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