS: 1 
3B Luis Diaz: E-5 (fielding miscue allowed batter to reach base safely) 

ATTENDANCE: 12 

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 90's 

Arizona 
Scoring 
Service 

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

Comments

I saw outfielders Carlos Morfa and Kevin Moreno get hugs and handshakes as they left the bench and headed for the clubhouse prior to the conclusion of yesterday's game and they were absent today at BP, so they may be headed for the DSL. I wouldn't be surprised if LHP Joel Machado and RHP Willy Cabrera (and possibly RHP Manuel Espinoza) got a ticket to the DSL, too, since they are now M. I. A. as well.  

AZ PHIL- Bummer about Duncan Robinson, but along those same lines what in the world makes Corey Black so special that they'd hang on to him this long, one TJS is acceptable, worry some, but acceptable.  A second I'd likely say too much.  Then he struggles after 2 getting healthy, and now a 3rd TJS and (so far) they have kept him or is he expected to be released.  Is this just Theo wanting to say I got something for Soriano (a lot of dr bills)

[ ]

In reply to by cubbies.4ever

cubbies.4ever: I don't think the Cubs saw the most recent Black TJS #3 coming or they wouldn't have offered him a 2019 minor league contract after he became a minor league 6YFA post-2018. But generally speaking, as long as the player follows the rehab program the Cubs will usually keep the guy until he's somewhat close to being healthy and no longer requires rehab services.

Not speaking from personal experience you understand, but it's sort of like being on Death Row. They won't execute you while you have the flu. They wait until you're healthy, then you can be executed. 

Gotcha.  Theo really does like his TJS pitchers though.  On their 40 alone, Chatwood 2x, Collins 2x, Darvish, Rosario, Mills, Steele, Graveman.  Throw in Duensing.  Plus a bunch of minor leaguers.  How many of those pitchers have done anything worth while (Given Steele and Graveman get a TBD card) for the Cubs?  Maybe there's a theme here.  You always hear about the Adam Wainwright success stories, but never about the Corey Black's.

ken rosenthal reports the cubs are exploring craig kimbrel (according to "major-league sources") thanks in part to money saved from this zobrist incident (about $2m a month).

OF Eddy Julio Martinez was moved back up to AA Tennessee after Saturday's Cactus League EXST game at Riverview. His hard-contact rate has been outstanding and he has been displaying his full five-tool package in games. 

speaking of draft picks...

i don't think i've ever seen such a lack of interest in the draft on this board or from cubs fans in general.  it's hard to project such late picks, which takes some excitement out of it, but the interest from fans seems to be at a near all-time low in my recent memory.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Ever?

I don''t  think Cubs faans tend a much toward college in the first place. With no chaatter from the paid talkinng heads, no bonus picks, and it gets useless  to write  on the  topic.

[ ]

In reply to by tim815

i'm just saying the draft is tomorrow and not only have i not seen any discussion here, some of the "real life" local cubs fans i know haven't even chimed in about the draft in any cubs talk we've been having.

it's a personal observance rather than some cold, hard fact, but the draft seems to have little interest from cubdom.

CRUNCH: The MLB draft is just so different from the NFL and NBA drafts because even players selected in the 1st round aren't MLB-ready and (in most cases) won't surface in the big leagues until maybe two or three years later (if at all), and so it's hard for fans to wrap their heads around it.   

What I usually do is check the most-recent Baseball America mock (which was posted today) and get a general idea of who BA believes is on the Cubs radar at #27 overall:

1. Braden Shewmake, SS (Texas A&M) - BA has this as the Cubs pick - lanky 6'4 athletic SS who sounds like a LH-hitting version of D. J. LeMahieu (good hitter but not much power, probably can't stay long-term at SS, could end up as multi-positional super-sub utility guy);  
2. Kameron Misner, CF (U. of Missouri) - sounds a lot like Brett Jackson (6'4 toolsy CF, LH hitter with HR power, plus-speed, takes walks, strikes out a lot); 
3. Michael Toglia, 1B-LF (UCLA) - 6'5 switch-hitter, has HR power to all fields, takes walks, lots of strikeouts;
4. Rece Hinds, 3B (IMG Academy - Bradenton, FL) - LSU recruit is 6'4 beast & has the most pure raw HR power in the draft & throws 98 MPH if he doesn't make it as position player (or could he be viewed as a possible future two-way player?). Throws & bats right.   

Interestingly all four of the guys mentioned by BA in relation to the Cubs 1st round pick are at least 6'4 and are position players, and three of them are big-time HR hitters (especially Hinds).  

Of course last year the Cubs selected SS Nico Hoerner (Stanford) with their 1st round pick and - NOBODY - saw that one coming, so outside of the Cubs draft room nobody really knows who (or what) the Cubs are targeting with the #27 overall pick. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

weak pitching crop this draft...lot of "tools and high ceiling" guys and not many slam dunks (a.rutschman, a.vaughn, b.witt, jj.bleday).  even the slam dunks aren't that impressive except for a.rutschman.

rustchman got IBB a few days ago with the bases loaded and 0 outs.  that's b.bonds-level fear.

seeing cubs/misner linked on more than a few lists.

Phil...now that extended spring trainInglis is over, what are your overall observations? Players to watch this year?

Brendon Little with an outstanding three-inning "sim" game at Riverview Park on Friday: 45 pitches - 34 strikes, 13 swings & misses. FB velo holding at 92-94 with a plus-CV and CH. 

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days. 

  • 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...