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

Family Feud at Camelback Ranch

Trayce Thompson crushed a towering home run and the White Sox scored five runs in the 6th to overcome a 3-1 deficit, as the Cubs dropped a 7-4 decision to their crosstown rivals in AZ Instructional League action at Camelback Ranch this afternoon.

In Chicago, “Crosstown Classic” means North-side versus South-side, but in Arizona it’s East-side (Cubs) versus West-side (Sox) when the two Windy City adversaries clash.

18-year old Reggie Golden (Cubs 2010 2nd round draft pick out of Wetumpka HS - Wetumpka, AL) had an eventful day, dropping a fly ball in RF for a two-base error in the bottom of the 1st inning (his third dropped fly ball in a week), striking out on three pitches (swinging) leading-off the top of the second, and doubling-up a baserunner at 1st base 9-3 to help Austin Reed escape a third inning jam, before launching an opposite-field solo HR--against the wind--in the 5th.

In addition to Golden’s HR, Evan Crawford tripled, scored two runs, and stole a base (the speedy Crawford was acquired by the Cubs from SF this past August in the Mike Fontenot deal), and 18-year old Venezuelan bonus baby Willson Contreras mashed a solo HR off the scoreboard beyond the LF fence. But it just wasn't enough.

Cubs 2010 9th round draft pick RHP Kevin Rhoderick (Oregon State) had another fine outing, striking out the side in his one inning of work, as he just blew the Sox hitters away.

Here is today’s abridged box score (Cubs players only):

LINEUP:
1a. Evan Crawford, CF: 1-3 (E5, 4-3, 3B, 2 R, SB)
1b. Xavier Batista, RF: 0-1 (K)
2. Gioskar Amaya, SS: 1-4 (K, K, 1B, K, RBI)
3a. Micah Gibbs, C: 0-3 (4-3, 1-3, F-8)
3b. Max Kwan, C: 0-1 (K)
4. Ryan Cuneo, 1B: 2-4 (1B, F-9, 1B, 4-3, RBI)
5a. Dustin Geiger, 3B: 0-2 (K, F-9)
5b. Willson Contreras, 3B: 1-2 (P-5, HR, RBI, R)
6. Reggie Golden, RF-CF: 1-4 (K, HR, P-6, 6-3, RBI, R)
7. Marco Hernandez, 2B: 0-3 (K, K, K)
8. Chris Huseby, DH #1: 1-2 (2B, K, BB)
9. Delbis Arcila, DH #2: 0-3 (F-8, 4-3, K)
10. Oliver Zapata, LF: 1-3 (6-3, 4-3, 1B)

PITCHERS:
1. Austin Reed: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 46 pitches (29 strikes), 4/2 GO/FO
2. Ben Wells: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 BALK, 13 pitches (6 strikes), 1/2 GO/FO
3. Hunter Ackerman: 1.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R (4 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 26 pitches (17 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO
4. Starling Peralta: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 1 HR, 25 pitches (20 strikes), 1/3 GO/FO
5. Casey Harman: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 10 pitches (9 strikes), 0/1 GO/FO
6. Kevin Rhoderick: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 22 pitches (11 strikes)

ERRORS: (3)
1. RF Reggie Golden E-9 (dropped fly ball - two base error allowed batter to reach base)
2. P Hunter Ackerman E-1 (errant pick-off attempt at 1st base - allowed runner to advance to 3rd base)
3. C Max Kwan E-2 (errant throw to 1st base after fielding swinging bunt in front of home plate - allowed batter to reach base - eventually scored unearned run)

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Micah Gibbs: 1-2 CS
Max Kwan: 1 E (see above)

OUTFIELD ASSISTS:
Reggie Golden doubled runner off 1st base 9-3 after L-9 out
Oliver Zapata doubled runner off 2nd base 7-4 after L-7 out

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

ATTENDANCE: 19 (mostly scouts)

WEATHER: Cloudy & breezy, with temperatures in the 80’s

Comments

Micah Gibbs hasn't done anything statistically since signing that would indicate he can hit a lick. Please tell me he looks better than his record indicates. Also, I probably missed this but who is Max Kwan and where did ne come from?

[ ]

In reply to by chuck

Submitted by chuck on Wed, 10/06/2010 - 7:12pm. Micah Gibbs hasn't done anything statistically since signing that would indicate he can hit a lick. Please tell me he looks better than his record indicates. Also, I probably missed this but who is Max Kwan and where did ne come from? ==================================== CHUCK: Micah Gibbs improved his hitting enough from 2009 to 2010 to where he was the leading hitter among starting position players at LSU in 2010 (388/438/592), but there was a red flag in his folder because he hit only .212 with a wood bat in the Cape Cod League in 2009. So far in pro ball Gibbs has hit more like he did in the Cape Cod League in 2009 than LSU in 2010. In 169 PA combined between AZL Cubs and Boise in 2010, Gibbs hit just 197/268/243 (and 13/33 BB/K), with seven doubles and no HR. He is showing more patience and hitting with more power so far at Instructs (211/400/422 with 5/5 BB/K in 25 PA, with a double and a HR). He has also thrown out four of six base stealers (67%), which is better than was advertised (21% combined at AZL Cubs and Boise). He definitely has some XBH power when he gets the bat on the ball, and he has improved his hitting some in Instructs, but he still has a ways to go. I do think he will be the #1 catcher at Peoria in 2011. Max Kwan was signed as a Non-Drafted Free-Agent (NDFA) college senior by the Cubs in August to add catching depth in the low minors. He started his college career at Tulane before transferring to the University of Washington, but he missed two full seasons and large parts of two others due to injuries. He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners out of HS in June 2005, however, and was considered a pretty good catching prospect at that time (before he got hurt). The Cubs probably had an old scouting report on him from when he was in HS and decided they would give him a chance to play pro ball. He's a big kid (6'3 225) and he has some power, but he also isn't a very good hitter, and his defense needs work, too. Kwan is 23 years old and will turn 24 in December, so he doesn't have much time to prove himself.

5. Casey Harman: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 10 pitches (9 strikes), 0/1 GO/FO --- Casey looks real good on paper, how about in person?

[ ]

In reply to by Cubster

Submitted by Cubster on Wed, 10/06/2010 - 7:54pm. 5. Casey Harman: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 10 pitches (9 strikes), 0/1 GO/FO --- Casey looks real good on paper, how about in person? ================================================== CUBSTER: Casey Harman is a soft-tossing lefty whose two-seam fastball tops out at 88. He also throws a nice change-up and a little slider. He occasionally drops down sidearm, and I wouldn't be surprised if he can throw a ball while standing on his head, too. He is the epitome of the "crafty lefty." Guys like that often will do well in the low minors because they can toy with young hitters, but their stuff usually catches up with them at AA and AAA. Still, there are pitchers like Harman in the big leagues, his stuff was good enough to beat #1 ranked Arizona State in the College World Series last June, and he was the #1 starter ("Friday Night Starter") at Clemson this past season. The Cubs liked him enough that they gave him 5th round money ($150K) to sign, even though he fell to the 29th round due to signability issues (he made it known in advance that he would go back to Clemson for his senior season if he didn't get Top 5 round money, even though most scouts had him rated as just a 10th round talent at best).

PHIL: I believe you had addressed this before, but are there "stoppages of play" in the AZL for "teaching moments"? Or are things status quo?

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

Submitted by The E-Man on Wed, 10/06/2010 - 9:36pm. PHIL: I believe you had addressed this before, but are there "stoppages of play" in the AZL for "teaching moments"? Or are things status quo? ===================================== E-MAN: They don't stop play during an inning, but a lot of times the instructors meet with the players coming off the field to discuss what just happened. But they don't do anything during an inning while play is in progress. One exception was last year, when Rickey Henderson was an outfield instructor for the A's, and he actually stood in the outfield with the LF, CF, or RF DURING THE INNING and provided the player with real time instruction. (Or maybe he was regaling the players with old war stories, I don't know). But it was sort of like "Angels in the Outfield," except in this case it was Rickey in the Outfield. Last week Reggie Golden was on deck and he failed to go to home plate and "coach" a runner coming into score whether to stand-up or slide (the runner scored standing up but just barely beat the throw), and Golden and all the other Cubs players were apparently provided with a "teaching moment" about it prior to the next game, because the next time it happened the batter on deck (Jae-Hoon Ha) came running up to home plate like a crazy person and made sure to tell the runner to slide.

not surprisingly, Rangers DFA Rich Harden the bigger they are the... he didn't make their ALDS roster, then whammo. I see towel drills in his future.

As always, great stuff AZ Phil. I have a quick question about Ben Wells. Has he maintained his improved stuff from his senior year? If I recall correctly, he was a 89-90 mph guy with a decent secondary offering the summer before his senior year. However, reports were that he added about 4-5 mph on his fastball his senior year, to where his was sitting 92-93, while routinely touching 95. Is Wells still enjoying that type of fastball velocity? Thanks in advance.

[ ]

In reply to by Hrubes20

Submitted by Hrubes20 on Thu, 10/07/2010 - 8:06am. As always, great stuff AZ Phil. I have a quick question about Ben Wells. Has he maintained his improved stuff from his senior year? If I recall correctly, he was a 89-90 mph guy with a decent secondary offering the summer before his senior year. However, reports were that he added about 4-5 mph on his fastball his senior year, to where his was sitting 92-93, while routinely touching 95. Is Wells still enjoying that type of fastball velocity? Thanks in advance. ==================================== HRUBES20: Ben Wells hadn't pitched since May, so he has been brought along very slowly at Instructs, with a low pitch count (about 15 per game). So his stuff (and velocity) is where it would be in maybe the second week of Spring Training.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

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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.