Cubs MLB Roster

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37 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (three slots are open)

Last updated 11-17-2023
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 20
Adbert Alzolay 
Michael Arias
Javier Assad
Ben Brown
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
Porter Hodge
* Bailey Horn
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Daniel Palencia
Michael Rucker
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 8
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
* Matt Mervis
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Luis Vazquez
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 7
Kevin Alcantara
Alexander Canario
* Pete Crow-Armstrong
Brennen Davis
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman

 


Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Ballesteros Provides the Offense for Red Squad at Instructs

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

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" 

Tags
2022 Cubs AZ Instructional League
Moises Ballesteros

Comments

Submitted by Childersb3 on Sat, 10/15/2022 - 10:52 pm

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. 

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 10/15/2022 - 10:08 pm

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). 

[ ]

Submitted by Childersb3 on Sat, 10/15/2022 - 10:09 pm

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!

Submitted by Childersb3 on Sat, 10/15/2022 - 10:53 pm

Phil,

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

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 10/15/2022 - 10:01 pm

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. 

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 10/15/2022 - 10:24 pm

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.   

Submitted by crunch on Sat, 10/15/2022 - 10:14 pm

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...

Submitted by JoePepitone on Sun, 10/16/2022 - 10:59 am

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. 

[ ]

Submitted by crunch on Sun, 10/16/2022 - 10:50 am

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.

Submitted by Wrigley Rat on Sun, 10/16/2022 - 10:18 pm

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!

[ ]

Submitted by Alexander Dimm on Tue, 10/18/2022 - 10:18 pm

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.

Submitted by JoePepitone on Mon, 10/17/2022 - 10:33 am

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!

Submitted by George Altman on Tue, 10/18/2022 - 10:55 pm

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

  • JoePepitone (view)

    Fighting Ham for Mother Nippon!

  • crunch (view)

    reliever market is f'n crazy.  guys that aren't "lights out" but still good are getting crazy loot.  josh hader gonna get crazy paid if these early contracts are an indication of the market.

    emilio pagan - 2/16m (8m average)

    nick martinez - 2/26m (13m average)

    reynaldo lopez - 3/30m (10m average)

    it also makes me wonder how much j.assad is worth as a trade piece in this market...or how valuable he is to the team to save money.  these swing guy types are going to start making good loot for relievers.  in 2023 there were 5 pitchers in all of MLB that pitched 200+ IP...8 in 2022...4 in 2021.  Pre-COVID you have to go back to the strike shortened 1994 to find less than 10 pitchers with sub-200 IP (Greg Maddux the only guy in 94).

  • crunch (view)

    thomas hatch is going to fight ham in japan.  he was on PIT's 40-man.

  • crunch (view)

    morel played somewhere besides 3rd and SS...he got 8 innings in CF, 2 putouts and an assist.

  • crunch (view)

    ryan flaherty new cubs bench coach.

  • crunch (view)

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  • Bill (view)

    I hope that Perlaza goes on to have a successful career.  On most Cubs teams prior to the current administration, he would have been one of their more highly ranked prospects.  As far as the others are concerned, one or more may well go on to be much better than expected, but unfortunately there is no way to tell which one at the present time.  You can't keep everyone.

  • crunch (view)

    s.gray signs with the cards...3/75m

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Another one of the nine Cubs post-2023 Rule 9 minor league 6YFA has signed, as RHP Carlos Guzman (acquired from the Tigers for Zack McKinstry at the end of Spring Training) signed a 2024 minor league contract with the Mets. 

     

    So RHRP Yovanny Cruz (SD), C-INF P. J. Higgins (CIN), and now Carlos Guzman (NYM) have already signed 2024 minor league contracts with new MLB organizations, and OF Yonathan Perlaza is headed for Korea (Hanhwa Eagles).

  • crunch (view)

    ...and back to 3rd for another game.  at this point i'm gonna hang back and when/if he actually plays 1st then i'll find it notable.  i am glad he's playing a good amount of 3rd, though...give the club one more good look at him there.  shrug

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