Russell & Alzolay Lookin' Good at Riverview


Addison Russell singled twice, stole two bases, and scored a run, Jonathan Soto collected three singles and drove-in a run, Carlos Morfa singled twice, scored a run, and knocked-in another, and Rafael Mejia belted a two-run HR, leading the Cubs "B" team to a 6-3 victory over the Athletics Green squad in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Wednesday morning on Field #5 at the Riverview Baseball Complex on John Arguello Way in Mesa, AZ. 

The Cubs stole six bases in the game. 

RHP Adbert Alzolay (on AAA Iowa 7-day IL with a lat strain) saw his first game action of 2019, getting the start and working 1.2 IP. He allowed one run on two hits (a double and a single) and no walks, with four strikeouts. He got eleven swings & misses among his 34 pitches, mixing a 95-96 MPH FB with an effective CV.   

The game was pre-planned as a seven-inning contest but was extended an extra half-inning so that all of the Cubs pitchers who were scheduled to throw could get their work. 

Here is the abridged box score from the game (Cubs players only): 

CUBS "B" TEAM LINEUP:
X. Addison Russell, SS-DH: 2-4 (1B, 1B, K, L-7, R, 2 SB)
NOTE: Russell batted third in the bottom of the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th innings) 
1. Reivaj Garcia, 2B-DH: 2-3 (L-8, 1B, 1B)
2. Brennen Davis, CF: 1-2 (1B, P-6, BB, R, SB)
3. Jonathan Soto, C: 3-3 (1B, 1B, 1B, RBI)
4. Luis Verdugo, 3B: 0-2 (5-4-3 DP, BB, L-8)
5. Brandon Vicens, RF-DH: 1-3 (1B, L-7, 6-3, R, SB)
6. Carlos Morfa, DH-RF: 2-3 (1B, K, 1B, R, RBI, PO) 
7. Ricardo Verenzuela, DH #2: 0-0 (F-7 SF, BB, SH-E3, R, RBI, SB)
8. Rafael Mejia, 1B: 1-3 (4-3, HR, 5-3, R, 2 RBI)
9. Kevin Moreno, DH-LF: 0-1 (BB, E-5, SB)
10a. Caleb Knight, DH #4: 0-1 (F-8)
10b. Fabian Pertuz, SS: 0-1 (6-4 FC) 
11a. Yovanny Cuevas, LF: 0-1 (5-3)
11b. Pedro Martinez, 2B: 0-1 (K) 

CUBS "B" TEAM PITCHERS
1. Adbert Alzolay: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 4 K, 0/1 GO/AO, 34 pitches (20 strikes) 
2. Pablo Ochoa: 0.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 0/1 GO/AO, 15 pitches (9 strikes) 
3. Jack Patterson: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/4 GO/AO, 30 pitches (21 strikes) 
4. Alexander Vargas: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 2/1 GO/AO, 23 pitches (14 strikes)
5. Carlos Vega: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 GIDP, 2/0 GO/AO, 22 pitches (16 strikes) 

CUBS "B" TEAM ERRORS: NONE 

ATTENDANCE: 17 

WEATHER: Partly cloudy with temperatures in the 70's 

Arizona 
Scoring 
Service 

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

Comments

The Cubs have released INF Ignacio Otano (his eligibility to play in the DSL has expired and so he was expected to attend EXST, but he was not invited).  

The Cubs signed Otano in June 2017 as a second-contract player after he was released by the Brewers, and he spent the 2017 & 2018 seasons playing for the Cubs in the DSL.  

AZ Phil, I seem to recall that Carlos Morfa impressed you with his power at instructs. How does he look this spring as far as his development as a hitter? Does he have a chance to open the year in Eugene?

TIM: Because Oscar de la Cruz is serving an 80-game suspension and is on an MLB Restricted List, he is eligible to spend up to 15 days (unpaid, but with an MLB meal & tip per diem) on a minor league conditioning assignment prior to being reinstated. 

Phil,

When ODLC goes to AA, what's their rotation?

Abbott, Hatch, Miller, Thompson, ODLC and Steele piggybacking?

If so, that's a pretty "prospectie" crew!!

CHILDERSb3: That sounds about right, or the Cubs might rotate starting pitchers back & forth from the active roster to the 7-day IL (unlike MLB, a doctor's certification is not required to place a minor league player on the IL), or the Cubs might move a minor league SP down a level so that everybody can get regular work, or the Cubs could go with a six-man starting rotation and eight-man bullpen at one or more of the full-season affiliates and play games a man short on the bench. 

Cubs MLB Roster

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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
  



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