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, twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, one player is on the 15-DAY IL, and one player is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-18-2024
 
* 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
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

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

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Luke Little, P 
* Miles Mastrobuoni, INF
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

10-DAY IL: 1 
Seiya Suzuki, OF

15-DAY IL
* Justin Steele, P   

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





Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Ballesteros Goes Deep for Second Day in A Row, Whilst Coran Moonshot Bringeth Raino

Moises Ballesteros blasted an opposite-field solo HR over the LF fence leading off the bottom of the second inning (his second HR in two days), Raino Coran crushed a mammoth solo HR just to the left of the CF Batter's Eye leading off the bottom of the third and walked and scored in the fifth, Christian Olivo singled twice, stole three bases, scored a run, and drove-in another, Anderson Suriel blooped an RBI double in the second and singled, stole a base, and scored a run in the fifth, SP Marino Santy hurled three innings of one-hit / one-run ball, and Alfredo Zarraga struck out the side 1-2-3 to pick-up the save, as the Cubs cruised past the Athletics 6-3 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Friday morning on Field #1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.   

Cristian Hernandez belted a double into the right-centerfield alley his first time up, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple. He struck out (swinging) in his other two PA. 

The game was pre-planned as an eight-inning contest. 

The Cubs are now 10-8-2 through their first twenty Cactus League EXST games, and contrary to what you may read elsewhere on the internet, EXST games - ARE - real (they're just not official and there are some goofy rules variances), the games - ARE - televised (albeit closed circuit to the Cubs Player Development Department), the Cubs - DO - keep game stats internally just like they do at Myrtle Beach, South Bend, Tennessee, and Iowa (they just don't release them to the media), and the players really - ARE - trying to win (just listen to the players on the bench howling back & forth throughout the game... so much so that the Giants players who were not in the game last Tuesday at Papago Park were kicked out of the ballpark by the home plate umpire for arguing every single ball / strike call!).   

In EXST roster news, LHRP C. D. Pelham has completed his EXST rehab and has rejoined AA Tennessee. 

Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only): 
CUBS LINEUP:
1. Christian Olivo,2B-DH: 2-3 (5-3, 1B, 1B, R, RBI, 3 SB, CS) 
2. Cristian Hernandez, SS: 1-3 (2B, K, K) 
3a. Donnie Dewees, CF: 0-1 (1-3)
3b. Cristian More, PH-CF: 0-2 (K, F-9)
4. Moises Ballesteros, C-DH: 1-3 (HR, K, F-7, R, RBI)
5a. Frank Hernandez, RF: 0-2 (P-4, 4-3)
5b. Joanfran Rojas, PH-2B: 0-1 (6-3)
6a. Reivaj Garcia, 3B: 1-2 (1B, K, R) 
6b. Alejandro Rivero, 3B: 0-0 (BB, CS) 
7a. Carlos Morfa, DH #1: 0-2 (F-8, K) 
7b. Wally Soto, C: 0-1 (K) 
7c. Ronnier Quintero, C: NO AB  
8. Anderson Suriel, 1B: 2-2 (2B, 1B, R, RBI, SB) 
9. Brayan Altuve, LF: 0-2 (K, F-9)
10. Raino Coran, DH-RF: 1-1 (HR, BB, 2 R, RBI)

CUBS PITCHERS
1. Marino Santy: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 1 GIDP, 4/1 GO/AO, 40 pitches (19 strikes) 
2. Gleiber Morales: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP, 1 GIDP, 3/2 GO/AO, 30 pitches (18 strikes) 
3. Jose Alcila: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 2 WP, 0/2 GO/AO, 21 pitches (11 strikes) 
4. Angel Hernandez: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 2/0 GO/AO, 15 pitches (12 strikes) 
5. Alfredo Zarraga: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 19 pitches (13 strikes) 

CUBS ERRORS: 1 
1B Anderson Surriel: E-3 (errant throw to 1st base after infield single allowed runner to score from 3rd) 

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE
Moises Ballesteros: 0-1 CS  

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 90's 

ATTENDANCE: 15 

Arizona 
Scoring 
Service 

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

Comments

Although FB velo certanly isn't the be all / end all for a pitcher, the fact is the four 2021 DSL pitchers the Cubs brought up from the Dominican Academy to Minor League Camp in March (Michael Arias, Kenyi Perez, Marino Santy, and Joel Sierra) are the four pitchers with the highest FB velo from amongst the 15 2021 DSL Cubs pitchers who are presently at Extended Spring Training and who will be pitching in the ACL this year.

Here are the top-out FB game velo from Cubs pitchers presently active at 2022 EXST:  

Joel Sierra: 100 (2021 DSL Cubs)
Michael Arias: 99 (ex-SS - 2021 DSL Cubs) 
Angel Gonzalez: 98, also 87-89 SL (2021 ACL Cubs) 
Gregori Montano: 96 (2021 ACL Cubs)
Kenyi Perez::96 (2021 DSL Cubs) 
Marino Santy: 96 (2021 DSL Cubs)
Yovanny Cabrera: 95 (2021 ACL Cubs) 
Alfredo Zarraga: 95 (2021 DSL Cubs)
Wilfri Figuereo: 93 (2021 ACL Cubs) 
Gleiber Morales: 93 (2021 DSL Cubs) 
C. D. Pelham: 93 (Mesa Rehab)   
Jose Romero: 93 (2021 DSL Cubs)
Jose Alcila: 92 (2021 DSL Cubs) 
Yohan Crispin: 92 (2021 DSL Cubs)
Angel Hernandez: 91 (2021 ACL Cubs) 
Jack Patterson: 91 (Mesa Rehab)
Starlyn Pichardo: 91 (2021 DSL Cubs)
Tomy Sanchez: 91 (2021 DSL Cubs) 
Rony Baez: 90 (2021 ACL Cubs) 
Cristian Rojas: 88 (2021 DSL Cubs) 
Anthony Martinez: N/A at this time (2021 DSL Cubs)
Anthony Mendez: N/A at this time (2021 DSL Cubs)
Oliver Roque: N/A at this time (2021 DSL Cubs)

While some of the pitchers with lesser FB game velo listed above do have other plus-pitches, like Angel Hernandez (CV and CH), Tomy Sanchez (CV), Cristian Rojas (CH), Jose Romero (SL), and Oliver Roque (CV), the Cubs clearly targeted the four pitchers with the hottest FB velo (Arias, K. Perez, Santy, and Sierra) for special attention right from the gitgo.

Roger Angell has died at 101.

he wrote a lot, and a lot of it was great.  pick up a few of his books if you haven't read him.

"The Summer Game" ... "Once More Around the Park" ... "Season Ticket" ...all great ones.

Phil:

 

Which Compound league hitters and pitchers would most likely be added if Myrtle Beach needs players to fill in? Thanks, as always.

[ ]

In reply to by tim815

TIM: Probably college senior signs from the past year or so like Bryan Serra (who can play 1B-2B-3B and catch), Matt Warkentin (although he is pretty much limited to DH at this point), and Alejandro Rivero (1B-3B). Rivero appears to be (finally!) heating up at the plate. 

Also guys who have "failed to launch" like Reivaj Garcia, Josue Huma, Flemin Bautista, Carlos Morfa, and Miguel Pabon. Huma is a versatile utility infielder (3B-SS-2B-1B) with speed and he has actually played pretty well in EXST games and so I could see him moving up to Myrtle Beach or maybe even to South Bend, and Garcia looks good at both 2B and 3B. and still has above-average bat-to-ball skills that should be serviceable at Myrtle Beach. Pabon is in the catcher conversion program so he might stay in Mesa for the summer.   

Rafael Morel (Christopher's little brother) was at ACL Cubs last year, so I suppose he could get moved up just for that reason. 

As for the pitchers (not including the rehabbers), LHRP Angel Hernandez throws strikes and mixes his low 90's FB with a CH and a CV, so he could probably be OK working in relief at Myrtle Beach. He was at ACL Cubs last year and pitched pretty well out of the pen, so I could see him maybe get moved up sooner rather than later.

Angel Gonzalez's FB was up to 99 today when he picked up the save. His high-velo FB combined with an 87-89 SL makes him a possibility to get moved up to Myrtle Beach, but he still has difficulty commanding his stuff. 

As for the 2021 DSL Cubs position players who are at EXST, Moises Ballesteros and Frank Hernandez would  appear to be the most advanced hitters. They are 1-2 in AVG right now, and Ballesteros is an above-average defensive catcher as well. Frank Hernandez is a high-contact hitting corner-outfielder (only) but with an above-average arm, although i haven't seen any HR power. Ballesteros has legit HR power that actually shows up in games, and I would say he is everything the Cubs hoped Ronnier Quintero would be (but isn't).  

Cristian Hernandez is obviously the #1 prospect down here and so I guess he could move up to Myrtle Beach at some point later in the season, but his K-rate is VERY high right now. However, I have not seen teenaged HR power like his at EXST since Javier Baez was down here ten years ago. Also, Hernandez is a very good defensive SS. 

There are a number of 2021 DSL Cubs power arms at EXST like Michael Arias, Joel Sierra, Kenyi Perez, Marino Santy, and Alfredo Zarraga who are possibilities to get moved up to Myrtle Beach at some point in 2022, but command issues are a problem for most of them right now. Zarraga is a little guy with a 95 MPH FB, and because he is a one-inning reliever who does (mostly) throw strikes, he actually could get moved up before the others.

Of the Big Four high octane FB dudes (Arias, K. Perez, Santy, and Sierra), K. Perez and Santy have the best secondaries right now, but all of them have a - LOT - of difficulty commanding their stuff. Sometimes it's hard to watch. Also, Michael Arias sustained a lower-body injury covering home plate after throwing a bases-loaded WP in an EXST game a couple of weeks ago and hasn't thrown in a game since, although he was participating in morning PFPs a couple of days ago.    

jed on brailyn marquez...

“Not sure on games,” Cubs President Jed Hoyer said of when Marquez might finally appear this year. “He’s throwing. We’re trying to get him off the mound and get him to pitching in games. That’s not imminent right now.”

Recent comments

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    Seems like Jed was trying to corner the market on mediocre infielders with last names starting with "M" in acquiring Madrigal, Mastroboney and Zach McKinstry.  

     

    At least he hasn't given any of them a Bote-esque extension.  

  • Childersb3 (view)

    AZ Phil:
    Rookie ball (ACL) starts on May 4th. Do yo think Ramon and Rosario (maybe Delgado) stay in Mesa for the month of May, then go to MB if all goes "solid"?
     

  • 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.