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 @ Nationals: Mourning Thread (Games 105-107)

This series begins after the trade deadline and will be a contest between one dismantled roster and one absurdly dismantled roster. Might this end up one of the least-watched series of 2021? See below for some sorrowful notes on players who have departed for more competitive climes and a lot of TBD in the daily matchups.


Game 105, Friday, July 30, 6:05 pm central

Neither the Cubs nor the Nationals have named a starter for this one. Instead of the matchups, let's note some players who will definitely not appear in this one. The Cubs will be without Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, Craig Kimbrel, Trevor Williams, and Jake Marisnick. That's assuming more trades don't come to light in the aftermath of the bigger deals.

The Nationals are down Max Scherzer, Trea Turner, Yan Gomes, Daniel Hudson, Josh Harrison, Jon Lester, and Kyle Schwarber. Starlin Castro has also been suspended 30 games under the MLB Domestic Violence Policy and was subsequently served his release from the Nats.


Game 106, Saturday, July 31, 6:05 pm central

Kyle Hendricks will start for the Cubs, and somebody will have to pitch first for the Nationals. It's easy to imagine Hendricks feeling kind of lonely, with basically just Contreras and Heyward left with him as holdovers from the 2016 champion roster--assuming you don't count Ross, of course.


Game 107, Sunday, August 1, 12:05 pm central

Adbert Alzolay gets a start for the Cubs, now looking absolutely in the right place as an inexperienced MLB player trying to find his footing and consistency. He can look forward to being reinforced next year by fellow members of a Cubs' youth movement, Nick Madrigal and probably the newly acquired OF Greg Deichmann, along with the returning Nico Hoerner.

Comments

Lots of transactions:

Arrieta activated, starting tonight

Recent waiver claims Schwindel and Fargas called up along with Manny Rodriguez (MLB debut upcoming!)

Andrew Romine and Michael Rucker selected from Iowa. Romine will disappear from 40 man over winter, Rucker added to the list of guys getting a shot and seeing if they stick on 40 over winter

[ ]

In reply to by Dolorous Jon Lester

this is mild as hell...extra mild.

2 months of this, eh?  alright, let's do it.

WAS is in a blackout zone for me and i usually stream a "liberated" feed, but i think i'll sit this series out...not out of protest or anything...javy going was the only surprise to me (and i'm glad contreras is still here), but it would help if these moves shuffled in a new crew of players waiting to get their shot.  no one moved opens up oportunities for a hot youngster to prove himself...not at the plate, not on the mound...

3 hours after the trade deadline...

the #1 trending topic on twitter (united states) is "Baez"...#2 is "Cubs"...#13 is "Ricketts" (and it's not outrage about Pete doing something stupid)...

there's also a great graphic going around of wrigley field being turned into a "Spirit Halloween" store...which is some A+ humor.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

The Cubs now have the 11th worst record in MLB, and although it will be difficult to "catch" AZ, BAL, PIT, and TEX, the Cubs still have a legit shot at getting to maybe the 5th worst record. Losing to the Nationals this weekend and to the Rockies next week would really help the Cubs get down and dirty with the other suckers.
   
Having the 5th overall pick in next year's draft would be a nice get, as long as the Cubs are tanking anyway. Having the 5th overall pick would also allow the Cubs to spend more $$$ in the draft because they will get a larger bonus pool. And then if the Cubs can continue to suck and be really bad for the entire season in 2022 and 2023, they could possibly get even a higher draft slot (maybe even #1?) in the 2023 and 2024 drafts. Maybe there will be another Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber in there somewhere. 

Back in 2015 I really thought this would never happen again with a Ricketts-owned Cubs team, but I guess it's deja vu all over again for Cub fans.

A "Oh No! We Suck Again!" t-shirt could become a big seller in Wrigleyville. 

[ ]

In reply to by QuietMan

i like boog.  i love his research and love of the game.

i wish he could roll with the humor of others a bit easier than he does.  he seems a bit defensive when he doesn't fully understand where the humor is going rather than rolling with it.  it's a bit awkward.

he seems to do a lot better with just sutcliffe than just jd or jd + sutcliffe.  that makes sense since boog/sutcliffe have years of history doing games.  jd isn't the problem in this relationship as far as what i'm hearing on-air as a fan, though.

your new 2021 chicago cubs...day 1

ortega / contreras / happ / wisdom / bote / heyward / duffy / alcantara / arrieta

phew.

dbacks see the cubs making a serious tanking move and they have 5 players go on the COVID list.

hell of a counter-play dbacks...good job.

Hi, guys!

It sure has been awhile. I was really happy to see crunch still posting here, and that this site even still exists. It has been far too long since I had even thought about this site. I spologize for that. Today's trauma brought a lot of things back. I am very sad to see all of these great players go, but I am of the opinion that this past offseason made this happen. The front office did everything they could to make sure that this happened this year. For that, I am not sure I can forgive this ownership. There are plentty of other reasons. They can clearly afford to continually reinvent this roster without having to tear it down. They are choosing not to. For that, I say "EAT ME!" I have so many new priorities these days that demand my attention and energy. I don't think that this ownership group deserves my energy, Anyway, I just wanted to say hi to everyone that I know from here, and that I hope everyone is well. I am! Cheers to all!

mlb.com has already updated their "top 30" team prospect rankings post-trade deadline.  https://www.mlb.com/prospects/cubs/

pete crow-armstrong #6 (mets)

alexander canario #7 (giants)

alexander vizcaino #8 (yanks)

kevin alcantara #11 (yanks)

caleb kilian #16 (giants)

greg deichmann #20 (A's)

i like caleb kilian more than the mlb.com ranking of #16.  if he manages to finish the season strong he should have no problem working his way into the top-10.

it's kinda "alright, then...whatever" that the 2 biggest pieces the cubs gained from all of this (nick madrigal + pete crow-armstrong) are both out with season ending surgery.  nick's got blown out right hamstring and pete's got a torn labrum.  it's not a careless risk gambling on these guy's recovery, but we won't get to see the main return on the team teardown in any capacity until 2022.

also...please extend contreras because hell yeah contreras.

Hey all, just checking in to say that yesterday was a really sad but appreciative day in my household.  It is still completely mystifying that the Cubs couldn't find a way to extend Rizzo and Javy especially, and there's still some hope here that one or both guys can come back next year along with a Contreras extension.  While they were here, Rizzo, Javy and KB especially gave us so much as players and made the last half decade really special for Cubs fans.  Thanks guys.

(Also, please let some of these prospects become the next Hendricks or Arrieta and not the next Mike Olt.)

Phil.

 

On what days of the calendar do players get to decide if they're going to opt out of their contracts?

 

Australian football games are being played before empty stadiums. I doubt that's a conducive environment to opting out.

[ ]

In reply to by tim815

TIM: If you mean a minor leaguer like Tony Cingrani, it would depend on his contract. 

In the case of Cingrani, he probably has an opt-out sometime in August that will allow him to opt-out of his minor league contract with the Cubs on or before a certain date and then perhaps sign with a contender, even if it's just another minor league contract. As long as he signs prior to midnight on August 31st Cingrani would be eligible to play in the post-season, although of course he would have to replace an injured player and get added to the new club's 40-man roster before he could actually play in a post-season game.  

Or if he doesn't have an opt-out, the Cubs could trade Cingrani to a contender prior to the 8/31 post-season roster eligibilty deadline. 

Remember, only players on an MLB 40-man roster (or MLB 60-day IL) and players who were outrighted to the minors from the MLB 40-man roster cannot be traded after the trade deadline, but all other minor league players  - CAN - be traded up until seven days prior to the pre-scheduled last day of the MLB regular season. 

So (for example), Joe Biagini, Tony Cingrani, Ryan Meisinger, and Michael Hermosillo can still be traded, but Tony Wolters,Taylor Gushue, and Mick Martini cannot (because Gushue, Wolters, and Martini were outrighted to the minors off the 40).      

Also, players on an MLB 40-man roster can still be claimed off waivers all the way to the end of the season (and beyond), and released players can be eligible for the post-season as long as the player is released in August and signs with a new club prior to midnight on 8/31 (and I wouldn't be too surprised to see this happen with Arrieta, Davies, Winkler, Duffy, and Chirinos).  

Willson Contreras and Kyle Hendricks will likely get traded during the off-season, and I would expect Ian Happ, Rex Brothers, Kyle Ryan, and Adam Morgan to get non-tendered, unless the Cubs can make a trade prior to 12/2 (the contract tender date). 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

I had thought part of why Hendricks and Contreras weren't traded was because they don't want a long rebuild? And wanted to at least give next year a similar half-assed effort as this year.

Its certainly possible of course. Just heard somewhere that was the thinking. But then when you look at the potential roster next year, a full tear down and multi-year rebuild doesn't look at all out of the realm of possibilities 

Extremely not fun fact: if they did that, the final player left from the title team would be Heyward. Ultimate Cub experience, that would be.

[ ]

In reply to by Dolorous Jon Lester

I could see the Cubs signing a free agent 1B or Ss, an ok starting pitcher, and doing a half-competitive (i.e. finish in third place) phase while waiting for some of these prospects to arrive. Wouldn't be shocked if they get Rizzo back. It will take more than one season to build a real pitching staff, but I think ownership won't be willing to fully tank in the meantime.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

First of all, I cannot see Ricketts ever allowing another Heyward-type free-agent contract (multi-years for mega-bucks), even if it's Mike Trout. So Kris Bryant and Javier Baez are not coming back. 

Instead, I suspect what will happen post-2021 is kind of what happened this past off-season when Darvish and Caratini were traded even though both were under club control through 2023 and at the Trade Deadline when Kimbrel was traded even though he was under control through 2022. Because obviously it is - NOT - about just trading players on expiring contracts for whatever you can get. It is about maximizing the prospect return by trading quality veteran players with multiple years of club control left (like Contreras and Hendricks).   

So I fully expect Contreras and Hendricks will be shopped and probably traded for prospects.

Then the Cubs will wait until late in the off-season (or maybe even after the start of Spring Training) and sign a few free-agents to a one-year or - MAYBE - a two year contract who didn't get what they thought they would get in the marketplace and are now willing to settle for less, such as someone coming back from an injury (like Jake Arrieta was post-2020), or someone coming off a bad year (like Trevor Williams was post-2020), or someone wanting a chance to prove they can play every day (like Joc Pederson was post-2020 ), or just anybody who was left standing after the other free-agents have signed (as happened with Ryan Tepera during Spring Training this past March).

Maybe it will be a SS like Brandon Crawford. Or an OF like Adam Duvall. Or a 1B like Brandon Belt. Could even be Anthony Rizzo or Chafin or Tepera, if they don't get what they thought they were going to get after becoming free-agents. Just a few guys with MLB experience who are disappointed, but willing to sign a one-year contract (or maybe two years, tops), because they finally figure out that's all they can get and Wrigley Field is a nice place to play.

And then if they do not believe they are in contention at the 2022 Trade Deadline, the Cubs will shop these free-agents they signed and get whatever they can get for them, just like they did last week. And they will continue to do this every year going forward.   

Meawhile, the Cubs will bide their time and talk about how they are re "retooling" and not "rebuilding" and how they still think they can contend, all the while waiting for their homegrown impact prospects to arrive in Chicago. And once that happens (probably starting with Brennon Davis in 2022 or more-likely 2023), they will offer attractive (but reasonable) "market value" contract extensions to the ones who establish themselves as part of the core, buying out arbitration years and one or two or even three years of free-agency.

But doing it this way, I wouldn't expect the Cubs to become actual perennial contenders again until maybe 2025, because it will take that long for the entire prospect group to arrive and solidify as a core foundation that can stay together for a number of years. They could "accidentally" run into a contending situation in 2022, 2023, or 2024, or the homegrown core group could arrive earlier than expected, but it won't be an annual thing until the homegrown core has established itself (again, probably not until 2025).    

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Phil,

I don't disagree with Crunch that this sucks. Frankly, I've expected exactly what you predict since Darvish was traded. 

My question or point is the Cubs got to this point by being below average in Player Development and Scouting their own players accurately. 

How much confidence should Cubs fans have that has improved? From Davis, Wicks, Crow-Armstrong, etc., this staff will develop them to their best skills? Then, that Hoyer will have the $$$ authority to offer contracts that lock them up like the White Sox paid Roberts, Jimenez, etc.?

[ ]

In reply to by George Altman

the cubs had years of 1st round picks gained by tanking do well and they got very lucky with the arrietta/strop trade.  strop is especially underappreciated in that trade.  theo obviously wanted rizzo badly, and made the right call there.  hendricks was a complex back/forth trade because of player injuries, but at the end of the day the cubs wanted hendricks and they made the right call there, too.

aside from that, it looks a lot like it's been for decades.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

To be fair they also did a good job bringing in talent to the system that they were able to use to make trades. And a few solid signings such as Lester and Zobrist.

I think part of it was the hunger mostly vanished after the title and things needed to be switched up to kick people in the ass a tad. Add a level of being hamstrung by Heyward deal, no one coming up to replace the lost farm system talent or aging players, no one but Rizzo and Hendricks signing extensions, and here we are

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

Winning very much to a backseat to profits. I would imagine it always kinda was that way, but it became very obvious after the title. I think when ownership saw Darvish struggle year one, that was that, no more free agent spending. And never adjusted after it became clear Darvish was back starting midway through year two.

Heuer added to roster, wearing # 12. Not sure how I feel about Schwarbers number returning to circulation already

AZ Phil - I assume you've seen at least a few of the newly acquired players in person (the two prospects from the Giants?) - do any of them stand out to you one way or another? Always appreciate your first hand observations!

[ ]

In reply to by Eric S

I saw quite a bit of Alexander Canario. I was at the game last year when he made the sliding catch at Sloan Park and tore up his shoulder and had to be carted off the field. I think he had surgery after that. But Canario is (or at least was) a pretty good prospect. Hopefully he comes back 100% from the shoulder injury. 

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

CUBSTER: CF Pete Crow-Armstrong had surgery for a torn labrum in his right (non-throwing) shoulder earlier this season and he is out for the year. When I saw Canario get hurt last year at Sloan it was his non-throwing shoulder (which is the left one in his case), too. 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

I read that Pete C-A's injury was a bit worse than a typical torn labrum in that his injury also involved a fracture of the anterior glenoid (socket).  In some ways the fracture heals better (bone heals better than cartilage) but clinically they have similar outcomes. It's good that their throwing shoulders were not involved. In contrast, David Bote had a dislocation without fracture or labral tear. He did not get surgery, which is how most first time dislocations get treated. Bote has a higher risk of recurrent dislocation but his recovery was much quicker.  

Thought for sure Soto would go yard after Alcantera's error loaded the bases - disaster averted with Soto's first pitch ground out. 

JHey with a bouncer thru the right side gets a two out rbi - his first rbi since July 16.  Happ with another true outcome nite: 3 Ks and a walk

k.ryan coming in for the save, but j.jewell is in the pen warming up...don't think anyone is officially "closer"

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I think we're going to get very experimental over these last two months in the high leverage spots. Only caveat is they may want to see if Wick can handle the 9th once he's back.

That, I'm pretty sure Ryan would have been my last guess to close out a game. Either him or Megill.

[ ]

In reply to by Jackstraw

I meant more in the sense I don't know that I have it in me to watch a long protracted rebuild. Sorry, "re-tool." Last time, I watched religiously. I bought all the baseball America books, followed every minor league box score and major league game, etc. I've since aged and had a couple kids. If the Cubs don't actually want to win, I don't have the same energy level to devote. I might keep the MLB sub (I'm not in Chicago market), but that will mostly be devoted to scouting for my fantasy teams, and maybe checking in if the Cubs have an interesting player come up.

baez coming into the bottom 9th, down by 1, man on 1st.

standing O.  NY loves him so far.  part of the crowd is chanting "javy" and others "baez"...they'll figure it out in a few games.

The Cubs desperately need to bring back Edwin Jackson. Alzolay working on 20 losses, channeling it.

Happ flies out, Wisdom grounds out, Duffy grounds out. Welcome to the Jayson Heyward school of hitting circa August 2021.

well...

who though we'd have "the ortega game" today?  alright, then.

mets fail to sign k.rocker.

at the time it was considered a hell of a pick when he fell so far (11th pick).  he was considered a top-5 pick for most of the year, #1 for a chunk of it.  his medicals (elbow) gave the mets pause offering him slot value.  his agent, boras, says he's healthy.

he will not return to vandy and will go "pro"...he returns to the draft next year and the mets get a compensation 11th pick in round 1 next season.

Still haven't seen/heard if Cubs signed 19th rd Daniel Avitia, the last of the unsigned or declined.

[ ]

In reply to by cubbies.4ever

Grand Canyon University's pitching staff got a big boost with recent Phoenix Alhambra High School ace Daniel Avitia deciding not to sign with the Chicago Cubs and, instead, honoring his letter of intent to the NCAA Division I school."

Mostly, they didn't give me the money I wanted," said Avitia, who was asking for $300,000. "The best position for me is to go to GCU and get in the top rounds (after his junior season)." Avitia said that the Cubs wouldn't go any higher than $125,000 in negotiations.

His brother, David Avitia, who finished his college career at GCU, helping the Antelopes reach their first NCAA regional, was given an undrafted free agent offer from the Cubs. But David said he has yet to sign with the Cubs.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/gcu/2021/08/02/alhambra-…

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.