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

Giants Pitchers Throttle Cubs with Smoke

P. J. Hilson belted an RBI double and a solo HR, Juan Perez laced a two-run single, Anthony Rodriguez walked four times and scored two runs, and SP Mikell Manzano tossed three innings of one-run ball and combined with three relievers to strike out 14 (including the last six outs by gas throwin' closer William Suarez), as the Giants edged the Cubs 5-4 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Thursday morning at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ. 

Andrelton Simmons served as a DH and singled twice, tripled, and scored a run, Carlos Sepulveda drove-in two runs with a sacrifice fly and an RBI single and scored a run, and Dilan Granadillo drilled a two-run single, to account for the four Cub runs.  

The game was called after eight innings of play. 
 
Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only): 

CuBS LINEUP:
X. Andrelton Simmons, DH #1: 3-4 (1B, 5-4 FC, 3B, 1B, R) 
NOTE: Simmons batted second in the 1st & 2nd innngs, and led off the 3rd & 4th innings
1. Felix Stevens, 1B: 0-4 (K, K, K, K) 
2. Rafael Morel, 3B: 1-2 (K, 1B, BB, CS)
3. Cristian Hernandez, SS: 0-3 (4-3, L-8, K)
4. Moises Ballesteros, DH #2: 0-2 (BB, F-9, 6-3)
5. Christian Olivo, CF: 0-3 (K, K, K) 
6. Frank Hernandez, DH #3: 1-3 (5-3, 3B, K, R) 
7a. Carlos Sepulveda, 2B: 1-1 (F-8 SF, 1B, R, RBI)
7b. Reivaj Garcia, 2B: 0-0 (BB)
8. Brayan Altuve, LF: 1-3 (K, 1B, K, R)
9a. Dilan Granadillo, C: 1-2 (3-1, 1B, 2 RBI)
9b. Ronnier Quintero, C: 0-1 (K) 
10. Carlos Morfa, RF: 0-2 (3-U, BB, K) 

CUBS PITCHERS
1. Kenyi Perez: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R (1 ER), 5 BB, 4 K, 2 WP, 2/1 GO/AO, 60 pitches (26 strikes) 
2. Alfredo Zarraga: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 1/2 GO/AO, 35 pitches (18 strikes) 
3. Jose Romero: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 1 BALK, 0/1 GO/AO, 31 pitches (17 strikes)
4. Wyatt Short: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO/AO, 13 pitches (12 strikes) 
5. Starlyn Pichardo: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 1 GIDP, 1/1 GO/AO, 23 pitches (13 strikes) 

CUBS ERRORS: 2 
1. SS Cristian Hernandez: E-6 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely) 
2. C Ronnier Quintero: E-2 (errant throw to 2nd base on SB attempt allowed runner to advance to 3rd)

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE
1. Dilan Granadillo: 0-2 CS 
2. Ronnier Quintero: 0-1 CS, 1 E (see above) 

ATTENDANCE: 19 

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

Arizona Phil - I'm wondering about Kenyi Perez as a starter - he has what appears to be VERY POOR control. When you've watched him pitch, are you seeing something that I'm not understanding? Wouldn't he be better served pitching 1-2 innings every few days to see if he can improve his control/command over time, rather than start once a week and have 5 walks in 2.1 innings? I honestly want to know what you would do, because maybe the fact that he has such good movement on his pitches or something is worth putting up with the walks while he tries to figure it all out! And thanks for these daily posts - I enjoy reading them even more than watching the Cubs play (that might not exactly be the compliment I'm intending it to be). :)

[ ]

In reply to by Wrigley Rat

W-RAT: Along with Michael Arias, Marino Santy, and Joel Sierra, Kenyi Perez was one of four 2021 DSL Cubs pitchers who were brought up to Minor League Camp in March.

Eleven other 2021 DSL Cubs pitchers (Jose Alcila, Yohan Crispin, Anthony Martinez, Anthony Mendez, Gleiber Morales, Starlyn Pichardo, Cristian Rojas, Jose Romero, Oliver Roque, Tomy Sanchez, and Alfredo Zarraga) came up at the start of EXST in April, and none of them appear to project as a SP at this point, because none of them throw as hard as Arias, K. Perez, Santy, and Sierra and/or have a third pitch.

Alfredo Zarraga is the smallest in stature of this second group and he is strictly a two-pitch pitcher with probably a two-inning max load per outing before he runs out of gas (like he did on Thursday), but he has the highest FB velo (95) among the pitchers in this second group, combining the mid-90's FB with an 81-84 MPH SL.  

It's fairly obvious that what separates K. Perez, Arias, Santy, and Sierra from the others is that they have a "live" arm and a three pitch mix  - AND - the stamina to throw multiple innings, while the others (as things stand right now) probably project more as one or two inning pitchers at this point. Some even have sub-90 MPH FB velos. For example, Cristian Rojas FB is 86-88, but he has a plus-CH 80-82 that makes up for the low FB velo.  

Whenever possible, clubs prefer pitchers with a SP projection to get as many innings under their belt as possible ASAP in order to get the experience they need to refine their command. Bullpen sessions between outings are also crucial to SP development, which is why the preference is for SP-types like Arias, K. Perez, Santy, and Sierra to throw in games only once every 6-8 days, with two bullpens in between the starts. 

In the case of K. Perez, he features a 94-96 MPH FB, an 84 MPH CH, and a 79-82 MPH CV/SL (SLURVE), none of which he can command. Arias has a 96-99 MPH FB, a mid-80's SL he can't throw for strikes, and a mid-80's CH (in development). Santy is the one LHP in the group and he is only 5'11, but he combines a 93-96 FB, an 84-85 CH, and a 78-80 CV, although he has trouble commanding the pitches. Like Arias, Santy is virtually unhittable.

Because they have "live" arms, a SP repertoire, a high "ceiling," and the ability to throw multiple innings without too much effort, the idea is to keep using Arias, K. Perez, Santy, and Sierra as starters until proven otherwise.  

BTW, the best high-leverage reliever / closer prospect at EXST right now is Gregori Montano. He's no 5'9, either. He's probably at least 6'0 - 6'1. He pitched in the ACL (briefly) last year before getting shut-down, so he is not one of the new guys. He combines a 94-97 MPH FB with a 79-81 CV, and his command is a BIT better than most of what you typically see down here. But if he throws more than one inning, he loses a couple of MPH off his high-octane FB and his CV can hang. Yovanny Cabrera also pitched in the ACL in 2021 and projects as a high-lerverage ACL guy in 2022, too (93-95 MPH FB and an 88-89 SL/CT).   

Also, Yohan Crispin is listed as 5'9, but he actually is one of the taller guys, at least 6'2. Jose Romero is stocky with a mature body type. He looks like he's about 28 (he actually just turned 21) and he might be one of the ACL Cubs closers. Oliver Roque is the "beanpole" (6'3 180).   

You're the best Phil! I've copied and pasted everything you've written into my spreadsheet - thanks as always for the great information!!!

Phil, have you heard the status of the young Cuban lefty the Cubs signed last fall? I see he isn't in camp and it seems like he got a PED suspension. Thanks. I believe his name is Carlos Garcia.

[ ]

In reply to by Hagsag

HAGSAG - Not sure of Carlos Garcia's current status, but here's a note I have on him from Brett Taylor (https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2022/01/29/chicago-cubs-pitching-pr…):

19-year-old Cubs lefty Carlos Garcia has suspended for 60 games after testing positive for the steroid Stanozolol.

We’ve talked about how the Cubs generally had an underwhelming statistical year in the Dominican Summer League, but Carlos Garcia was one of the few bright spots. His 1.67 ERA was 12th best in the league among pitchers who threw at least 40 innings, and only one of the 11 pitchers ahead of him was younger. His 47 strikeouts (43.0 IP) led his DSL team.

Moreover, he’d only just signed into the Cubs organization out of Cuba before starting in the DSL. I have a feeling the hopes have been high for him among an otherwise thinner group of DSL pitching prospects. When Northside Bound wrote him up earlier this year, a lot of the commentary was about his impressive size and physique at 18/19 years old, and indeed he is a big dude.

So this news really sucks. Garcia was not considered one of the Cubs’ top pitching prospects or anything, but this is where the Cubs need to pipeline in lots and lots of developing arms, and it seems pretty clear Garcia was going to come stateside this year, with the opportunity to pitch his way from the complex league to Myrtle Beach.

Now that’s all thrown for a loop.

None of that is to say that Garcia’s performance was entirely about the PEDs, or that he can’t continue to develop from here. He’s still very young (which, by the way, makes it all the more concerning – from a health perspective – to see a young guy even trying this stuff). But it’s certainly not a plus, and will put him far behind the 8-ball both because of the development interruption by missing 60 games, but also because it will raise questions about what he can be going forward as the Cubs make decisions about who comes over stateside and when, and who gets promoted and when.

Cubs-Dodgers game today is postponed by rain. Rescheduled for a game 2, split DH tomorrow.

Recent comments

  • 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.

  • videographer (view)

    AZ Phil, speaking of Jordan Wicks having better command when he tires a bit, I remember reading about Dennis Lamp 40 years ago and his sinker that was better after 3 or 4 innings when he would tire a bit and get more sink with a little less speed on the pitch.  The key for Lamp was getting to the 4th inning.