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

Cubs Bats Alive & Well at the Wind, Not So Much on the Jack

Yasiel Balaguert mashed a two-run home run to key a three-run 3rd, Jeffrey Baez belted a solo HR, Trevor Gretzky collected an RBI double and two singles and scored three runs, Carlos Penalver singled, doubled, walked, stole a base, and scored two runs, Reggie Golden singled twice, walked, drove-in a run, and scored two more, and Lance Rymel doubled and walked and drove-in three runs, as one squad of Cubs throttled one squad of Diamondbacks 10-2 on Whirlwind Field, and Ben Eckels and three relievers combined to throw a three-hitter with ten strikeouts and Damion Smith laced a bases-loaded three-run double, as the other squad of D'backs defeated the other squad of Cubs 4-1 on Jackrabbit Field, in a Cactus League Extended Spring Training doubleheader played this morning at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick Resort east of Scottsdale, AZ.  

The game on Whirlwind Field was called by mutual agreement in the middle of the 9th inning, and the game on Jackrabbit Field was called by mutual agreement in the middle of the 8th.

The Cubs got outstanding work from their two starting pitchers today. RHP James Pugliese fired three innings of one-hit shutout ball (80% strikes) with five strikeouts on Whirlwind Field, and 19-year old Dominican RHP Alexander Santana tossed three innings of no-run/no-hit ball on Jackrabbit Field, retiring nine of the ten men he faced (the only blemish being an HBP).  

In EXST Cubs roster news, INF David Bote and C-DH Carlos Escobar have been moved up to Kane County.

Bote was hitting 219/324/344 in 12 Cactus League EXST games (37 PA), with two triples, one SB (three CS), and 5/8 BB/K. He has played 2B, SS, and 3B for the EXST Cubs, and this is the second time he has been moved up to a full-season club since the end of Minor League Camp (he was with the Daytona Cubs for about a week last month when Tim Saunders was on the DL). The 20-year old Bote was the Cubs 18th round pick in the 2012 June Draft out of Neosho County CC.     

The Cubs 2012 15th round draft pick out of the U. of Nevada, Escobar was sidelined with an ankle injury during Minor League Camp and for the first three weeks of Extended Spring Training. But he hit 462/462/846 in five Cactus League EXST games (13 PA) since returning to action, and he hammered two home runs over a period of three days last week (one in an intrasquad game at Fitch Park, and then a tape measure shot last Saturday at Maryvale). Escobar had a 25% CS in Cactus League EXST games, and he also picked one runner off base.    

Here are the abridged box scores from the two games (Cubs players only):



WHIRLWIND FIELD

CUBS SQUAD "A" LINEUP:
1. Jeffrey Baez, CF: 1-5 (P-5, 6-3, HR, K, L-5, R, RBI)
2a. Carlos Penalver, SS: 2-3 (1-3, 2B, 1B, BB, 2 R, SB)
2b. Frandy de la Rosa, SS: 0-1 (K)
3a. Yasiel Balaguert, RF: 1-3 (3-1, HR, 6-4 FC, R, 2 RBI)
3b. Garrett Schlecht, RF: 0-1 (BB, K, R)
4. Reggie Golden, LF: 2-4 (1B, F-9, F-9, 1B, BB, 2 R, RBI)
5. Trevor Gretzky, 1B: 3-5 (E-4, 1B, 4-3, 2B, 1B, 3 R, RBI)
6. Lance Rymel, DH #1: 1-4 (5-3, F-7, BB, 2B, 6-4-3 DP, 3 RBI)
7. Brad Zapenas, 2B: 2-4 (1B, 2B, L-8, 6-3, 2 RBI, PO)
8. Alberto Mineo, C: 0-3 (BB, L-7, 4-3, L-4)
9. Mark Malave, 3B: 1-3 (1B, K, BB, L-7, CS)
10a. SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TWO TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER
10b. Erick Castillo, DH #2: 0-2 (K, K) 

CUBS SQUAD "A" PITCHERS:
1. James Pugliese: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, 40 pitches (32 strikes), 1/3 GO/FO
2. Jasvir Rakkar: 2.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 28 pitches (20 strikes), 1/5 GO/FO 
3. Carlos Martinez: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 29 pitches (17 strikes), 2/3 GO/FO  
4. Chad Martin: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 15 pitches (8 strikes), 1/1 GO/FO

CUBS SQUAD "A" ERRORS: 2 
1. 2B Brad Zapenas - E-4 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)
2. 2B Brad Zapenas - E-4 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely)

JACKRABBIT FIELD

CUBS SQUAD "B" LINEUP:
1. Kevin Encarnacion, CF: 1-3 (K, 1B, 3-1)
2. Danny Lockhart, 2B: 1-3 (4-3, 4-6 FC, 3B, R)
3a. Jesse Hodges, 3B-DH: 0-2 (F-9, F-8)
3b. Dong-Yub Kim, PH: 0-0 (F-8 SF, RBI)
4. Jacob Rogers, 1B: 0-1 (4-3, BB, BB)
5. Rony Rodriguez, DH #1: 0-3 (5-3, K, F-8)
6. Justin Marra, C: 0-3 (K, K, K)
7. Jose Dore, RF: 0-3 (F-7, F-8, 6-3)
8. Xavier Batista, LF: 1-3 (F-9, 2B, K)
9. Francisco Sanchez, SS: 0-3 (K, K, K)
10. Bryant Flete, DH-3B: 0-2 (K, P-5)

CUBS SQUAD "B" PITCHERS:
1. Alexander Santana: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 43 pitches (25 strikes), 1/5 GO/FO
2. Corbin Hoffner; 1.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R (4 ER), 4 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 43 pitches (22 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO 
NOTE: Top of the 5th inning was stopped with one out when Hoffner reached his pre-planned max pitch limit for the game
3. Mike Hamann: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 2 WP, 40 pitches (27 strikes), 4/0 GO/FO  

CUBS SQUAD "B" ERRORS: NONE

CUBS SQUAD "B" CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Justin Marra: 0-1 CS

ATTENDANCE: 15

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 90's

NOTE: It wasn't a Cactus League Extended Spring Training game, but the Cubs did play an intrasquad game yesterday (Thursday) morning at Fitch Park Field #4.

Albert Almora played five innings (four innings in CF) for Squad "A" and batted three times, leading-off the top of the 1st, 3rd, and 5th innings, He reached base on an E-6 (a throwing error on what should have been a routine 6-3 GO) in his first AB, flied out to RF his 2nd time up, and reached base on an infield single (ball grounded through the box, nice play to even get to the ball by SS Frandy de la Rosa) in his 3rd and final PA. He then stole 2nd base, and scored on a HR.

Jose Rosario got the start for Squad "A" and worked five innings (80 pitches), allowing three runs on five hits (three singles, a double, and a two-run HR). Rosario did not walk anyone (although he did hit a batter), and he struck out seven. Rosario is stretched-out enough to be moved-up to Kane County or Daytona if the Cubs wish to do that. although he has not pitched particularly well so far.

Reggie Golden and Jesse Hodges each smacked a two-run HR, and Xavier Batista, Jacob Rogers, and Lance Rymel belted RBI doubles.

Neftali Rosario left the game after suffering what appeared to be an ankle or foot injury while running the bases in his one and only AB (F-8). He walked (limped) to the clubhouse under his own power, not needing any assistance from man or golf cart to get there.

Here is the box score from the intrasquad game:

CUBS SQUAD "A" LINEUP:
X. Albert Almora, CF: 1-3 (E-6, F-9, 1B, R, SB)
NOTE: Almora batted three times, hitting lead-off in the 1st, 3rd, and 5th innings
1. Kevin Encarnacion, DH-CF: 1-3 (4-3, F-8, 2B, F-9 SF, R, RBI)
2. Bryant Flete, 2B: 0-2 (HBP, 5-3, F-8, F-8 SF, RBI)
3. Francisco Sanchez, SS: 0-4 (5-4-3 DP, 4-3, 6-3, K)
4a. Rony Rodriguez, C: 2-3 (1B, 2B, 6-3, 2 R)
4b. Justin Marra, C: 0-1 (F-7)
5a. Neftali Rosario, DH #2: 0-1 (F-8)
5b. Xavier Batista, PH-DH: 2-3 (2B, 1B, P-2, RBI)
6. Jose Dore, RF: 1-2 (2B, BB, 3-U)
7. Dong-Yub Kim, LF: 1-3 (5-3, 6-3, 1B, R, RBI, SB)
8. Jesse Hodges, 3B: 1-2: (6-3, HR, BB, 2 R, 2 RBI)
9. Jacob Rogers, 1B: 1-3 (K, F-8, 2B, R, RBI)

CUBS SQUAD "B" LINEUP:
1. Rashad Crawford, CF: 0-4 (3-1, K, K, E-4, SB, CS)
2, Frandy de la Rosa, SS: 0-3 (K, F-9, 4-3, BB)
3. Alberto Mineo, DH #1: 0-2 (K, F-8, BB)
4. Erick Castillo, C: 1-3 (3-1, 1B, 3-6 FC, R)
5. Brad Zapenas, 2B: 1-2 (HBP, 1B, P-3, R, RBI)
6. Trevor Gretzky, 1B: 1-3 (F-8, 1B, F-8)
7a. Reggie Golden, LF: 1-2 (HR, F-8 DP, R, 2 RBI)
7b. Garrett Schlecht, LF: 0-0 (BB, R)
8a. SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TWO TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER
8b. Lance Rymel, DH #2: 1-1 (2B, R, RBI)
9. Mark Malave, 3B: 0-3 (K, K, 6-3, RBI)
10. Yasiel Balaguert, RF: 1-3 (K, 2B, 4-3)

CUBS SQUAD "A" PITCHERS:
1. Jose Rosario: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 7 K, 1 HBP, 1 HR, 1 WP, 80 pitches (58 strikes), 3/4 GO/FO
2. Juan Francisco: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 0 K, 1 WP, 43 pitches (20 strikes) 4/1 GO/FO,

CUBS SQUAD "B" PITCHERS:
1. Daury Torrez: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP, 1 GIDP, 26 pitches (21 strikes), 5/1 GO/FO
2. Carlos Rodriguez: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 31 pitches (20 strikes), 3/2 GO/FO
3. Orbandy Rodriguez: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HR, 46 pitches (27 strikes), 3/2 GO/FO
NOTE: Top of 6th inning was stopped with two outs when O. Rodriguez reached his pre-planned max pitch limit for the game
4. Jorge Diaz: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 31 pitches (20 strikes), 0/4 GO/FO
NOTE: Game was called with two outs in top of 8th inning when J. Diaz reached his pre-planned max pitch limit for the game

CUBS SQUAD "A" ERRORS: 1
2B Bryant Flete - E-4 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)

CUBS SQUAD "B" ERRORS: 1
SS Frandy de la Rosa - E-6 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely)

CUBS SQUAD "A" CATCHERS DEFENSE:
1. Rony Rodriguez: 0-1 CS
2. Justin Marra: 1-2 CS

CUBS SQUAD "B" CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Erick Castillo: 0-2 CS

CUBS SQUAD "A" OUTFIELD ASSISTS:
CF Kevin Encarnacion - runner (Brad Zapenas) thrown out 8-5 trying to advance from 2nd to 3rd on F-8
 

Comments

Wittenmyer article: Exiled third baseman Ian Stewart — who cleared ­waivers and was outrighted off the 40-man roster Wednesday — was out of the Class AAA Iowa starting lineup for the sixth straight game Thursday. But he came off the bench to pinch-hit in the ninth and flied out, making him 4-for-45 since his minor-league rehab assignment-turned-option at Iowa. The Cubs have buried him on the minor-league bench. And after failing to get another team to claim him on waivers, they appear to be trying to trade him for whatever savings they can get off his $2 million salary. http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/20012160-573/edwin-jackson…

I think judging by tonight's performance, safe to assume Starlin Castro would be the 2nd greatest leadoff hitter ever.

garza goes for iowa tomorrow...75 pitches. i.stewart still in the doghouse in iowa...got a pinch hit appearance...0/1 with a K.

via rotowurld...via p.mooney "Scott Feldman is a candidate to lose his rotation spot when Matt Garza (lat) returns from the disabled list. The Cubs plan to go with a six-man rotation initially, but it's only a matter of time before Feldman or Carlos Villanueva is moved to the bullpen. Jeff Samardzija, Travis Wood, and Edwin Jackson are all locked into rotation spots."

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.