Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full) 

28 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 

Last updated 3-26-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 15
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
Alexander Canario
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Independence Day Weekend Open Thread

Brewers vs. Cubs

I'm taking the weekend off from TCR to spend some much needed time with the family, although I probably will be around parachat for some of the games. We did have a decent chat crowd last night for the opener which always makes it more fun.

....Neal Cotts had Tommy John Surgery.

....Alfonso Soriano will be back at leadoff and left field today.

...Aramis Ramirez, Reed Johnson and Angel Guzman should be back Monday, goodbye Kevin Hart, Sam Fuld and ? (I assume one of Fox, Hoffpauir or Fontenot). Honestly, that Jeff Baker trade is making no sense. I assumed Ryan Freel was going to be the casualty of Aramis returning, but the Cubs created a bigger log jam with the acquisition. There's no doubt that Fox is hot and can handle major league pitching and while he sure hasn't been smooth in the field, he's made the plays so far. Ramirez isn't going to be able to play every day, so wouldn't you want Fox around on those days that he can't play and to give Bradley and Soriano some breaks (a lot more breaks)? I could see Fontenot getting sent down as he's just stunk up the joint, particularly over the last month, but that means committing to a Blanco/Baker second base platoon and having only three middle infielders which Lou doesn't seem to like.  I think Blanco is safe by virtue of being the only capable back-up shortstop on the team, safe at least until Aaron Miles returns.

I guess the answers will come Monday...Happy 4th!

Comments

Another roster move option is a DL stint for Soriano if the 2 days off dont do any good for him. I think its pretty obvious that leg injury he has been nursing isnt helping with his sitution even if it isnt the cause of it. I guess if Bradley doesnt produce this weekend he could be the next DL stint for anxiety in MLB. Unless Fonenot has a couple multi-hit games he is going back to Iowa as Blanco is safe (unless they trust Fonty to back up SS). I imagine they could always go down to 11 pitchers but that hasnt happened under Pinella.

With Fuld producing in the leadoff spot, it is stupid to take him out of there if he is playing and the postgame show on CSN hinted that he will be playing CF today. With Fuld on the roster the excuse that there is no typical leadoff hitter on the roster is now gone, so either Lou, Sori, or both of them are stubborn about him being there.

Submitted by The Real Neal on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 11:03am.
Vitters got two singles and Carpenter didn't give up any runs in his first game in Daytona yesterday.

=============================================

REAL NEAL: 9th round pick C-1B-DH Richard Jones (The Citadel) is a big-time left-handed power-hitter. Jones jacked two home runs in his pro debut at Fitch Park Wednesday night, and if you have been to Fitch and know what a huge park it is, it is really an amazing acomplishment to do what Jones did.

Also, #1 pick CF Brett Jackson is playing for the AZL Cubs for a while before he gets moved up to Boise. I would think Richard Jones will probably go with him.

And 12th round pick OF Runey Davis (played this past season for national JC champ Howard JC after leaving the University of Texas) and 7th round pick IF-OF Blair Springfield (MacArthur HS - Decatur, IL) are also playing for the AZL Cubs.

Apparently, Fuld NOT starting. I like Blanco. A lot. He is consistent in the field, and certainly can make the spectacular plays. However, he looked just horrible at the plate last night swinging at pitches nearly hitting his foot. Really Soriano-like. It won't be long until the league realizes he cannot hit breaking balls well, as Bren. mentioned last night. I hope he sticks. If you compare him to Cedeno (now hitting .126 I think with Seattle), it is an upgrade, imo.

I still can't figure out why Derrek Lee is still a Cub. Why do the Cubs keep playing him every day? Ohh thats right its now Soriano's turn to get the Dlee treatment. Time to bench/release/trade him cuz he is worthless and Sam Fuld can do a better job. ThEEEE Sam Fuld of 14 career AB's.

Submitted by The Real Neal on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 11:47am.

Thanks AZ Phil,

Have you got to see this Jones kid catch yet or heard the scuttlebutt on him playing that position? Think the writeup on the draft called him a good hit no field guy, but is that correctable or is he a first basemen?

=======================================

REAL NEAL: It's hard to draw any conclusions so far about Richard Jones remaining a catcher, but if he can stay back there, he would just have to be passably-mediocre because he has plus-power. Or to put it another way, if he was just a 1B-DH type, he'd still have a good shot to make it.

The Cubs got themselves a top pitching prospect (who can also hit, BTW) in the 9th round last year (RHP Jay Jackson out of Furman, who I rank as the Cubs #2 prospect), and it looks like they may have done it again in the 9th round this year, but this time they got a bat.

Interesting that Furman and The Citadel are both in the Southern Conference. They apparently develop some pretty good baseball personnel down there...

2008 11th round pick RHP Toby Matchulat (Wabash Valley JC) has pitched lights out so far for the AZL Cubs (11 scoreless innings) and should be ready for a promotion to Boise, if not to Peoria. Matchulat couldn't hit the broad side of a barn last year, but he has revamped his delivery and altered his arm slot (kudos to Mark Riggins and Rick Tronerud) and has really got it together.

Matchulat, LHP Melvin Vasquez, and RHP Dionis Nunez were battling for the last slot at Boise at the end of EXST, and Nunez won (and he has pitched well so far at Boise), but Matchulat is way too good to remain at Fitch Park.

DFA 2b/3b/SS/OF Russ Adams...don't tell Hendry.

CUBS STILL UNDEFEATED IN JULY!!! tough call to end the game for brewers, it looked just high, but we'd be going nuts if that call went against the cubs.

pitched really well and got of that jam created by Bradley losing the ball in the sun and the phantom HBP.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Everybody pitched well... at the end of the season someone will look at this and say that Zambrano had tough luck because he didn't get a win when he only gave up a run in 7 innings... With that accordion strike zone and the win blowing in it wasn't that hard pitching.

I think we should put Soriano at second. I know it's a terrible idea and he's a butcher etc, but it would be a nice thing to try until Fuld either proves himself or fizzles out (or until KFuk short circuits and Fuld can get some time in center). It might make it easier to replace him with Blanco late in the game due to his treacherous defense Fuld - 7 Theriot - 6 Lee - 3 Ramirez - 5 Bradley - 9 Sori - 4 Soto - 2 Fuku/Reed P Bench LHPH: Hoffpauir RHPH: Fox Hill Blanco Reed/Fuku Fontenot to AAA, I dunno about Baker

i just watched the highlights and boy did Fonty do everything he could to lose that game. he gets doubled off of second and then doesn't score on z's single. it was a bloop, sure, but there was no way cameron was getting that ball.

Since I'm not in the local Chicago viewing area, I followed the game on the computer. Were the HBPs of Fielder and Lee early in the game really accidental, kind of accidental, or pretty much not accidental? Also, it did seem that the strike zone was kind of mobile today.

The Houston-SF game is a fun one if a) you're a fan of watching the Astro's get clobbered and/or b) you're a fan of Pablo "The Fat" Sandoval. I fall into both categories.

Reed Johnson and Aramis Ramirez both seemed to play well at Peoria in the first game of their rehab assignments. Ramirez hit a double, so that's encouraging. It will be REALLY interesting to see what happens with upcoming roster crunch.

Maybe the roster crunch is going to be solved with a trade. There is some pitching depth and a lot of spare parts bouncing around. If we could end up with a major-league-average 2B in exchange for our odds 'n ends, the lineup starts looking pretty solid.

[ ]

In reply to by H_Vaughn

Since you brought it up, The major league average OPS for second basemen is .769 Guess which AL team is posting this line at 2B -- and name their primary second bagger .274 .348 .422 .769 * Mark DeRosa's line -- looks like an average MLB 2B'er to me .261 .334 .443 .777 Mike Fontenot's career line --- still looks pretty average .270 .349 .427 .776 Chicago Cubs' 2009 2B line -- woeful! 28th/30 in MLB .216 .271 .286 .557 .. .. .. .. ... ... .... .... * Baltimore Orioles -- Brian Roberts

Bradley RBI watch: still stuck on 17 On pace for 42 RBI Neifi "Saved us" Season: 54 RBI Can Bradley save the Cubs season and outduel the great Neifi Perez? Stay turned as we watch our off-season middle of the order juggernaught chase history.

What up Cub Nation? Happy 4th. I am a Chi transplant and now living in NOLA. I will be heading out to at least 2 of the 4 Iowa Cubs games this weekend - Tuesday for sure. If anyone is around and wants to talk Cubs or needs any info about the city let me know and will try and help out best I can. Have a safe holiday all.

well we don't have to hear about bradley's RBIs or an arguement about things lost in the sun. seems we have bigger issues or something...sup harden...sup soriano...sup bullpen

wow...they're trying to do things to sori's stance. granted...after about 250ab's of crap it's time to try something, but he hasn't tweaked his stance in a loooooong time. it doesn't seem major, but i've never seen him "relax/wait" on his trailing leg in the box. ---- Manager Lou Piniella wants Soriano to narrow his stance and “get a little weight on his backside so he can sit on (the pitch) a little longer." ---- they're not trying to move him back in the box, evidently. the guy's never been able to see breaking stuff, he sits in the front of the box trying to hit them before they break...so i dunno if moving him back in the box is even an option. ...also fuku is supposedly gonna be leading off for a while (with fuld/reed spelling i'd imagine) for the forseeable future.

On a cloudy day, Cubbers watching the game with $100's 90% tinted glasses... That shows you how far we have fallen. Even Len had to boo the fan who couldn't see out of them. ...then there was Chet Koppeck in his short shorts...ugh... did the Cubs win today?

Todays game is fairly crucial...taking 3 out of 4 from the Brewers means that their is still hope. Splitting the series leaves alot of questions, but isn't a total disaster. I want to at least be 3 games or less back from the Cardinals for next weekends series.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

Fuku CF, Riot SS, Lee 1B, Bradley RF, Fox 3B, Soriano LF, Soto C, Fontenot 2B, Lilly P Much improved lineup at home except for the black hole batting sixth. At home: Fukudome .374 OBP Theriot .360 OBP Lee .372 OBP .308 AVG .592 SLG Bradley .417 OBP .315 AVG .522 SLG Fox insufficient data rearranging the final four: Soto -- A good argument could be made that Soto belongs on the All-Star team. Believe it or not, Geo leads all Qualified NL catchers in OPS at the moment. Fontenot (6/15 the last week) has not been a liability recently Soriano (2/20 the last week) just leave him here and forget about him P

[ ]

In reply to by Chifan

I haven't seen the final tallies, but, upon checking the current tallies on ESPN, I am firmly of the opinion that voting needs to be taken out of the hands of fans. It is absolutely ridiculous, because A) fans are stupid and vote for their favorites (eg Soriano, Hamilton) and B) small market players have no shot (eg Justin Upton, Scutaro, whoever). The All Star game is a fucking joke if it determines WS home field advantage AND it isn't represented by the best players that year. [Edit] Also Pablo should have been in the mix.

[ ]

In reply to by The Joe

That's my thing, too. Either pick one or the other. If you want it to mean something, let the managers, players, or even some stupid suits in NYC pick the most deserving players and then go play. The other option is to let the fans jerk themselves off for 2 months and then play an exhibition. I still can't see how it's a good idea to have it both ways. Although, 2/3 of the NL starting OF isn't even going to play. So it's pretty likely that Justin Upton and Hawpe will start, anyway.

[ ]

In reply to by The Joe

The biggest snub in the NL was Reynolds not making it because Manuel went with his own guy (Howard) for his manager's pick. That is why I think the managers picking the starters would be as bad as the fans as they would go with their own guys as much as the fans do. The best way to pick the starters is to divide the vote in fourths. With the fans, the players, beat reporters and broadcast teams and the manager all having equal say.

has to stay in the lineup after A-Ram comes back. Soriano and Bradley can take a seat to get him in the lineup, at least until opposing pitchers figure him out, if they ever do. That might mean that Hoffpauir has to be sent down, though. Frankly, I could do without Baker and I see no need to ever call up Aaron Miles.

[ ]

In reply to by Jumbo

I'd rather just sit Soriano and/or Bradley (or preferably DL one or both of them). It's not like Soriano is hitting much better than Fontenot anyway. Fontenot's swing has looked better the past few days. Actually, Bradley appears to be coming around and is posting an adequate OBP if nothing else, and Fuki has shown signs of life. But Soriano looks as awful as he's ever looked.

[ ]

In reply to by Charlie

I guess we have to plan on Soriano playing basically everyday, even if it takes him forever to come around. Given that he's in the lineup, him at second would let Fox keep on hitting. It won't happen, of course. With Bradley, Fuku, and Fonty all starting to come around at once it makes for a tough roster decision. I think it will be Fuld, Hoffpauir and Hart down.

[ ]

In reply to by Jumbo

aside from middle IF and C this team has starters locked in for another year (d.lee) and 2+ for most. should be an interesting offseason with the excess talent (or a vet) going somewhere...if they're not shifted in the next few weeks.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

But only 1 reliever is coming back from the DL and you have 2 relievers going down. I guess it's conceivable to have a 11-person pitching staff but standard operating procedure these days is to carry 12 pitchers isn't it? My guess: Fuld, Ninja, and Fox But what I would do... Fuld, Ninja, and Fontenot Interesting that Blanco is listed above Fontenot at 2B on the Cubs.com depth chart. Gives me a little more hope that Andy White sticks around... though I would swap Riot & Blanco because I think Riot does less damage at 2B. Either way the team gets a ton better tomorrow, whether A-Ram hits for power or not by virtue of them having a legit starting third baseman take the field.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

Interesting that Blanco is listed above Fontenot at 2B on the Cubs.com depth chart. Gives me a little more hope that Andy White sticks around The Cubs don't maintain Cubs.com, so they don't maintain the depth chart. In other words, the depth chart on Cubs.com doesn't tell us anything.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

When you say 'legit' are you talking about as a 9th inning defensive replacement, or as a spot starter? There's nothing about Blanco's 340 ML PA's that point to him being a legitimate ML player, nor in his minor league career really. To put it in context: OPS+ Pie 60 Cedeno 59 Blanco 55

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

With all due respect... Fontenot's bat will win about as many games as Blanco's bat. Fuck their bats. Get our multi-million dollar batters to hit the damn ball and it doesn't matter if Blanco goes 0-for for the rest of the season. Last week Fontenot booted a completely routine and easy grounder to second base. They ended up getting out of the inning easily, but what if that were an important play in an important game? It's baseball, folks, find some guys that can catch a baseball and throw the baseball. I'm pretty damn sick of this little league b.s. where the ball gets booted around the field. And no I haven't seen either one of their stats, I don't know Blanco's batting average and I don't care.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

Mike Fontenot has one error at 2b this year. His defense at 2b has hardly been a problem. I agree with you that Blanco is very good defensive. But I would argue that Fontenot is also at least decent, if not good, defensively at 2b. And using one play as an example of why he sucks defensively is silly. Even Derrek Lee makes the occasional error on a routine play.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

It's not silly. This isn't the Pacific Coast League, it the big leagues and you make routine plays. And you cite only one error at 2B when he's played at 3B most of the season. The thing is, on a scale of 1-10, the level of difficulty on that particular play was probably a 2. Look, I know we all get warm and fuzzies with Fontenot and that's fine... I'm just saying I prefer Blanco. I hope Blanco is our starting 2B. Fontenot might be an effective bat off the bench, though. He has some surprising pop.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

It's not silly. Yea it is. Every major league baseball player makes mistakes, sometimes on routine plays. Even some of the best defensive players (such as Derrek Lee) will drop the occasional ball or make an occasional bad throw. It happens. I am sure it has has even happened to Blanco. And you cite only one error at 2B when he's played at 3B most of the season. Sure... but he has still played more innings at 2b than Blanco. By the way, I know that you don't want facts to get in the way, but Blanco and Fontenot basically have identical fielding %'s - .988 and .987 respectively. Blanco does have better range though. Look, I know we all get warm and fuzzies with Fontenot and that's fine We do? Speak for yourself. I get no warm fuzzies with Fontenot. Look... I like Blanco's defense. I really do. But Blanco has a career minor league OPS of 635. That is just plain awful. I think that we could all probably agree that Blanco is better defensively than Fontenot. But I would argue that Fontenot brings A LOT more to the plate (literally) than Blanco does, and more than makes up for the slight difference in defense.

[ ]

In reply to by big_lowitzki

Well then I've never seen so much argument between two people that agree: Fontenot is the better bat and Blanco is the better defender. I'm saying that defense matters. Get the big bats to earn their paychecks and hit the damn ball and it doesn't matter who you have playing second... in that case I take the better defender and don't think twice about it. And I know ol' Dave must be struggling if he's pulling out Fielding Percentages... so let's just agree to disagree... or agree... or whatever the hell is going on.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

I agree that defense matters. And I am using fielding %'s because you want to refer to one individual error. I just don't think that Blanco's defense is that much better than Fontenot to justify Blanco playing everyday over Fontenot. But I think that we are arguing about which mediocre (at best) player is better, and it probably doesn't make much of a difference either way at this point.

[ ]

In reply to by Ryno

During one of the games this week they said they would try to go with 11 pitchers to the all-star break and, then get the guys some rest and go with 11 for a bit after that as well. It all depends on how well the starters do, of course.

my roster guesses are: Soriano to the DL for that leg injury he has been nursing. Fuld and Hart optioned to Iowa. It looks like Soriano needs a break and with the all-star break its really only a 11-day stint. All of the other guys who have struggled this season have started to turn it around except him. They should take advantage of the role that Fox is on and put him in LF until Soriano comes back.

my best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw patton slip on a banana peel outside of wrigley field last night. i guess it's pretty serious.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    18-year old SS Jefferson Rojas almost made the AA Tennessee Opening Day roster, and he is a legit shortstop, so I would expect him to be an MLB Top 100 prospect by mid-season. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Among the relievers in the system, I expect RHRP Hunter Bigge at AAA Iowa and RHRP Ty Johnson at South Bend to have breakout seasons on 2024, and among the starters I see LHP Drew Gray and RHP Will Sanders at South Bend and RHP Naz Mule at ACL Cubs as the guys who will make the biggest splash. Also, Jaxon Wiggins is throwing bullpen sides, so once he is ready for game action he could be making an impact at Myrtle Beach by June.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I expect OF Christian Franklin to have a breakout season at AA Tennessee in 2024. In another organization that doesn't have PCA, Caissie, K. Alcantara, and Canario in their system, C. Franklin would be a Top 10 prospect. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The Reds trading Joe Boyle for Sam Moll at last year's MLB Trade Deadline was like the Phillies trading Ben Brown to the Cubs for David Robertson at the MLB TD in 2022. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Javier Assad started the Lo-A game (Myrtle Beach versus Stockton) on the Cubs backfields on Wednesday as his final Spring Training tune-up. He was supposed to throw five innings / 75 pitches. However, I was at the minor league road games at Fitch so I didn't see Assad pitch. 

  • crunch (view)

    cards put j.young on waivers.

    they really tried to make it happen this spring, but he put up a crazy bad slash of .081/.244/.108 in 45PA.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Seconded!!!

  • crunch (view)

    another awesome spring of pitching reports.  thanks a lot, appreciated.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Here are the Cubs pitchers reports from Tuesday afternoon's Cardinals - Cubs game art Sloan Park in Mesa:

    SHOTA IMANAGA
    FB: 90-92 
    CUT: 87-89 
    SL: 82-83 
    SPLIT: 81-84
    CV: 73-74 
    COMMENT: Worked three innings plus two batters in the fourth... allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits (six singles and two doubles) walked one, and struck out six (four swinging), with a 1/2 GO/AO... he threw 73 pitches (52 strikes - 10 swing & miss - 19 foul balls)... surrendered one run in the top of the 1st on a one-out double off Cody Bellinger's glove in deep straight-away CF followed one out later by two consecutive two-out bloop singles, allowed two runs (one earned) in the 2nd after retiring the first two hitters (first batter had a nine-pitch AB with four consecutive two-strike foul balls before being retired 3 -U) on a two-out infield single (weak throw on the run by Nico Hoerner), a hard-contact line drive RBI double down the RF line, and an E-1 (missed catch) by Imanaga on what should been an inning-ending 3-1 GO, gave up another run in the 3rd on a two-out walk on a 3-2 pitch and an RBI double to LF, and two consecutive singles leading off the top of the 4th before being relieved (runners were ultimately left stranded)... threw 18 pitches in the 1st inning (14 strikes - two swing & miss, one on FB and the other on a SL - four foul balls), 24 pitches in the 2nd inning (17 strikes - three swing & miss, one on FB, two SPLIT - six foul balls), 19 pitches in the 3rd inning (13 strikes - seven swing & miss, three on SL, two on SPLIT, one on FB - three foul balls), and 12 pitches without retiring a batter in the top of the 4th (8 strikes - no swing & miss - four foul balls)... Imanaga throws a lot of pitches per inning, but it's not because he doesn't throw strikes...  if anything, he throws too many strikes (he threw 70% strikes on Tuesday)... while he gets a ton of swing & miss (and strikeouts), he also induces a lot of foul balls because he doesn't try to make hitters chase his pitches by throwing them out of the strike zone... rather, he uses his very diverse pitch mix to get swing & miss (and lots of foul balls as well)... he also is a fly ball pitcher who will give up more than his share of HR during the course of the season...   
     
    JOE NAHAS
    FB: 90-92 
    SL: 83-85 
    CV: 80-81 
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day... relieved Imanaga with runners at first and second and no outs in the top of the 4th, and after an E-2 catcher's interference committed by Miguel Amaya loaded he bases, Nahas struck out the side (one swinging & two looking)... threw 16 pitches (11 strikes - two swinging)...   

    YENCY ALMONTE
    FB: 89-92 
    CH: 86 
    SL: 79 
    COMMENT: Threw an eight-pitch 5th (five strikes - no swing & miss), with a 5-3 GO for the first out and an inning-ending 4-6-3 DP after a one-out single... command was a bit off but he worked through it...   

    FRANKIE SCALZO JR
    FB: 94-95
    CH: 88 
    SL: 83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 6th inning... got the first outs easily (a P-5 and a 4-3 GO) on just three pitches, before allowing three consecutive two-out hard-contact hits (a double and two singles), with the third hit on pitch # 9 resulting in a runner being thrown out at the plate by RF Christian Franklin for the third out of the inning... 

    MICHAEL ARIAS
    FB: 94-96
    CH: 87-89
    SL: 82-83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and allowed a hard-contact double on the third pitch of the 7th inning (a 96 MPH FB), and the runner came around to score on a 4-3 GO and a WP... gave up two other loud contact outs (an L-7 and an F-9)... threw 18 pitches (only 10 strikes - only one swing & miss)... stuff is electric but still very raw and he continues to have difficulty commanding it, and while he has the repertoire of a SP, he throws too many pitches-per-inning to be a SP and not enough strikes to be a closer... he is most definitely still a work-in-progress...   

    ZAC LEIGH: 
    FB: 93-94 
    CH: 89 
    SL: 81-83 
    CV: 78
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and tossed a 1-2-3 8th (4-3 GO, K-swinging on a sweeper, K-looking on another sweeper)... threw 14 pitches (11 strikes - one swing & miss - eight foul balls)... kept pumping pitches into the strike zone but had difficulty putting hitters away (ergo a ton of foul balls)... FB velo is nowhere near the 96-98 MPH it was a couple of years ago when he was a Top 30 prospect, but his secondaries are better...   

    JOSE ROMERO:  
    FB: 93-95
    SL: 82-84
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 9th (14 pitches - only six strikes- no swing & miss) and allowed a solo HR after two near-HR fly outs to the warning track, before getting a 3-1 GO to end the inning... it was like batting practice when he wasn't throwing pitches out of the strike zone...

  • crunch (view)

    pablo sandoval played 3rd and got a couple ABs (strikeout, single!) in the OAK@SF "exhibition"

    mlb officially authenticated the ball of the single he hit.  nice.

    he's in surprisingly good shape considering his poor body condition in his last playing seasons.  he's not lean, but he looks healthier.  good for him.