Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus two players are on the 60-DAY IL 

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, ten players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, two players are on the 15-DAY IL, and two players are on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-17-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Garrett Cooper
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 10 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 2 
Seiya Suzuki, OF
Patrick Wisdom, INF 

15-DAY IL: 2
* Justin Steele, P  
Jameson Taillon, P 

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Morel and Young Help Cubs Tie A's at Riverview

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

Rafael Morel blasted a three-run HR, singled, and reached base on an HBP, and Jared Young collected three singles, reached base on an HBP, stole a base, and scored a run for the Cubs, and Pedro Pineda belted a two-run double, Jose Bonilla drilled a two-run single, drew a walk, and scored a run, and Jalen Greer laced an RBI single, walked twice, and scored a run for the Athletics, as the two teams played to a 5-5 tie in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Friday night on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.  

The game was called after eight innings of play. 

Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only):  
CUBS LINEUP: 
X. Jared Young, 1B: 3-4 (4-3, HBP, 1B, 1B, 1B, R, SB, PO)
NOTE: Young batted third in the bottom of the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th innings
1. Ismael Mena, CF: 0-2 (4-3, BB, K, BB, R, SB)
2. Reggie Preciado, SS: 1-4 (1B, 4-3, 4-3, K, RBI)
3. Owen Caissie, RF: 0-3 (K, BB, 1-3, K, R)
4. Rafael Morel, 2B: 2-2 (1B, HR, HBP, R, 3 RBI) 
5. Yovanny Cuevas, LF: 0-1 (E-6, BB, BB, R, PO) 
6. Felix Stevens, DH #1: 0-2 (4-6 FC, K, BB, CS)
7a. Malcom Quintero, C: 0-0 (BB, BB) 
7b. Edgar Gamargo, C: 0-1 (5-3 DP)
8. Shendrik Apostel, DH #2: 0-1 (BB, BB, L-5)
9a. Juan Mora, 3B: 0-1 (K, BB)
9b. Widimer Joaquin, 3B: 0-1 (E-3) 

CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Joel Machado: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 3/1 GO/AO, 39 pitches (25 strikes)
2. Yovanny Cabrera: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 4 R (4 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 2 HBP, 1 WP, 1 GIDP, 1/1 GO/AO, 18 pitches (7 strikes) 
3. Gregori Montano: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 0/1 GO/AO, 22 pitches (12 strikes)
4. Johzan Oquendo: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 0/2 GO/AO, 8 pitches (7 strikes) 
5. Luis Devers: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO/AO, 12 pitches (7 strikes) 
6. Andricson Salvador: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 17 pitches (9 strikes) 
7. Dawel Rodriguez: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO/AO, 11 pitches (9 strikes) 

CUBS ERRORS: NONE 

ATTENDANCE: N/A 

WEATHER: Clear with temperatures 100+ 

Arizona 
Scoring
Service 

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

Tags
Cubs Extended Spring Training game report
Rafael Morel
Jared Young

Comments

Submitted by bradsbeard on Sun, 06/27/2021 - 06:44 am

AZ Phil, would you be able to give an updated scouting report on Rafael Morel after the layoff? How does he compare to his brother at the same age?

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sun, 06/27/2021 - 06:44 am

BRADSBEARD: Rafael Morel is a very different player from his brother. Christopher is faster and has more range in the field, and he projects as a true multi-positional MLB player (SS-3B-2B-CF-LF-RF). Reggie Preciado is actually much more like Christopher Morel than Rafael is. 

Rafael has a thicker body-type than his brother and is probably more similar to somebody like Chase Strumpf, which is to say Rafael is a legit MLB prospect, but not as a multi-positional guy like his brother (or like Preciado). It wouldn't necessarily surprise me to see the Cubs convert Rafael to catcher sometime in the near future, because he has the physical tools and body type that fit that position. 

Rafael has plus-power and a good eye at the plate and if you've seen the Cubs EXST box scores you will note that he has an odd knack for getting hit by pitches. He is a very confident and flamboyant player and doesn't appear to be afraid of anything. He doesn't just smile a lot, he laughs a lot. 

He has settled in very nicely at 3B and he also can play 2B. He played a couple of innings at SS in an EXST game this past week, but he never works out at SS in fielding practice. He's about 75% at 3B and 25% at 2B.

Just like with his brother, Rafael is probably one of my favorite players to watch, whether it be a practice or a game. I would place him in the same long-term legit prospect group as Caissie, Preciado, and Mena. They hang-out as a group in BP and are developing as a core quartet that could move up through the pipeline together. They actually batted 1-2-3-4 (Mena - Preciado - Caissie - Morel) in the final EXST Cubs game Friday night, and that could become a regular thing. 

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sun, 06/27/2021 - 06:55 am

I also want to update something on Ismael Mena, based upon my observations over the past few games.

He is one of the fastest players in the system and is an elite defensive CF with an above-average arm. Also, he tries to bunt for a hit at least once every game and kind of plays a small-ball type game, but he does have a line-drive stroke and rarely strikes out. He is always looking to stretch a single into a double and a double into a triple. 

The best current minor league Cubs comp would probably be Edmond Americaan, but Mena is a bit faster and better defensively.   

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sun, 06/27/2021 - 06:21 pm

Based upon my observations in BP, fielding practice, baserunning drills, and in EXST games, I would rate them this way 

HR POWER / HIGH -ANGLE LOFT: 
1. Owen Caissie 
2. Felix Stevens  
3. Rafael Morel 
4. Ronnier Quintero
5. Shendrik Apostel 

HARD CONTACT: 
1. Owen Caissie 
2. Shendrik Apostel 
3. Rafael Morel 
4. Felix Stevens 
5. Wally Soto

CONTACT: 
1. Yeison Santana 
2. Ismael Mena 
3. Wally Soto 
4. Malcom Quintero 
5. Jose O. Lopez 

PATIENCE: 
1. Owen Caissie 
2. Shendrik Apostel 
3. Malcom Quintero 
4. Reggie Preciado 
5. Rafael Morel

SPEED: 
1. Ismael Mena 
2. Manny Collier (did not play in EXST games)
3. Yeison Santana 
4. Jose O. Lopez 
5. Reggie Preciado

ARM: 
1. Felix Stevens
2. Jose O. Lopez
3. Rafael Morel 
4. Reggie Preciado 
5. Ismael Mena 

CATCHER DEFENSE:  
1. Malcom Quintero 
2. Edgar Gamargo 
3. Miguel Fabrizio

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sun, 06/27/2021 - 06:15 pm

FP-120: I mean it as the guy takes a lot of pitches, is willing to go deep into the count, and stays relaxed and focused and doesn't get jumpy and automatically swing on a close pitch with two strikes.

The problem is, ball / strike umpiring at this level is so inconsistent (much moreso than MLB) that a lot of times a player is not rewarded for having strike-zone awareness/control and as a result the player can get frustrated.

So coaches have to continually positively reinforce a player when he has a good AB but ends up striking out looking or gets into an 0-2 hole just because he got rung-up on a pitch that wasn'r really a strike. 

[ ]

Submitted by bradsbeard on Sun, 06/27/2021 - 06:38 pm

That's a promising report. Thanks! I knew Rafael wasn't going to have the same sort of defensive versatiltiy as Chris, but it sounds like he might be a better offensive player. Would be interesting if they did try him at C. The Morel brothers seem to really enjoy the game. Chris is a lot of fun to watch and I'm looking forward to seeing Rafael climb the ladder. 

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sun, 06/27/2021 - 06:43 pm

PROJECTED OPENING WEEK STARTING ROTATION FOR ACL CUBS: 

1. Porter Hodge (last EXST game started was 6/22)
2. Tyler Schlaffer (last EXST game started was 6/24)
3. Joel Machado (last EXST game started was 6/25)
4. Luke Little (did not pitch in EXST games but threw 25-pitch "live" BP 6/26)
5. TBA
NOTE: SP could be a rehab pitcher in any game (TBD)    

PITCHED IN RELIEF IN EXST GAMES: 
Elian Almanzar 
Yovanny Cabrera 
Luis Devers 
Angel Gonzalez-Martinez 
Gregori Montano 
Johzan Oquendo 
Dawel Rodriguez
Andricson Salvador 
Alberto Sojo 

ARRIVED LATE - DID NOT PITCH IN EXST GAMES: 
Rony Baez 
Kelvin Feliz
Wilfri Figuereo

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    masterboney is a luxury on a team that has multiple, capable options for 2nd, SS, and 3rd without him around.  i don't hate the guy, but if madrigal is sticking around then masterboney is expendable.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    I THINK I agree with that decision. They committed to Wicks as a starter and, while he hasn’t been stellar I don’t think he’s been bad enough to undo that commitment.

    That said, Wesneski’s performance last night dictates he be the next righty up.

    Quite the dilemma. They have many good options, particularly in relief, but not many great ones. And complicating the situation is that the pitchers being paid the most are by and large performing the worst - or in Taillon’s case, at least to this point, not at all.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Wesneski and Mastrobuoni to Iowa

    Taillon and Wisdom up

    Wesneski can't pitch for a couple of days after the 4 IP from last night. But Jed picked Wicks over Wesneski.

  • crunch (view)

    booooooooooo

    also, wisdom and taillon are both in chicago.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Tonight’s game postponed. Split games on Saturday.

  • crunch (view)

    cubs getting crazy good at not having player moves leak.

    taillon we 100% know is pitching tonight.  who he's replacing and any additional moves are unknown as far as i can tell.

    p.wisdom was not in today's lineup in iowa (rained out) and he was removed from the game last night mid-game, but not for injury.  good bet he's with the team in the bigs, too.

  • Bill (view)

    A good rule of thumb is that if you trade a near-ready high ceiling prospect, you should get at least two far-away high ceiling prospects in return.  Like all rules-of-thumb, it depends upon the specific circumstances, but certainly, we weren't going to get Busch for either prospect alone.

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    Right on schedule, just read an article in Baseball America entitled "10 MLB Prospects Outside The Top 100 Who Have Our Attention".  Zyhir Hope was one of the prospects featured. It stated that he's "one of the biggest arrow-up sleeper prospects in the lower levels right now."

     

    Not sharing to be negative about the trade, getting a top 100 prospect who is MLB ready should carry a heavy prospect cost.  But man, Dodger sure are good at identifying and developing young talent. Andrew Friedman seems to have successfully merged Ray's development with Yankees financial might to create a juggernaut of an organization.  

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    I suspect Brown will spend some time in the bullpen due to inning restrictions.  Pitched only 93 innings last year and career high is 104 innings in 2022.  I would expect them to be cautious with a young player with his injury history.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    I wanted Almonte gone last week, but that was before Merryweather went down and Little got demoted. Almonte in his last 5 appearances has gone 4.1 IP with no ER or Runs. NO hits, 3 BBs and 8 SO. He did hit 96 with his 2S FB in AZ on Tues.
    I don't see Jed waiving him when we have injuries all over and guys with options that can be sent down.
    I probably won't like the move Jed makes, but he can't play the "let's hope no one wants his 1.7mil remaining deal and we can hide him in Iowa" card.
    That's why I think the current Bullpen stays as is and Wicks goes to Iowa.
    I don't like that, but that's the fix I see.
    We'll find out soon enough!!!

Click HERE for the last 50 comments