McCullough, Birdsell, and Scalzo Dominate at Riverview

Cubd 2022 10th round draft pick Brody McCullough, Cubs 2022 5th round draft pick Brandon Birdsell, and Myrtle Beach closer Frankie Scalzo Jr combined to hurl five innings of no run / no hit ball with nine strikeouts, and Parker Chavers walked, stole a base, and drilled an RBI single to account for the lone run in the game, as the Cubs "Blue Squad" blanked the Cubs "Red Squad" 1-0 in AZ Instructional League intrasquad game action Saturday morning on Field # 1 at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.  

The game was pre-planned as a five inning affair. 
Only three pitchers were scheduled to throw in Saturday's game and they only threw five half-innings between them, so the other five frames were covered by Cubs Minor League Catching Coordinator Mark Johnson and Minor League Hitting Coordinator Dustin Kelly throwing what was essentially BP. However, the home plate umpire was calling balls & strikes right up to the end, and the game was played out through five innings like a regular game. The two coaches throwing off the mound was a lot like a position player pitching in a blow-out or in extra innings. 

Here is the box score from the game 

NOTE: AB outcomes versus coaches are highlighted and underlined in purple, and yes, Brayan Altuve really did strike out swinging twice (on just seven pitches!) hitting against a coach.    

CUBS "RED SQUAD" LINEUP:
1. Reggie Preciado, 3B: 1-2 (K, 2B)
2. Cristian Hernandez, SS: 0-2 (K, 5-3)
3. Andy Garriola, RF: 0-2 (3-U, 5-3)
4. Ethan Hearn, DH: 0-2 (4-3, 4-3)
5. Alexis Hernandez, 2B: 0-2 (K, F-8)
6. Raino Coran, LF: 1-2 (K, 1B)
7. David Avitia, C: 0-2 (K, 5-4-3 DP)
8. Miguel Pabon, 1B: 0-1 (K)
9. Ke'Shun Collier, CF: 0-1 (F-8)

CUBS "BLUE SQUAD" LINEUP
1. Ismael Mena, CF: 1-2 (BB, L-7, 1B)
2. Jefferson Rojas, 2B: 0-3 (6-4-3 DP, P-3, 6-3)
3. Christopher Paciolla, SS: 1-2 (K, 1B, R)
4. Rafael Morel, 3B: 1-2 (K, 1B)
5. Parker Chavers, DH: 1-1 (BB, 1B, RBI, SB)
6. Anderson Suriel, 1B: 0-2 (K, 6-4-3 DP)
7. Haydn McGeary, C: 1-2 (5-3, 1B)
8. Josefrailin Alcantara, RF: 0-2 (3-U, K)
9. Brayan Altuve, LF: 0-2 (K, K)

CUBS "RED SQUAD" PITCHERS
1. Brandon Birdsell: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 GIDP, 2/0 GO/AO, 30 pitches (16 strikes) 
2. Mark Johnson: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 1 GIDP, 3/2 GO/AO, 25 pitches (20 strikes)

CUBS "BLUE SQUAD" PITCHES
1. Brody McCullough: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 2/0 GO/AO, 20 pitches (16 strikes) 
2. Frankie Scalzo Jr: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO/AO, 11 pitches (8 strikes)  
3. Dustin Kelly: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 4/1 GO/AO, 13 pitches (11 strikes) 

CUBS "RED SQUAD" ERRORS: NONE 

CUBS "BLUE SQUAD" ERRORS: NONE 

CUBS "RED SQUAD" CATCHERS DEFENSE
David Avitia: 0-1 CS 

ATTENDANCE: 3 

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 90's 

Arizona 
Scoring 
Service 

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

Comments

Looking at the lack of scoring with a former catcher & infielder pitching, should I assume the hitters at Instructs suck and that today they'll be hitting off of a tee? Maybe letting them have five strikes per at bat? Or limiting defenders to one outfielder and one infielder? 

Mark Johnson, retired catcher Mark Johnson, current coach Mark Johnson, had THREE strikeouts???  

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 60-DAY IL   

32 players
are on the MLB ACTIVE LIST (26-man limit in effect on MLB Opening Day)

17 players signed to minor league contracts are Spring Training NON-ROSTER INVITEES (NRI) 

Last updated 3-18-2023
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 16
Adbert Alzolay
Javier Assad 
Brad Boxberger
Michael Fulmer
Kyle Hendricks
* Brandon Hughes
Julian Merryweather
Michael Rucker
Adrian Sampson
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele 
Marcus Stroman
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski
Rowan Wick

NRI PITCHERS: 10 
* Ryan Borucki  
Nick Burdi 
Tyler Duffey 
* Roenis Elias  
* Anthony Kay  
Mark Leiter Jr 
* Brendon Little  
Vinny Nittoli 
Manuel Rodriguez 
Cam Sanders 

CATCHERS: 2 
* Tucker Barnhart 
Yan Gomes

NRI CATCHERS: 2  
* Dom Nunez  
Luis Torrens 

INFIELDERS: 9
Nico Hoerner
* Eric Hosmer
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
* Zach McKinstry
Christopher Morel
* Edwin Rios
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

NRI INFIELDERS: 3 
# Sergio Alcantara 
David Bote 
* Matt Mervis  

OUTFIELDERS: 5 
* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Trey Mancini 
Seiya Suzuki 
Nelson Velazquez

NRI OUTFIELDERS: 2
Ben DeLuzio 
* Mike Tauchman   

OPTIONED: 8
Keven Alcantara, OF 
Miguel Amaya, C 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Jeremiah Estrada, P 
Ryan Jensen, P 
Caleb Kilian, P 

60-DAY IL: 2 
Codi Heuer, P 
Ethan Roberts, P
  



Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents