Updated Minor League Camp Rosters (3/30)
Here are the updated (3/30) Cubs Minor League Camp group rosters:
* bats or throws left
# bats both
IOWA CUBS
AAA
33 players (Opening Day roster limit is 28)
NOTE: I-Cubs left Arizona for Des Moines on Monday 3/27.
PITCHERS: 18
* Ryan Borucki
Nick Burdi
Tyler Duffey
* Roenis Elias
Jeremiah Estrada
* Anthony Kay
Caleb Kilian
Ben Leeper
* Brendon Little
Nick Neidert
Vinny Nittoli
Manuel Rodriguez
Adrian Sampson
Cam Sanders
* Eric Stout
Curtis Taylor
Riley Thompson
Rowan Wick
NOTE: Sampson, Kilian, R. Thompson, and Elias were stretched-out as SP when the I-Cubs left for Iowa on Monday
CATCHERS: 3
* Dom Nunez
Jake Washer
* Bryce Windham
NOTE: Caleb Knight was moved down from AAA to AA and Windham and Washer were moved up to AAA from AA when Luis Torrens was selected to MLB roster...
INFIELDERS: 7
# Sergio Alcantara
David Bote
Levi Jordan
* Matt Mervis
Christopher Morel
Jake Slaughter
* Jared Young
OUTFIELDERS: 5
Brennen Davis
* Darius Hill
# Yonathan Perlaza
* Mike Tauchman
Nelson Velazquez
NOTE: AAA outfield is just too crowded, so Ben DeLuzio was released on Wednesday...
TENNESSEE:
AA
42 players (Opening Day roster limit is 28)
PITCHERS: 26
Max Bain
Hunter Bigge
Ben Brown
Chris Clarks (re-claimed from Seattle last Sunday)
Danis Correa
Carlos Guzman (acquired from DET for Zach McKinstry on Monday)
Ben Hecht
* Bailey Horn
* DJ Herz
Ryan Jensen
Kyle Johnson
Chris Kachmar
Zac Leigh
* Riley Martin
Michael McAvene
Joe Nahas
Eduarniel Nunez
Daniel Palencia
Walker Powell
Jake Reindl
Peyton Remy
Samuel Reyes
* Dalton Stambaugh
Cayne Ueckert
Blake Whitney
* Jordan Wicks
NOTE: Presumably B. Brown, Jensen, Wicks, Palencia, and Herz will be the Smokies SP (still TBD), but Powell, Remy, and Guzman are already stretched-out as SP.... with 26 (!) pitchers presently on AA Tennessee group roster, there will likely be a LOT of pitcher movement before Southern League Opening Day next week...
CATCHERS: 3
Miguel Amaya
Pablo Aliendo
Caleb Knight
NOTE: Amaya caught entire game yesterday and looks to be 100% and so he will likely be the primary catcher at AA and DH when he isn't catching, and Aliendo will catch when Amaya is the DH... Knight was moved down from AAA to AA and Windham and Washer were moved up to AAA from AA when Luis Torrens was selected to MLB roster, and Knight is the #3 catcher at AA (although his roster slot is precarious since he obviously wasn't considered ready for AAA)...
INFIELDERS: 7
* Bryce Ball
Chase Strumpf
* Andy Weber
# B. J. Murray
Nelson Maldonado
Luis Vazquez
Luis Verdugo
NOTE: Vazquez is definitely the #1 SS (he is an MLB-quality defensive SS right now), Strumpf, Murray, and Verdugo have been swinging back & forth between 2B and 3B, Weber has been playing SS on days Vazquez doesn't start but he also has played 2B & 3B, and Maldonado and Ball have been alternating at 1B / DH (although that might change with Amaya likely the DH on days he isn't catching), so Maldonado roster slot is iffy (could be left behind at EXST)...
OUTFIELDERS: 6
* D. J. Artis
* Owen Caissie
* Pete Crow-Armstrong
# Zach Davis
Jordan Nwogu
* Cole Roederer
NOTE: Roederer could start the season on IL (he did take BP on Thursday, however, so IL stint is still TBD)... Z. Davis and Artis are competing for probably one roster slot, although both could get cut (EXST or released) if Roederer does not start season on IL...
SOUTH BEND
Hi-A
34 (Opening Day roster limit is 30)
PITCHERS: 19
Brandon Birdsell
Yovanny Cabrera
Derek Casey
Bradford Deppermann
Kohl Franklin
Richard Gallardo
Saul Gonzalez
* Angel Hernandez
Porter Hodge
* Adam Laskey
* Luke Little
Connor Noland
Johzan Oquendo
Sheldon Reed
Tyler Santana
Frankie Scalzo Jr
Sam Thoresen
* Didier Vargas
Jarod Wright
NOTE: Hodge is absolutely the #1 SP, and Gallardo, Noland, L. Little, Laskey, Thoresen, and Birdsell are also stretched out as SP....
CATCHERS: 3
David Avitia
* Ethan Hearn
# Casey Opitz
NOTE: Although he has played only 1B in games, Haydn McGeary has been working out at catcher in morning drills this week and he caught Jackson Ferris two inning (30 pitches) "live" BP this morning (Thursday 3/30)... so Avitia roster slot is now probably a bit on the wrong side of the bubble...
INFIELDERS: 7
Kevin Made
Hayden McGeary
Scott McKeon
Juan Mora
Fabian Pertuz
Liam Spence
Felix Stevens
NOTE: Stevens was moved back up to Hi-A group from Lo-A group this week after McGeary started working out at catcher... Made is clearly the #1 SS (he is also one of the two best position players on the team)... Pertuz was moved from 2B to 3B when James Triantos went on the shelf with a torn meniscus... Pertuz can also play SS (and he's very good there), but he won't get a chance to play there what with Made getting most all of the reps... Juan Mora was moved up from Lo-A to Hi-A when Pertuz was moved to 3B and Mora has been the #1 2B ever since... McKeon and Spence are older "polished" utility infielders who can play 2B-3B-SS...
OUTFIELDERS: 5
Kevin Alcantara
Brad Beesley
* Parker Chavers
Andy Garriola
* Yohendrick Pinango
NOTE: K. Alcantara has been hitting lead-off and playing CF in games (Made always bats 2nd)... Garriola is the #1 LF (although he really should be a full-time DH)... Pinango was moved down from the AA group with K. Alcantara and he has been playing RF, although his arm plays better in LF... Ezequiel Pagan (knee surgery) is taking BP and playing catch but he is nowhere near ready to play in games... Chavers and Beesley are strictly back-up outfielders and place-holders until Pagan is ready, but like McKeon and Spence, Beesley and Chavers are polished college guys... one (or both) will go either to Myrtle Beach or EXST whenever Pagan is ready to play in games...
MYRTLE BEACH
Lo-A
33 (Opening Day roster limit is 30)
PITCHERS: 18
* Jack Aldrich (LHRP signed this week after released by KC)
Michael Arias
* Jackson Ferris
Angel Gonzalez
Dominic Hambley
Cade Horton
Nick Hull
Grant Kipp
Koen Moreno
Brody McCullough
Mason McGwire
Gregori Montano
Koen Moreno
* Branden Noriega
Erian Rodriguez
Oliver Roque
* Marino Santy
* Chase Watkins
NOTE: K. Moreno, Arias, E, Rodriguez, Santy, and Kipp are stretched out as SP... Horton, Ferris, and McGwire are stretched out to two innings (30 pitches)...
CATCHERS: 3
* Moises Ballesteros
Miguel Pabon
# Malcom Quintero
NOTYEL: Moises Ballesteros is absolutely the #1 catcher and he will DH or play 1B when he doesn't start at catcher... M. Quintero is a competent back-up, and #3 catcher Pabon can also play 1B-2B-3B...
INFIELDERS: 7
* Miguel Fabrizio
# Reivaj Garcia
Cristian Hernandez
# Josue Huma
Rafael Morel
# Reggie Preciado
# Pedro Ramirez
NOTE: C. Hernandez, P. Ramirez, and Preciado play most every day but they move around defensively... Preciado has been playing both 3B and SS, C. Hernandez has been playing both SS and 2B, and P. Ramirez has been playing both 2B and 3B... Huma, R. Morel, and R. Garcia are competing for one or MAYBE two roster slots as utility infielders (Pabon plays INF so there may be only one slot available)... Huma is the fastest of the three, the best defensive infielder, and the only one of the three who is a legit SS... R. Garcia plays 1B-2B-3B but has never really progressed since playing as a 16-year old in the AZL in 2018... Rafael Morel (younger brother of Christopher Morel) doesn't have the speed, athleticism or power of his brother, but he has a higher"ceiling" than Huma and R. Garcia... Fabrizio was a part-time catcher this time last year but now he only plays 1B...
OUTFIELDERS: 5
* Ke'Shun Collier
* Jefferson Encarnacion
Christian Franklin
* Cristian More
* Jacob Wetzel
NOTE: CF Christian Franklin has had an outstanding Minor League Camp but he was moved down from South Bend to Myrtle Beach because the Myrtle Beach OF is much less crowded than South Bend's... just as with C. Franklin, Wetzel was moved-down from South Bend to Myrtle Beach because of overcrowding at South Bend, but he has had an excellent minor league camp and does everything well and so he has been getting regular playing time in RF... Jefferson Encarnacion was selected by Cubs from Phillies in AAA Phase of 2022 Rule 5 Draft but he has really struggled in games (so far)... he is a very "toolsy" but raw corner outfielder (LF is his best defensive position)... Collier has plus-plus-speed but just an average arm and hit tool is below-average... More is a decent all-around 4th-OF type...
EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING (MESA):
39 players (no roster limit at EXST or ACL)
PITCHERS: 20
Elian Almanzar
* Jose Aquino
Juan Bello
Will Frisch
* Carlos Garcia
* Joel Machado
Anthony Mendez
Gleiber Morales
Mathew Peters
Starlyn Pichardo
Bailey Reid
Wilber Rodriguez
Cristian Rojas
Jose Romero
Luis Rujano
Tomy Sanchez
Joel Sierra
Freilyn Silverio
Kevin Valdez
* Christian Winston
CATCHERS: 9
Yoanis ("J. J.") Aleksandrov
* Jairo Diaz
Yidel Diaz
* Dilan Granadillo
Fredy Montenegro
* Ronnier Quintero
Carlos Ramos
Adan Sanchez
* Wally Soto
COMMENT: Adan Sanchez is clearly a top prospect and so he plays in games more than any of the other catchers... in fact there are so many catchers in this group that sometimes catchers are playing 1B, 2B, and 3B at the same time...
INFIELDERS: 6
Alexis Hernandez
Christian Olivo
Christopher Paciolla
Jefferson Rojas
Yeison Santana
* Anderson Suriel
NOTE: Jefferson Rojas is a top prospect and a legit SS, although he also plays 2B... Alexis Hernandez is a younger brother of Cristian Hernandez, but Alexis is more of a INF-OF utility guy (I've seen him play everywhere but pitcher & catcher)...
OUTFIELDERS: 4
Brayan Altuve
Raino Coran
Frank Hernandez
* Ismael Mena
NOTE: Altuve swing & miss issue is worse than ever... Mena is an outstanding defensive CF but his hit tool has not progressed and so he still can't get out of Mesa even with a thin Myrtle Beach OF... Coran (from Curacao) is a huge dude with plus-power & speed combo but is still a "project"...
PITCHERS REHAB GROUP: 22
Garrett Brown
* Burl Carraway
Yovanny Cruz
Luis Devers
Joandy Duran
Manuel Espinoza
* Stephen Gonsalves
* Drew Gray
Kyle Hendricks
Codi Heuer
Jordan Holloway
* Brandon Hughes
* Scott Kobos
* Brailyn Marquez
Shane Marshall
Nazier Mule
* Jack Patterson
Kenyi Perez
Ethan Roberts
Tyler Schlaffer
JP Wheat
* Brad Wieck
POSITION PLAYERS REHAB GROUP: 5
Alexander Canario, OF
Ed Howard, SS
Ezequiel Pagan, OF
Tim Susnara, C
James Triantos, 3B-2B
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