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

Cubs 2012 Extended Spring Training - Stats Update (5/20)

2/3 of the way through 2012 Extended Spring Training, here are the Cubs Cactus League game statistics.

There is no official scorer at the games, so the stats are unofficial.

2012 EXST CUBS RECORD (thru 5/20): 16-20-6

* bats or throws left
# bats both

NOTE: "SLASH LINE" below position players names = AVG/OBP/SLG

POSITION PLAYERS:

NOTE: POSITION PLAYERS ARE SORTED BY PLATE APPEARANCES (PA)

SHAWON DUNSTON JR (CF-LF):
276/337/447 (24 GAMES – 86 PA) – 6 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 10 R, 6 BB, 10 K, 1 HBP, 3 SH, 3 SB (1 CS), 1 PO

* DAN VOGELBACH (1B):
183/272/338 (23 GAMES – 85 PA) – 3 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 11 R, 8 BB, 17 K, 1 HBP, 1 SF, 2 GIDP
DEFENSE: 6 ERRORS

JAVIER BAEZ (SS):
329/354/696 (23 GAMES - 82 PA) – 5 2B, 3 3B, 6 HR, 20 RBI, 18 R, 1 BB, 22 K, 2 HBP, 10 SB (1 CS)
DEFENSE: 7 ERRORS

# JEIMER CANDELARIO (3B):
315/367/521 (23 GAMES – 80 PA) – 6 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 14 R, 5 BB, 15 K, 1 HBP, 1 SH, 1 GIDP, 2 SB (0 CS)
DEFENSE: 4 ERRORS

GIOSKAR AMAYA (2B):
242/368/306 (22 GAMES – 76 PA) – 2 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 11 R, 13 BB, 14 K, 1 SF, 1 GIDP, 3 SB (0 CS), 1 PO
DEFENSE: 3 ERRORS

XAVIER BATISTA (LF-RF):
393/466/656 (22 GAMES- 73 PA) – 8 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 19 RBI, 14 R, 9 BB, 8 K, 1 HBP, 2 SF, 1 GIDP, 1 SB (0 CS)
DEFENSE: 1 ERROR, 5 OUTFIELD ASSISTS

TREY MARTIN (CF):
246/296/338 (21 GAMES – 71 PA) – 4 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 7 RBI, 10 R, 5 BB, 16 K, 1 SF, 4 SB (0 CS), 1 PO
DEFENSE: 4 OUTFIELD ASSISTS

# ROCK SHOULDERS (1B):
233/329/400 (21 GAMES – 70 PA) – 7 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 8 R, 9 BB, 24 K, 1 SF, 3 GIDP
DEFENSE: 2 ERRORS

YASIEL BALAGUERT (RF-LF):
293/354/431 (21 GAMES – 65 PA) – 3 2B, 2 3B, 0 HR, 10 RBI, 6 R, 4 BB, 15 K, 2 HBP, 1 SF, 3 GIDP, 1 SB (0 CS)
DEFENSE: 1 ERROR, 2 OUTFIELD ASSISTS

CARLOS PENALVER (SS-2B):
175/250/175 (22 GAMES – 64 PA) – 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 5 R, 6 BB, 8 K, 1 SF, 1 GIDP, 4 SB (0 CS)
DEFENSE: 8 ERRORS

* DANNY LOCKHART (2B-SS-3B):
232/295/339 (23 GAMES – 61 PA) – 2 2B, 2 3B, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R, 5 BB, 12 K, 1 GIDP, 3 SB (0 CS), 1 PO
DEFENSE: 5 ERRORS

WILSON CONTRERAS (C):
339/383/571 (21 GAMES – 60 PA) – 5 2B, 4 3B, 0 HR, 9 RBI, 7 R, 4 BB, 13 K, 1 CI, 1 GIDP, 3 SB (0 CS), 1 PO
CATCHERS DEFENSE: 6-23 CS (26% CS), 1 PO, 4 PB, 4 ERRORS

* BRIAN INOA (2B):
167/220/185 (21 GAMES – 59 PA) – 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3 R, 3 BB, 16 K, 1 HBP, 1 SF, 1 GIDP, 1 SB (2 CS), 1 PO
DEFENSE: 4 ERRORS

* GARRETT SCHLECHT (LF-CF-RF):
250/379/333 (22 GAMES – 59 PA) – 2 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 5 R, 8 BB, 18 K, 2 HBP, 1 SH, 1 GIDP, 0 SB ( 1 CS)

* TREVOR GRETZKY (1B-LF):
298/365/340 (18 GAMES – 52 PA) – 2 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 8 R, 5 BB, 11 K, 1 GIDP, 1 SB (0 CS)
DEFENSE: 2 ERRORS

ANTHONY GIANSANTI (C-3B-RF)
222/404/417 (17 GAMES – 47 PA) – 1 2B, 3 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 4 R, 10 BB, 6 K, 1 HBP
CATCHERS DEFENSE: 4-11 CS (36% CS), 4 PB, 1 ERROR
NOTE: HAS BEEN MOVED-UP TO PEORIA

NEFTALI ROSARIO (C):
222/255/311 (22 GAMES – 47 PA) – 1 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 4 R, 1 BB, 15 K,1 HBP, 1 GIDP
CATCHERS DEFENSE: 5-16 CS (31 % CS), 1 PB, 1 ERROR

JAIR BOGAERTS (3B-LF):
189/302/243 (17 GAMES – 43 PA), 2 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 5 R, 4 BB, 11 K, 2 HBP, 1 GIDP
DEFENSE: 4 ERRORS

# KEVIN ENCARNACION (CF-RF-LF):
394/444/515 (18 GAMES – 37 PA) – 2 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 SH, 1 GIDP, 2 SB (2 CS), 1 PO

* EDUARDO GONZALEZ (RF-LF):
281/324/406 (11 GAMES - 35 PA) - 0 2B, 2 3B, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB, 7 K, 1 SH, 2 SB (0 CS)
NOTE: WAS SENT DOWN FROM PEORIA 5/1

DONG-YUB KIM (LF):
167/212/233 (13 GAMES – 33 PA) – 2 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB, 7 K, 1 SF, 1 SB (0 CS)

# MICAH GIBBS (C):
250/483/250 (5 GAMES - 29 PA) - 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 6 R, 9 BB, 2 K, 1 GIDP, 2 SB (0 CS), 1 PO
CATCHERS DEFENSE: 1-3 CS (33%)
NOTE: WAS ON REHAB ASSIGNMENT - HAS BEEN MOVED-UP TO DAYTONA

RYAN DURRENCE (1B):
120/154/120 (9 GAMES - 26 PA) - 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K, 1 HBP, 1 GIDP

* WILFREDO PETIT (C):
273/385/364 (17 GAMES – 26 PA) – 2 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 R, 4 BB, 1 K, 1 PO
CATCHERS DEFENSE: 2-8 CS (25% CS), 1 PB

PIERRE LePAGE (2B):
375/524/563 (7 GAMES – 21 PA) – 1 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 6 R, 4 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 1 GIDP, 1 SB (0 CS), 1 PO
NOTE: HAS BEEN RELEASED

JUNIOR LAKE (SS):
176/222/235 (3 GAMES - 18 PA) - 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 2 SB (1 CS)
NOTE: WAS ON REHAB ASSIGNMENT - HAS BEEN MOVED-UP TO TENNESSEE

# MARK MALAVE (3B):
200/250/200 (9 GAMES – 16 PA) – 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K
DEFENSE: 2 ERRORS

YANIEL CABEZAS (C):
286/286/286 (7 GAMES – 14 PA) – 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP
DEFENSE: 4-4 CS (100% CS)
NOTE: HAS BEEN MOVED UP TO PEORIA

# OLIVER ZAPATA (CF-LF):
333/385/417 (3 GAMES – 13 PA) – 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 SB (1 CS)
NOTE: HAS BEEN MOVED UP TO PEORIA

* DELBIS ARCILA (RF):
143/250/143 (6 GAMES – 8 PA) – 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K

JEFFREY BAEZ (LF-RF):
000/000/000 (4 GAMES – 7 PA) – 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K

* JUSTIN MARRA (C):
000/167/000 (5 GAMES - 6 PA) - 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K

BRIAN ESPOSITO (C):
000/200/000 (1 GAME - 5 PA) - 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB, 0 K
NOTE: HAS BEEN MOVED UP TO IOWA

LUIS ACOSTA (2B):
000/333/000 (3 GAMES – 3 PA) – 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 R, 1 BB 2 K

DUSTIN GEIGER (3B):
333/333/667 (1 GAME - 3 PA) - 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R, 0 BB, 0 K
NOTE: ON INJURY REHAB ASSIGNMENT FROM PEORIA

===========================================

PITCHERS:

NOTE: PITCHERS ARE SORTED BY INNINGS PITCHED (IP)

STARLING PERALTA:
1.46 WHIP – 4.97 ERA – .321 OppBA (9 GAMES – 9 GS) – 25.1 IP, 33 H, 16 R (14 ER), 4 BB, 24 K, 5 HBP, 1 HR, 3 GIDP, 2 ERRORS

ROB WHITENACK:
0.82 WHIP – 0.82 ERA – .225 OppBA (8 GAMES - 8 GS) – 22.0 IP, 16 H, 3 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 19 K, 1 HR, 1 GIDP, 1 ERROR
NOTE: ON INJURY REHAB ASSIGNMENT FROM TENNESSEE

JAMES PUGLIESE:
1.06 WHIP - 1.25 ERA - .243 OppBA (9 GAMES – 4 GS) – 21.2 IP, 17 H, 4 R (3 ER), 6 BB, 20 K, 2 HBP, 1 HR, 4 GIDP, 1 WP, 3 PO

TAYLER SCOTT:
1.15 WHIP - 2.91 ERA - .238 OppBA (8 GAMES – 7 GS) – 21.2, 19 H, 9 R (7 ER), 6 BB, 14 K, 2 HBP, 2 GIDP, 1 WP, 1 PO

JIN-YOUNG KIM:
1.02 WHIP - 3.57 ERA - .233 OppBA (9 GAMES - 1 GS) – 17.2 IP, 14 H, 8 R (7 ER), 4 BB, 11 K, 1 HBP, 1 HR, 1 GIDP, 1 WP, 2 PO

PETE LEVITT:
1.21 WHIP - 1.04 ERA - .214 OppBA (10 GAMES ) – 17.1 IP, 17 H, 3 R (2 ER), 4 BB, 13 K, 2 GIDP

JOSE ARIAS:
1.18 WHIP – 1.59 ERA – .286 OppBA (6 GAMES - 5 GS) – 17.0 IP, 18 H, 4 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 19 K, 2 GIDP, 1 PO, 1 ERROR

IAN DICKSON:
0.94 WHIP – 2.65 ERA – .211 OppBA (6 GAMES – 5 GS) – 17.0 IP, 12 H, 5 R (5 ER), 4 BB, 5 K, 1 HBP, 1 GIDP

FELIX PENA:
1.12 WHIP – 5.29 ERA - .219 OppBA (9 GAMES) – 17.0 IP, 14 H, 11 R (10 ER), 5 BB, 8 K, 1 HBP, 1 HR, 1 GIDP, 2 WP, 1 ERROR

CARLOS MARTINEZ:
1.60 WHIP – 3.60 ERA – .268 OppBA (8 GAMES – 1 GS) – 15.0 IP, 15 H, 7 R (6 ER), 9 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 5 GIDP, 1 WP

* HUNTER ACKERMAN:
1.76 WHIP – 1.80 ERA – .302 OppBA (7 GAMES - 1 GS) – 13.2 IP, 16 H, 10 R (6 ER), 8 BB, 12 K, 1 GIDP, 3 WP

RODERIK PICHARDO:
1.31 WHIP – 4.85 ERA – .213 OppBA (10 GAMES) – 13.0 IP, 10 H, 7 R (7 ER), 7 BB, 9 K, 1 HBP, 2 HR, 2 GIDP, 2 WP

* SHELDON McDONALD:
0.83 WHIP – 1.50 ERA – .205 OppBA (6 GAMES) – 12.0 IP, 9 H, 3 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 18 K, 1 HBP, 1 GIDP
NOTE: HAS BEEN MOVED-UP TO PEORIA

* GERARDO CONCEPCION:
1.59 WHIP – 4.77 ERA – .304 OppBA (3 GAMES – 1 GS) – 11.1 IP, 14 H, 7 R (6 ER), 4 BB, 11 K, 1 GIDP, 3 WP, 1 BALK
NOTE: HAS BEEN MOVED-UP TO PEORIA

RAFAEL DIPLAN:
1.78 WHIP – 2.53 ERA – .289 OppBA (8 GAMES) – 10.2 IP, 13 H, 3 R (3 ER), 6 BB, 10 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP

ALVIDO JIMENEZ:
1.07 WHIP – 3.86 ERA – .152 OppBA (6 GAMES) – 9.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R (4 ER), 5 BB, 9 K, 1 GIDP, 1 WP, 1 BALK, 1 ERROR

* FRANK DEL VALLE:
2.52 WHIP – 8.31 ERA – .410 OppBA (3 GAMES - 1 GS) – 8.2 IP, 16 H, 9 R (8 ER), 6 BB, 11 K, 2 HR, 1 HBP, 2 WP, 1 PO
NOTE: HAS BEEN MOVED-UP TO DAYTONA

CHARLES THOMAS:
1.15 WHIP – 0.00 ERA – .219 OppBA (5 GAMES) – 8.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R (0 ER), 3 BB, 9 K, 1 GIDP, 1 WP, 1 PO
NOTE: WAS MOVED-UP TO PEORIA, THEN WAS RELEASED

DAVID HENRIE:
2.00 WHIP – 10.19 ERA – .452 OppBA (3 GAMES – 1 GS) – 7.0 IP, 14 H, 8 R (8 ER), 0 BB, 5 K, 3 GIDP

* BRIAN SMITH:
2.70 WHIP – 10.80 ERA – .333 OppBA (4 GAMES) – 6.2 IP, 10 H, 8 R (8 ER), 8 BB, 5 K, 4 WP

* AUGUSTO COLINA:
1.74 WHIP - 5.18 ERA - .296 OppBA (4 GAMES) – 6.1 IP, 8 H, 6 R (4 ER), 3 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP, 1 HR

JORGE DIAZ:
1.11 WHIP - 2.84 ERA - .208 OppBA (5 GAMES) - 6.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 8 K. 2 HBP, 1 ERROR

ETHAN ELIAS:
2.21 WHIP - 9.95 ERA - .367 OppBA (5 GAMES) – 6.1 IP, 11 H, 9 R (7 ER), 3 BB, 5 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP

* LUIS VILLALBA:
1.20 WHIP - 5.40 ERA - .286 OppBA (4 GAMES) – 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 4 K, 1 BALK

LOIGER PADRON:
1.20 WHIP - 3.60 ERA - .222 OppBA (3 GAMES) – 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HBP, 1 GIDP, 1 ERROR

DANIEL ADRIAN:
1.71 WHIP - 5.79 ERA - .333 OppBA (3 GAMES) - 4.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 1 WP

JAVIER CASTRO:
0.69 WHIP - 0.00 ERA - .133 OppBA (3 GAMES) - 4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K

RAMON GARCIA:
1.45 WHIP – 1.58 ERA – .333 OppBA (2 GAMES) – 3.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 3 K

RYAN HARTMAN:
2.45 WHIP – 7.36 ERA – .400 Opp BA (2 GAMES) – 3.2 IP, 6 H, 6 R (3 ER), 4 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 5 WP, 1 PO

ARTURO MALTOS-GARCIA:
2.33 WHIP - 9.00 ERA - .250 OppBA (3 GAMES) - 3.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R (3 ER), 4 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 1 WP

* MATT SPENCER (ex-OF)
1.00 WHIP - 0. 00 ERA - .143 OppBA (2 GAMES) - 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K

* RYAN ROWLAND-SMITH
1.20 WHIP - 0.00 ERA - .167 OppBA (2 GAMES) - 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
NOTE: ON INJURY REHAB ASIGNMENT FROM IOWA

SU-MIN JUNG:
6.00 WHIP - 20.25 ERA - .200 OpBA (2 GAMES) - 1.1 IP, 1 H, 3 R (3 ER), 7 BB, 0 K, 2 WP

Comments

Phil - those of us in Boise appreciate your hard work as we can see what type of team initially we'll have here... Looking to me like Vogelbach at 1B, Amaya at 2B, Baez at SS, Candelario at 3B, OF of Dunston, Martin, Batista, C of Contreras and Rosario, with Shoulders DH - that is before the draft guys start showing up... Pugliese, Scott, Peralta, Levitt have promise it looks like... Whenever I use your stuff on air or on my blog - I always give you and TCR props!!! #BoiseHawksRadio

Thanks, as always, Phil! Do you think Jose Arias could skip Mesa and head to Boise? I know you said he was the best pitcher on the DSL Cubs squads last year. Any word on how close Maples is to pitching again? P.S. Boise Hawks Radio (Mike Safford, I assume), you do a great job.

[ ]

In reply to by Raisin101

Sun, 05/20/2012 - 11:58am — Raisin101 Thanks, as always, Phil! Do you think Jose Arias could skip Mesa and head to Boise? I know you said he was the best pitcher on the DSL Cubs squads last year. Any word on how close Maples is to pitching again? P.S. Boise Hawks Radio (Mike Safford, I assume), you do a great job. =========================== RAISIN: Nothing new on Maples. As for Jose Arias, I think there is a chance he could go to Boise. It is a matter of who else goes there, though. Right now I think he is probably squarely "on the bubble." If I had to pick a Boise HAWKS 2012 Opening Day roster right now, I'd say: LINEUP: 1. Shawon Dunston Jr, LF 2. Gioskar Amaya, 2B 3. Javier Baez, SS 4. Xavier Batista, RF 5. Jeimer Candelario, 3B 6. Rock Shoulders, 1B 7. Wilson Contreras, C 8. Yasiel Balaguert, DH 9. Trey Martin, CF BENCH: Yaniel Cabezas, C (down from Peoria) Eduardo Gonzalez, OF Brad Zapenas, INF (down from Peoria) STARTING PITCHERS: * Hunter Ackerman * Willengton Cruz Ian Dickson Jin-Young Kim Starling Peralta James Pugliese BULLPEN: Alvido Jimenez Pete Levitt Carlos Martinez Felix Pena Roderik Pichardo Bryce Shafer * Matt Spencer * Luis Villalba And then AZL Cubs: LINEUP: 1. Kevin Encarnacion, CF 2. Carlos Penalver, SS 3. Garrett Schlecht, RF 4. Dan Vogelbach, 1B 5. Neftali Rosario, C 6. Trevor Gretzky, LF 7. Dong-Yub Kim, DH 8. Jair Bogaerts, 3B 9. Danny Lockhart, 2B BENCH: Brian Inoa, IF-OF Justin Marra, C Wilfredo Petit, C STARTING PITCHERS: Jose Arias David Henrie Dillon Maples Amaury Paulino Tayler Scott * Brian Smith BULLPEN: Daniel Adrian Javier Castro * Augusto Colina Jorge Diaz Rafael Diplan Ethan Elias Arturo Maltos-Garcia Loiger Padron

Do you think that Dunston jr and Gretzky have shown that they cold be decent prospects? I mean until they get a full season or two, who knows...but it looks like they put up decent numbers in Ext-Spring Training. Boise for both do you think?

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

Sun, 05/20/2012 - 12:26pm — Dusty Baylor Do you think that Dunston jr and Gretzky have shown that they cold be decent prospects? I mean until they get a full season or two, who knows...but it looks like they put up decent numbers in Ext-Spring Training. Boise for both do you think? ===================================== DUSTY B: Of all the position players at Fitch Park, Shawon Dunston Jr has probably shown the most-improvement over the course of 2012 EXST. A month ago I would have said that he will most-likely be left at AZL Cubs when EXST concludes, but now I think he hes a very good chance to go to Boise. Dunston is aggressive on the bases and in CF (albeit sometimes too aggressive), but is fairly patient at the plate, especially when he is leading off. But what has changed in the last month is that he has stopped trying to pull everything and has finally started to use the whole field. He has a natural tendency to load up on his back leg and try to pull everything, probably because he has above-average power. He needs to fight that inclination, and he has started to do just that. He isn't a burner, but he can (and will) steal a base, and he takes two bases at a time on singles to the outfield and can score from 1st on a double. He doesn't have his father's cannon-arm (it's OK but nothing special). He also needs to improve his tracking skills in the OF. I think Dunston is emerging as a definite prospect. Trevor Gretzky has been hampered by post-2011 shoulder surgery rehab, but he is finally starting to play OF. (He had been relegated to playing 1B and DH for most of the Spring). He has the athleticism you would expect of a multi-sport HS athlete (he was a QB on the football team and CF on the baseball team), but he also is raw in many phases of the game. He is a fairly patient hitter and has a good approach at the plate with mainly an opposite-field line-drive stroke but with no HR power (as yet). He has shown indications that he could develop into a very good hitter, but again, no evidence of a power stroke. He has just average speed (he is a "long-strider") but generally shows good instincts on the bases. Tracking and catching fly balls has been an adventure for him, and he is not a good defensive first-baseman, either. His post-surgery arm plays only in LF, and even then it is below-average, although his throws are usually accurare. I doubt that Gretzky will go to Boise when EXST is over, although he could get moved up later in the Summer if he can polish off some of the rough edges (especially on defense). Mainly he just needs regular playing time, and he is more likely to get that at Mesa than at Boise.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    azbobbop: Yes. 

  • Mike Wellman (view)

    I’ve got Tim’s The Last Out too, along with some other prints of his work.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Very well played game all around tonight.

  • crunch (view)

    best starter and 2 top hitters from the team gone...and they keep on winning.

    little ahead of myself here, but the RSox got 9 outs to find 6+ runs.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Richard Gallardo just left the Smokies game with an arm injury after going to the ground following a pitch. Doesn’t sound good at all.

  • azbobbop (view)

    Phil, do you think Wiggins will start out in ACL?

  • azbobbop (view)

    The level of conversation on this site is intelligent, reasoned and informative. Miles ahead of other Cub sites.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    This was Jaxon Wiggins previous "live" BP on 4/5: 

    JAXON WIGGINS
    ONE INNING (20 pitches - 10 strikes) 
    one batted ball in play (F-9 by Stevens)
    one walk (B. Davis) 
    one HBP (B. Davis)
    two strikeouts (Peralta & Escobar - both looking)
    three swing & miss 
    two fouls 
    four called strikes
    nine called balls 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Prior to the Cactus League game at Papago Park, three Cubs pitchers threw "live" BP on Field 1 at the Cubs Sloan Park complex, including RHRP Ethan Roberts (June 2022 TJS) and Cubs 2023 2nd round draft pick RHP Jaxon Wiggins (February 2023 TJS).  

    Wiggins last threw "live" BP three weeks ago before being shut down for a couple of weeks, and this was the first time Roberts has thrown to hitters in almost two years. 

    JAXON WIGGINS
    ONE INNING:
    25 pitches (11 strikes)
    no batted balls in play
    two walks (Suriel and J. Diaz) 
    three strikeouts (Carico, Lubo, and Escobar - all three swinging)
    six swing & miss
    two fouls 
    three called strikes 
    14 called balls 
    one WP 

    ETHAN ROBERTS
    ONE INNING 
    15 pitches (7 strikes) 
    two batted balls in play (G-3 by Carico and L-9 by Suriel) 
    two walks (Lubo and Carico)
    no strikeouts  
    no swing & miss 
    two fouls 
    three called strikes 
    eight called balls 
    one WP 

    Mat Peters was bumped by Justin Steele from his scheduled game work at Giants, so he threw two innings of "live" BP with Wiggins & Roberts. 

    MAT PETERS
    TWO INNINGS 
    44 pitches (23 strikes) 
    five batted balls in play (F-7, L-7, F-7, G-6, G-3) 
    three walks 
    two strikeouts (both Lubo and both looking)
    six swing & miss 
    three fouls 
    nine called strikes
    21 called balls 
    three WP 

  • crunch (view)

    wall stole a HR from busch...double.  nice to see him destroy a curve ball.

    upon further viewing, that might not have been a homer in too many parks...it had a lot of hang time, though.