Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

39 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (one slot is open), plus two players are on the 60-DAY IL and one player has been DESIGNATED FOR ASSIGNMENT (DFA)   

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and eight players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, three players are on the 15-DAY IL, and two players is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-24-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Hector Neris 
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Pete Crow-Armstrong 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 8 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Miles Mastrobuoni, INF
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 2
* Cody Bellinger, OF  
Seiya Suzuki, OF

15-DAY IL: 3
Kyle Hendricks, P 
* Drew Smyly, P 
* Justin Steele, P   

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

DFA: 1 
Garrett Cooper, 1B 
 





Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Ballesteros Provides the Offense for Red Squad at Instructs

Moises Ballesteros ripped an RBI triple, walked twice, and scored a run, and five pitchers combined to hurl a two-hit shutout with 14 strikeouts, as the Cubs "Red Squad" blanked the Cubs "Blue Squad" 2-0 in AZ Instructional League intrasquad game action Friday morning at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ. 

Ismael Mena collected the two Blue Squad hits (both singles), but he was thrown out attempting to steal both times he reached base.  

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

This was the final AZIL Cubs game. 
 
Here is the box score from the game: 

CUBS "RED SQUAD" LINEUP
1a. Kevin Alcantara, CF: 0-2 (K, BB, K, CS) 
1b. Christian Olivo, CF: 1-1 (1B)  
2. Cristian Hernandez, SS: 1-3 (1B, BB, K, 6-3, SB, 2 CS) 
3. James Triantos, 2B: 1-4 (K, 5-3, 1B, F-9, R) 
4a. Raino Coran, RF: 0-2 (K, K) 
4b. David Avitia, C-DH: 0-1 (F-7, BB) 
5a. Moises Ballesteros, C-1B: 1-1 (BB, BB, 3B, R, RBI) 
5b. Ke'Shun Collier, LF: 0-1 (3-U) 
6. Alexis Hernandez, 3B: 1-2 (1B, BB, P-6)  
7. Frank Hernandez, DH-RF: 0-1 (BB, 5-3) 
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TIME THRU BATTING ORDER 
8. Miguel Pabon, 1B-C-DH-1B: 0-2 (K, 6-3 DP) 
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED THIRD TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
9. Cristian More, LF-DH: 0-1 (BB, K) 
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED SECOND TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
10.  Reggie Preciado, DH #2: 0-2 (K, P-6) 
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED THIRD TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
11. Adan Sanchez, DH-C: 0-2 (K, 5-3) 
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TIME THRU BATTING ORDER 

CUBS "BLUE SQUAD" LINEUP:
1. Pedro Ramirez, 2B: 0-3 (K, K, 4-U)
2. Ismael Mena, CF: 2-3 (K, 1B, 1B, 2 CS) 
3. Jefferson Rojas, SS: 0-3 (4-3, P-2, 5-3) 
4. Rafael Morel, 3B: 0-2 (F-9, K, HBP, SB) 
5a. Haydn McGeary, C: 0-1 (K) 
5b. Yoanis Aleksandrov, C: 0-1 (K) 
5c. Malcom Quintero, C-DH: 0-0 (BB, SB) 
6a. Nazier Mule, DH #1: 0-2 (6-3, 4-3) 
6b. Erbin Jaque, LF: 0-1 (K) 
7. Anderson Suriel, 1B: 0-2 (K, F-9)
8, Josefrailin Alcantara, RF: 0-2 (K, K) 
9. Brayan Altuve, LF-DH: 0-2 (K, K) 
10. Carlos Ramos, DH-C: 0-2 (K, K) 

CUBS "RED SQUAD" PITCHERS
1. Michael McAvene: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1/0 GO/AO, 13 pitches (8 strikes)
2. Angel Gonzalez: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1/1 GO/AO, 16 pitches (9 strikes) 
3. Brody McCullough: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 20 pitches (14 strikes) 
4. Grant Kipp: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1/2 GO/AO, 25 pitches (17 strikes) 
5. Nick Hull: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 2/0 GO/AO, 35 pitches (20 strikes)  

CUBS "BLUE SQUAD" PITCHERS
1. Max Bain: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 16 pitches (12 strikes) 
2. Michael Arias: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 2 K, 2 WP, 1 BALK, 1/0 GO/AO, 35 pitches (16 strikes) 
3. Branden Noriega: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R (0 ER), 3 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 18 pitches (4 strikes) 
4. Frankie Scalzo Jr: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 1 GIDP, 1/3 GO/AO, 30 pitches (22 strikes) 
5. Brandon Birdsell: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 4/1 GO/AO, 32 pitches (20 strikes) 

CUBS "RED SQUAD" ERRORS: NONE 

CUBS "BLUE SQUAD" ERRORS: NONE 

CUBS "RED SQUAD" CATCHERS DEFENSE:
1. Miguel Pabon: 1-1 CS 
2. Adan Sanchez: 1-3 CS

CUBS "BLUE SQUAD" CATCHERS DEFENSE
1. Haydn McGeary: 3-4 CS 
2. Yoanis Aleksandrov: 2 PB 

ATTENDANCE: 4 

WEATHER: Mostly sunny with temperatures in the 90's

Arizona 
Scoring 
Service 

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

Comments

This AZIL "season" seemed like the Max Bain project. Sounds like it was positive for him. Cubs not only shortened his motion, they adjusted Jensen and Franklin the same way as well.

Nice to see Birdsell "overwhelm" in Instructs. He'll start in MB or maybe SB if healthy. 

I'm a Division 2 guy myself, so I'm routing hard for McGeary and McCullough. I went to school in McCullough's conference so that would be pretty cool!

I also coached basketball at the JUCO level so I'm hoping Mr. Collier can hang around move up some levels eventually. 

It was certainly an interesting draft.

Also hoping CHernandez has a bit of a break out yr in MB in '23. Even if it's not a "break out" yr, just something solid for him to build on. Lots of potential there of course. 

[ ]

In reply to by Childersb3

Childersb3: Max Bain really seemed to get it together by the conclusion of instructs. It looks like the Cubs may be priming him to be one-inning high-leverage reliever, where he can combine his 95-97 FB with one or two secondaries he can throw for strikes. 

Haydn McGeary is a definite DH prospect, something you didn't see in a National League organization until fairly recently. While he has a plus arm behnd the plate (he threw out three basestealers in yesterday's game), everything else about his catching looks below average. Same goes for first base, actually. But he does have "light-tower  power" that plays in games (it's not just "BP power"). 

Ke'Shun Collier's bat will need to improve for him to move up through the system. He does have plus-speed and is certainly one of the fastest players in the Cubs system (probably it's Erbin Jaque, Christian Olivo, Zach Davis, Ke'Shun Collier, and Ismael Mena #1-#5). 

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Phil,

Can McGeary run well enough to potentially handle a Cr OF spot as well as DH? Haven't read anything about his wheels or lack there of.

If the Cubs can produce waves of guys that have 97+ heat with some type of breaker we'll finally have the chance for some consistent winning. Don't care if they're relievers or starters. Just need some strike throwing heaters!!

Thanks!

Phil,

Did Collier show anything of note at the plate? I don't recall him getting anything more than a 1B (if that).

Today's (Saturday) final AZIL Cubs workout was canceled by rain, however, Mason McGwire, Nazier Mule, and Freilyn Silverio were able to throw bullpen sides before the downpour hit. 

Of the 31 pitchers who were at Cubs instructs, 19 (Arias, Bain, Birdsell, C. Garcia, A. Gonzalez, Y. Gonzalez, Hull, Kipp, McAvene, McCullough, McGwire, Noriega, Paredes, K. Perez, W. Rodriguez, Rujano, Santy, Scalzo, and K. Valdez) pitched in at least one game, three (Ferris, Mule, and K. Moreno) threw "live" BP more than once but did not throw in a game, and nine (Bello, Horn, Horton, Leigh, L. Little, Peters, Reindl, Sierra, and Silverio) did not face batters either in "live" BP or in a game, although Horn and Leigh arrived late because of the Southern League playoffs and then went almost directly to the Mesa Solar Sox workouts.   

the first postseason game to go scoreless through 14 innings happened 7 days ago (ended in 15 innings, TB/CLE).

the second has happened tonight (HOU/SEA).  to the 15th...

And SD sinks the Dodgers 3 games to 1, coming back from a 3-0 deficit with a 5 run inning. Some pretty exciting playoff baseball this year so far. 

[ ]

In reply to by JoePepitone

NLCS teams are the 2 "low" wildcard (seed 5+6) teams.

dodgers + mets + braves (all with 100+ win seasons) and the top wildcard team were eliminated by teams that wouldn't be playing in the original 3 division winners with single wildcard team playoff system.

PHI fired joe girardi mid-season because of a poor performing team (22-29 when fired) and now they're going for the NL pennant.

this year's playoffs has had some amazing games.

AZ Phil - You've given us yet another wonderful season of information on some of the most exciting Cubs' prospects down in Arizona. If you are thinking of taking a well-deserved, extended break this offseason, please let us know when we can expect you back so we don't worry. Even though we've never met face-to-face, you're still an important person in so many of our lives! Thanks again for all that you do!

[ ]

In reply to by Wrigley Rat

At the risk of sounding redundant, AZ Phil, you're work here is incredible.  Not only do you have a firm grasp of the players in the system today, you remember Freddy Martin and his importance in Cubs history, and many other stories besides.  Wish we all could hop on a zoom call sometime and raise an Old Style or a Goose Island, or anything but a Budweiser.

I concur with the above sentiments. Phil, you are very much appreciated and please do let us know if you plan on taking an extended break. I was major worried last year when you went dark for a little while.   Thanks for all you do and share with us!

I've been on here since 2006 (I believe) and Phil just keeps getting better. There is NO better Cubs coverage from MLB to the DSL than The Cub Reporter. Thanks for continued excellence,  Phil.

Recent comments

  • CubbyBlue (view)

    Incredible moment. Huge part of the fun of working there is when something magic like that happens, and you get to interact with baseball fans. 

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    That bear hug was indeed awesome. Word is that Dansby has become an outstanding clubhouse leader and that moment really demonstrated it. That reaction was one of a proud coach/mentor who’s student just excelled. I’m not even sure who was more overjoyed, Dansby or PCA. A veteran expressing that kind of unabashed support and enthusiasm for a struggling rookie is beyond fantastic to see.

  • CubbyBlue (view)

    BAHAHA! I've actually not seen a single fight, but can't wait to see 70 degrees for sure!

  • crunch (view)

    next time i roll up into wrigley i'll try to start a fist fight and maybe we'll meet.

    be prepared.  i'm gonna make you earn your money.

    seriously, though...that's a cool as hell "retirement" assignment.  i imagine it will be better with warmer nights.

  • Cubster (view)

    I was there for the PCA homer as well. 50 degree baseball is no longer fun when sitting in the shade (knit hats, scarves and gloves are football gear) but I agree it’s one of those really cool moments. I loved the bear hug given by Swanson at home plate and of course the added impact that the PCA homer became a game winner.

     

  • Cubster (view)

    Holy Screaming Bananas

  • CubbyBlue (view)

    In honor of dispatching with the Astros, this painting is titled “The Sweep”. 
    I retired a couple years ago, and took a job at Wrigley as a security guy. SO cool having Wrigley as your office. SO cool being there when PCA got his first hit. 
    “The Sweep” happens at the end of every game - the security staff sweeps through the ballpark making sure it’s empty.
    (Hopefully I’ll be putting this painting up often this year.)
    Lastly, because working for the Cubs, they understandably don’t want you voicing opinions on social, which is why I’m only painting the banners here. 

  • First.Pitch.120 (view)

    Honorable mention to Jim Bullinger via BleedCubbieBlue: 

    Bullinger, a converted shortstop, had pitched in three games before he came to the plate. He had entered the game to relieve starter Shawn Boskie after four innings, and came to the plate to lead off the fifth, and hit Rheal Cormier's first pitch over the left-field wall to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead; they eventually won the game 5-2 in 14 innings. Of the 129players to homer in their first MLB at-bat, Bullinger is one of just 32 to hit that blast on the first big-league pitch he saw (including Contreras) and one of just six pitchers to do so.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Most of this activity will lead nowhere, of course, but it is fantastic that they’re looking for talent in every nook and cranny. You never know where that can lead, and virtually nothing is lost if if leads nowhere, as long as no one of superior talent and potential is losing an opportunity.

  • First.Pitch.120 (view)

    Fun 1st Hit / HR Fact…


    Recent Cubs players to have HR as 1st MLB hit:

    PCA

    Morel

    Happ

    Contreras

    Baez

    Soler

    Castro