Arizona Phil's Archives

2021 CUBS EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING ROSTER

Yohendrick Pinango doubled and scored in the 2nd, walked and scored in the 4th, and drilled a two-run single in the 8th, and three pitchers combined to hurl a four hitter, as the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs Lo-A affiliate) defeated the San Jose Giants (Lo-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants) 5-1 in Cactus League Minor League Camp game action Tuesday night at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ. 

Casey Schmitt belted a solo HR in the top of the 1st inning to account for the lone Giant run.  

Myrtle Beach DH Matt Mervis left the game after tweaking something in his lower body while running the bases in the bottom of the 6th. 

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

Chase Strumpf drilled a two-run single and a triple and scored twice, and Yonathan Perlaza drove-in three runs with two run-scoring singles, leading the South Bend Cubs (Hi-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) to an 8-3 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Milwaukee Brewers Hi-A affiliate) in Cactus League Minor League Camp game action Monday night at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.  

Cubs 2019 1st round draft pick RHP Ryan Jensen got the start for the Cubs and once again was unable to get through his second inning of work, throwing 34 pitches in just 1.1 IP (only 44% strikes) and walking three. His FB velo was 95-98 and his SL velo was 89-90 in his first inning, but the FB velo was down to 93-95 and the SL velo was down to 87-88 by the time he left the game with one out in the top of the 2nd.

Jensen is a two-pitch pitcher with command issues who has a significant decrease in velo after throwing just one inning, so as of right now he would appear to project as a one-inning power-reliever (and that's only if he can command his pitches for that one inning).    

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

SP Ronnie Williams tossed three innings of no run / no hit ball and combined with four relievers to hurl a four-hitter, Ricardo Genoves drilled an RBI single and a double, and Drew Robinson smacked a solo HR, helping the Richmond Flying Squirrels (San Francisco Giants AA affiliate) edge the Tennessee Smokies (Cubs AA affiliate) 3-2 in Cactus League Minor League Camp game action Sunday night at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ. 

Smokies SP Peyton Remy fanned seven Flying Squirrels (six swinging) in just 3.2 IP, and Christopher Morel crushed a two-run HR to the top of the LF berm in the bottom of the 9th to account for the two Tennessee runs.  

C. Morel continues to get reps in the outfield (he played CF again tonight), although he also does still play 3B occasionally. 

D. J. Wilson and Nelson Maldonado were moved up to AA Tennessee from Hi-A South Bend before the game. I don't know if the Maldonado move is permanent or if it relates to Tyler Durna being moved-down to South Bend from Tennessee and Alfonso Rivas not yet being active, and the D. J. Wilson move-up almost certainly relates to Brennen Davis being in concussion protocol.   

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

Tyler Payne cracked a solo HR in the bottom of the 2nd inning to put the Cubs on the board, and then Miguel Amaya tripled and scored in the 7th and belted a game-winning walk-off solo HR with two outs in the bottom of the 9th, earning the Tennessee Smokies (Cubs AA affiliate) a hard-fought 3-2 victory over the Midland RockHounds (Oakland Athletics AA affiliate) in Cactus League Minor League Camp game action Friday afternoon at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.  

J. J. Schwarz clubbed a game tying solo HR for the RockHounds in the top of the 9th to necessitate Amaya's heroics. 

This was Miguel Amaya's first game action since being sent to Minor League Camp from the Cubs Alternate Training Site in South Bend last week. He was sent to Minor League Camp after Tony Wolters agreed to accept an Outright Assignment to the ATS.  

Veteran MLB LHRP Adam Morgan saw his first game action of 2021, tossing a 1-2-3 twelve-pitch inning with two strikeouts (FB 91-93, SL 81-82, and CH/CV 76-78). The Cubs signed the 31-year old to a minor league contract this past off-season, and while he did receive an NRI to Spring Training, he did not pitch in any MLB Cactus League games. 

But RHRP Robert Stock was the highlight of the day pitching-wise, throwing two shutout innings and striking out four (swinging). He threw 28 pitches (75% strikes!) including 12 FB and 16 SL, and all 12 FB were 99 MPH or better (five at 99, four at 100, and three 101 MPH). Stock was claimed off waivers by the Cubs from the Boston Red Sox last December, and was sent outright to the minors in March.    

INF Luis Vazquez was moved-up to the Tennessee squad from the South Bend squad to replace Brennen Davis (who was hit in the face with a pitch yesterday). 

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

Zach Davis led off the 1st inning with a HR, doubled, walked, and stole two bases, Delvin Zinn collected three singles, walked, stole two bases, and scored two runs, and Connor Myers belted a two-run HR, as the Tennessee Smokies (Cubs AA affiliate) and the Rocket City Trash Pandas (Angels AA affiliate) played to a 6-6 tie in Cactus League Minor League Camp game action Thursday afternoon at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.  

Brennen Davis left the game after being hit on the side of his face with a pitch. He was on his hands and knees for a couple of minutes before leaving under his own power, but there was quite a bit of blood left behind on home plate.  

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

Jared Young drove-in four runs with a three-run HR and an RBI single, Christopher Morel blasted a three-run HR, doubled, walked, and scored two runs, Brennen Davis clubbed a solo HR, Connor Myers drilled an RBI double, Andy Weber singled, reached base on an HBP, and scored two runs, and Zach Davis singled, walked, and scored two runs, as the Tennessee Smokies (Cubs AA Affiliate) drubbed the Midland RockHounds (Oakland Athletics AA affiliate) 9-1 in Cactus League Minor League Camp game action Tuesday afternoon at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.   

Smokies SP Riley Thompson left the game with an unknown-type injury after facing just one batter in the 1st inning. 

Smokies RP Robert Stock's high-velo FB was (appropriately) smokin', clocking in at 97-99 MPH (T-100). The Cubs claimed the fireballin' Stock off waivers from the Boston Red Sox last December and then he was outrighted to the minors in March. 

The RockHounds played as the home team, and the game was called after 6-1/2 innings of play. 

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

SP Max Bain fired three innings of one hit shutout ball with six strikeouts and combined with five relievers on a four-hit shutout with 14 punch-outs, and Ed Howard IV singled twice, drove-in a run, and scored another, as the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs Lo-A affiliate) blanked the Inland Empire 66ers (Angels Lo-A affiliate) 4-0 in Cactus League Minor League Camp game action Monday afternoon at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.    

The Defensive Gem of the Day was a spectacular back-handed diving catch in left-centerfield by Pelicans LF Jacob Wetzel, proving the old adage, "You can take the boy out of centerfield, but you can't take the centerfielder out of the boy." 

Meanwhile, 23-year old 6'5 240 Max Bain has emerged as one of the Cubs top pitching prospects, and today he showed why.

Doing his best Trevor Bauer impression, Bain absolutely smoked the 66ers with overpowering gas, throwing mostly his electric 97-99 FB (which sat at 98-99 throughout his three innings of work) and mixing it with a high-velo 86-88 MPH SL/CT and an 84 MPH CH combo. I think it's likely that Bain will be the Opening Day SP for Myrtle Beach, but he probably won't remain there for long.   

Bain had an unusual path to affiliated ball (to say the least), signing with the Cubs as a non-drafted free-agent just before Spring Training 2020. He pitched for four years in obscurity (and mostly ineffectively) at NCAA D-2 Northwoods University in Michigan 2016-19, and then spent the summer following his senior year pitching for the Utica Unicorns in the independent United Shore Professional Baseball League in suburban Detroit. The Cubs signed him only after he lost a considerable amount of weight, which is why the timing of his signing (January) was so peculiar. 

Since signing with the Cubs, Bain has embraced the 21st century technology available at the Cubs Pitching Lab in Mesa and he has become an expert in the lab's various tools. He has also worked extensively with ex-Cub Luke Hagerty at Hagerty's 's X-2 Athletic Performance training center in Scottsdale.  

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

Luis Vazquez clubbed an opposite-field HR onto the right-centerfield berm on the first pitch of the bottom of the 1st inning, Luis Verdugo blasted a solo HR and singled, and Fidel Mejia laced a two-run double, leading the South Bend Cubs (Hi-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) to a 5-2 victory over the Lansing Lugnuts (Oakland Athletics' Hi-A affiliate) in Cactus League Minor League Camp game action Saturday afternoon at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ.  

Marty Bechina belted a solo HR for the Lugnuts in a losing cause. 

The game was called after six innings of play. 

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

Tyler Ramirez singled, doubled, and scored a run, and Mickey McDonald ripped a two run triple, walked, and scored, leading the Midland RockHounds (AA affiliate of the Oakland Athletics) to a 6-4 victory over the Tennessee Smokies (Cubs AA affiliate) in Cactus League Minor League game action Friday afternoon at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ. 

Andy Weber collected three singles, stole two bases, drove-in a run, and scored another for the Cubs in a losing cause. Weber was just recently sent to Cubs Minor League Camp in Mesa from the Cubs Alternate Training Site in South Bend.  

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

Fidel Mejia singled, doubled, walked, and scored two runs, Gustavo Polanco singled twice, drove-in a run, and scored a run, Ed Howard IV drilled an RBI double, and Eury Ramos threw two innings of perfect baseball with five strikeouts, leading the South Bend Cubs (now the Hi-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) to a 6-4 victory over the Eugene Emeralds (the San Francisco Giants' new Hi-A affiliate in the Northwest League) in Cactus League Minor League Camp game action Wednesday afternoon at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ. 

Jacob Gonzalez (son of former major leaguer Luis Gonzalez) clubbed a solo HR for the Ems off converted position player Jerrick Suiter, and then Suiter promptly left the game with an injury (not clear what it was) one pitch into the next batter.     

The Eury Ramos 97-99 MPH FB is both electric and dominating, especially when combined with his filthy 88-91 MPH wipe-out SL. The 23-year old Ramos is scheduled to be a minor league 6YFA post-2021 but he has yet to pitch above Lo-A, so look for him to move very quickly in 2021 if he can remain healthy.    

Here is the abridged box score (Cubs players only)

Here is the projected 28-man roster for the Cubs Alternate Training Site in South Bend that will be active until the start of the AAA regular season in May:

3/28 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have re-signed OF Cameron Maybin and C Erick Castillo to 2021 minor league contracts and they have been assigned to the Cubs MLB Alternate Training Site, and NRI LHRP Jerry Vasto has been released.    

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3/27 UPDATE: 

The Cubs have optioned INF Nico Hoerner to AAA Iowa, reassigned NRI RHPs Trevor Megill, Shelby Miller, and Pedro Strop and OF Rafael Ortega to Minor League Camp, and released NRI OF Cameron Maybin. 

CUBS RESERVE LIST: 39 (one slot is open) 
CUBS MLB ACTIVE LIST: 26 
CUBS SPRING TRAINING NRI: 5 (LHP Rex Brothers and Adam Morgan, C-INF P. J. Higgins, and INFs Matt Duffy and Ertic Sogard)

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3/26 UPDATE: 

LHP Brad Wieck has been optioned to AAA Iowa, and INF Sergio Alcantara has been assigned to Minor League Camp.  

CUBS RESERVE LIST: 39 (one slot is open) 
CUBS MLB ACTIVE LIST: 27 (must get down to 26 by 4/1)  
CUBS SPRING TRAINING NRI: 10 

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3/19 UPDATE: 

RHP James Norwood, LHP Kyle Ryan, and LHP Justin Steele have been optioned to AAA Iowa, LHP Brailyn Marquez has been optioned to AA Tennessee, and RHP Joe Biagini, C Jose Lobaton, and OFs Michael Hermosillo, Nick Martini, and Ian Miller have been reasigned to Minor League Camp.   


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3/15 UPDATE: 

RHP Keegan Thompson has been optioned to AAA Iowa, and INF Trent Giambrone has been reasigned to Minor League Camp.

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3/12 UPDATE:

RHP Gray Fenter (selected by the Cubs in last December's MLB Rule 5 Draft) has been re-claimed by the Baltimore Orioles, RHP Cory Abbott, RHP Tyson Miller, and RHP Kohl Stewart have been optioned to AAA Iowa, and RHP Manuel Rodriguez, C Miguel Amaya, and INF Christopher Morel have been optioned to AA Tennessee.

In addition, 16 Spring Training NRI (INF Abiatal Avelino, RHP James Bourque, OF Brennen Davis, RHP Juan Gamez, C Taylor Gushue, RHP Jake Jewell, LHP Brendon Little, RHP Tommy Nance, C Tyler Payne, 1B-OF Alfonso Rivas, RHP Michael Rucker, RHP Robert Stock, INF Chase Strumpf, LHP Jerry Vasto, INF Andy Weber, and INF 1B-OF Patrick Wisdom) have been reassigned to Minor League Camp.

Players optioned to the minors or reassigned to Minor League Camp can continue to play in Cactus League MLB Spring Training games, but will be paid the MLB Spring Training allowance only on those days when they are assigned to the Cubs MLB Cactus League game roster.

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3/9 UPDATE:

Eric Sogard is wearing # 4.

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3/7 UPDATE:

Duane Underwood Jr has been traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, so # 4, 11, 12, 34 (Kerry Wood's old number which appears to be semi-retired), 51 (Underwood's number), 69 (which the Cubs never issue) and 70 (Joe Maddon's number which appears to be semi-retired) are not issued.

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3/5 UPDATE: 

Pedro Strop is wearing # 64 (which is his long-time # 46 reversed) and so James Bourque switches from # 64 to # 20, Tyler Payne has been issued # 96, # 97,has been assigned to Sergio Alcantara, and Chase Strumpf is wearing # 98.

Eric Sogard is not active yet, but when he does take the field he will probably wear either # 4, 11, or 12 (TBD). 

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3/2 UPDATE: 


Jake Marisnick is wearing # 6 and so Ian Miller switches from # 6 to # 1, Ryan Tepera is wearing # 18 (hasn't been issued since Ben Zobrist retired), Cameron Maybin is wearing # 15 (the same number he wore last year) and so Austin Romine switches from # 15 to to # 25, and Andy Weber is wearing #83 with D. J. Snelten (who was wearing # 83) sent to EXST REHAB group with a sore elbow.

I have not seen Strop, Alcantara, or Strumpf on the field.  

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ORIGINAL POST 2/25:  

2021 CUBS SPRING TRAINING UNIFORM NUMBERS 

UPDATED  2/5: 

There will no doubt be trades, MLB and minor league free-agent signings, waiver claims, perhaps even a Rule 5 Draft pick, some non-tenders on 12/2, and maybe one or more Cubs minor leaguers will get taken in the Rule 5 Draft, but - AS THINGS STAND RIGHT NOW - here is the preliminary projected Cubs Spring Training roster: