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

Morel and Young Help Cubs Tie A's at Riverview

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" 

Comments

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?

[ ]

In reply to by bradsbeard

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. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

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.   

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

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

[ ]

In reply to by First.Pitch.120

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. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

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. 

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

  • 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.

  • 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.