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

Cub Offense Shines Under the Lights in ACL Opening Night

Ezequiel Pagan blasted a solo HR to key a four-run third, Reggie Preciado immediately followed with a solo HR and then later walked three times (once with the bases loaded) and stole a base, Rafael Morel singled, walked, and scored a run, Owen Caissie singled twice, walked, and stole a base, Felix Stevens smacked a double and an RBI triple and scored two runs, Malcom Quintero doubled, walked, and scored two runs, Ismael Mena laced two RBI singles and drew a walk, and Shendrik Apostel singled and walked, helping the ACL Cubs defeat the ACL Diamondbacks 7-4 in Arizona Complex League (formerly AZL) Opening Night game action Monday evening on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.     

Juan Corniel belted an RBI triple and scored in the 3rd and drilled a two-run single in the 7th to provide most of the offense for the D'backs. 

The Cubs scored five runs on nine hits (five singles, two doubles, and two HR) off Arizona Diamondbacks RHP Taylor Widener in 2.2 IP. Widener has been on the D'backs MLB 10-day IL for over a month with a groin strain, and was making what he problably thought was a ho-hum Article XIX-C Minor League Rehab start in Mesa. Or as Augie Ojeda once said about doing a rehab stint in the AZL: "This is a really tough league for big leaguers." 

Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only): 
ACL CUBS LINEUP:
1. Ezequiel Pagan, LF: 1-5 (3-1, HR, K, 4-3, K, R, RBI) 
2. Reggie Preciado, SS: 1-2 (K, HR, BB, BB, BB, R, 2 RBI, SB)
3. Rafael Morel, 3B: 1-4 (K, 1B, K, BB, F-7)
4. Owen Caissie, RF: 2-4 (1B, K, 1B, K, BB, SB)
5. Felix Stevens, DH: 2-5 (6-4-3 DP, 2B, K, 3B, F-8, 2 R, RBI)
6. Malcom Quintero, C: 1-4 (2B, K, 4-3, BB, L-6, 2 R) 
7. Ismael Mena, CF: 2-4 (1B, 1B, BB, K, F-7, 2 RBI)
8. Shendrik Apostel, 1B: 1-3 (1B, K, 5-4 FC, BB)  
9. Widimer Joaquin, 2B: 0-3 (4-3, K, P-6, BB) 

ACL CUBS PITCHERS
1. Porter Hodge: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 4 K, 2 BALKS, 1 GIDP, 3/1 GO/AO, 64 pitches (37 strikes) 
2. Johzan Oquendo: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 4/1 GO/AO, 22 pitches (14 strikes) 
3. Angel Gonzalez-Martinez: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 2 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 28 pitches (10 strikes) 
4. Alberto Sojo: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R 0 BB, 4 K, 2/0 GO/AO, 36 pitches (28 strikes) 
5. Dawel Rodriguez: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2/1 GO/AO, 7 pitches (6 strikes)

ACL CUBS ERRORS
1. P Porter Hodge: E-1 (errant pick-off attempt at 1st base allowed runner to advance to 2nd)  
2. SS Reggie Preciado: E-6 (fielding miscue/bobble allowed batter to reach base safely) 

ACL CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE
Malcom Quintero: 0-2 CS 

ATTENDANCE: 27 

WEATHER: Mostly cloudy and breezy with tempeatures 100+

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

2021 ACL CUBS OPENING DAY ACTIVE LIST ROSTER

48 players active, plus one player is on 60-DAY IL 
NOTE: There is no Active List roster limit in the ACL

* bats or throws left 
# bats both 

PITCHERS: 28  
Elian Almanzar 
Rony Baez 
Josh Burgmann
Yovanny Cabrera 
Chris Clarke 
Luis Devers 
Kelvin Feliz 
Wilfri Figuereo 
Angel Gonzalez-Martinez
* Angel Hernandez 
Porter Hodge 
Adam Heidenfelder 
* Luke Little 
* Joel Machado 
Gregori Montano 
Koen Moreno 
Johzan Oquendo 
Marco Prieto 
Sheldon Reed 
Jorge Remon 
Benjamin Rodriguez 
Dawel Rodriguez 
* Luis Angel Rodriguez 
Robinson Rodriguez 
* Andricson Salvador 
Tyler Schlaffer 
Alberto Sojo 
* Dalton Stambaugh

CATCHERS: 5 
# Miguel Fabrizio 
Edgar Gamargo 
# Malcom Quintero  
* Ronnier Quintero 
* Wally Soto 

INFIELDERS: 7 
Shendrik Apostel 
Widimer Joaquin 
Juan Mora 
Rafael Morel
Miguel Pabon 
Oswaldo Pina 
# Reggie Preciado 

OUTFIELDERS: 8+1  
* Owen Caissie 
Manny Collier
Yovanny Cuevas 
Rafael Herrera 
* Jose O. Lopez 
* Ismael Mena 
Carlos Morfa (60-DAY IL)
* Ezequiel Pagan 
Felix Stevens  

MANAGER:
Lance Rymel 

COACHES
Jhonny Bethencourt 
Rachel Folden 
Armando Gabino 
Doug Willey 

Comments

Since milb.com covers ACL games, I will not be doing any more ACL game reports. I did this one just to post the Opening Day roster and provide a  transition from Extended Spring Training to the ACL. 

Also, contrary to what has been posted elsewhere in the Cubs blogosphere, that was MALCOM Quintero catching for the ACL Cubs Monday night - NOT - Ronnier Quintero. So Ronnier will have to wait at least one more day to make his "official" game debut. 

TIM: Not at all. Reggie Preciado had a 19% walk-rate in eight Cactus League EXST games (26 PA) prior to ACL Opening Night, and with the three walks last night his 2021 BB-rate is now up to 26% (same as his K-rate).

Just like Owen Caissie, Preciado takes a LOT of pitches and is willing to go deep into the count, which sometimes gets him called out on strikes. Shendrik Apostel, Malcom Quintero, and Rafael Morel are like that, too.

One might even think that there has perhaps been a shift in organizational hitting philosophy starting at the ground level. Just from my own personal observation, Rachel Folden is an - OUTSTANDING - hitting coach. 

Pound for pound, I think the ACL Cubs may have the most interesting and exciting group of position players in the Cubs system.

I hate to say this, but I would actually rather watch the ACL Cubs than the Chicago Cubs right now. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

It's good to hear that hitters might be systematically encouraged to develop patience and discipline starting early in their careers. I've always had the impression that gets nearly cemented before players reach the majors.

[ ]

In reply to by Jackstraw

javy baez, hitting coach says to not overthink it.  if you get it wrong the first time you get more swings.  if it's not working just keep swinging until it works.

good talk, go grab a gatorade and some bbq sunflower seeds.  maybe do a lap or something.

...btw, it was just this season that baez got his 100th career walk that wasn't a IBB (139 career walks, 31 IBB career, 2989 PA).

brennen davis (OF) and manuel rodriguez (RP) named to the futures team.

rodriguez pick weak as hell.

mega-super-prospect jasson dominguez (NYY) is playing even though he's yet to play outside of FCL (florida complex league).  he turned 18 back in february.

not shocking, but no cubs starters elected to the all-star team.

pitchers and reserve/bench announced sunday.

kimbrel will most likely be a cubs representative...bryant, chafin, and contreras have a chance...

PHIL - We know some of Schlaffer, Hodge, and Machado from your EXST reports. What can you tell us about Luis Devers, Alberto Sojo, and Andricson Salvadaor?

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...