Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

39 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (one slot is open), plus two players are on the 60-DAY IL and one player has been DESIGNATED FOR ASSIGNMENT (DFA)   

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and eight players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, three players are on the 15-DAY IL, and two players is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-24-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Hector Neris 
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Pete Crow-Armstrong 
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 8 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Jose Cuas, P 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Miles Mastrobuoni, INF
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

10-DAY IL: 2
* Cody Bellinger, OF  
Seiya Suzuki, OF

15-DAY IL: 3
Kyle Hendricks, P 
* Drew Smyly, P 
* Justin Steele, P   

60-DAY IL: 2 
Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P

DFA: 1 
Garrett Cooper, 1B 
 




Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Cubs & Angels Play Pretend World Series Game 7 at Fitch

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

In what may be a preview of the World Series, the Cubs defeated the Angels 3-2 in AZ Instructional League action at Fitch Park Field #3 in Mesa this afternoon.

Robinson Chirinos was the primary offensive force for the Cubs today, reaching base four times on a solo HR, a double and two walks.

Of course Chirinos also is something of a "ringer," since he has played eight seasons in the Cubs organization, including the first two months of 2008 at AA Tennessee. The only reason Chirinos is even at "Instructs" is because he is making the conversion from infielder to catcher (although he played RF today), so he certainly is not at Fitch to work on his hitting, especially when he is primarily facing 19 and 20-year old kid pitchers.  

Chirinos is eligible to be a minor league FA after the conclusion of the 2008 World Series, but the fact that the Cubs went to the trouble to convert him to catcher and then invited him to attend the AZ Instructional League probably means Chirinos has (or will) "re-up" with the Cubs for 2009. If that is the case, he would probably project as a "super-sub" C-IF-OF at AA Tennessee in '09, and he could conceivably even get an NRI to Spring Training with the big club as a reward for his hard work and his willingness to remain in the organization.  

In addition to the big day at the plate for Chirinos, 2008 25th round pick Rebel Ridling (Oklahoma State) had two hits including a triple and a two-out RBI single, 2008 6th round pick 2B-LF Josh Harrison (U. of Cincinnati) had his third double in two days, and SS Starlin Castro rapped out two hits, giving him a total of five over his last two games. 

CF Brandon Guyer (who homered Monday and Tuesday) returned to the lineup and went 0-4 with two strikeouts out of the "clean-up" slot. 

Just like Opening Day last Monday, 2008 2nd round draft pick RHP Aaron Shafer (Wichita State) and 3rd rounder RHP Chris Carpenter (Kent State) each worked two innings of shutout ball. Effectively mixing up his pitches, working both sides of the plate with his fastball, and throwing quality strikes, Shafer "pitched to contact" the way your supposed to do it, as the right-hander needed only 20 pitches to complete his two innings of work. And Carpenter's 93 MPH sinker had good action today, too.

LHP James Leverton (2008 8th round pick out of Texas Tech) also worked two innings, and he surrendered his second HR in two games as Roberto Lopez took Leverton deep in the top of the 5th.   

RHP Erik Hamren (37th round pick out of Saddleback CC by way of the University of the Pacific) made his first appearance in an Instructs game and did not last an inning, as he struggled with his control (24 pitches, only 12 strikes) while allowing one run on one hit and two walks in 2/3 of an inning.

RHP Dan McDaniel (who likely will be the closer at Peoria in 2009), ex-catcher Jake Muyco, and Daytona LHP Jayson Ruhlman worked one shutout inning a piece, with Ruhlman absolutely carving up the Angels' youngsters in his one inning.

Pitching in the "Advanced-A" Florida State League for a full season in 2008, Ruhlman and RHP Brian Schlitter (acquired from the Phillies for Scott Eyre) are the two most experienced Cubs pitchers at Instructs, and so they have a natural advantage over the some of the opposition's younger hitters. (Both Ruhlman and Schlitter will almost certainly be in the AA Tennessee bullpen in 2009).

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

NOTE: While the Cubs won the game 3-2 in nine innings, the game was extended an extra inning (top of the 10th) to allow Jayson Ruhlman to get his pre-scheduled one inning of work. 

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

LINEUP:
1. Josh Harrison, LF: 1-3 (2B, BB)
2. Matt Cerda, DH-C: 0-4
3. Robinson Chirinos, RF: 2-2 (2 R, RBI, HR, 2B, 2 BB)
4. Brandon Guyer, CF: 0-4 (2 K)
5. Rebel Ridling, 1B: 2-4: (RBI, 3B, K)
6. Jake Opitz, 2B: 0-4
7. Starlin Castro, SS: 2-4 (R)
8. Junior Lake, 3B: 1-3 (BB, K)
9a. Michael Brenly, C: 0-1 (BB)
9b. Carlos Morales, DH: 0-2
10. Hak-Ju Lee, DH #2: 0-3 (RBI GO)

PITCHING:
1. Aaron Shafer - 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 PO (2/3 GO/FO) - 20 pitches (14 strikes)
2. Chris Carpenter - 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K (3/0 GO/FO) - 29 pitches (16 strikes)  
3. James Leverton - 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HR (4/1 GO/FO) - 28 pitches (19 strikes)
4. Dan McDaniel - 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K (1/1 GO/FO) - 16 pitches (11 strikes)
5. Erik Hamren - 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 0 K (1/0 GO/FO) - 24 pitches (12 strikes) 
6. Jake Muyco - 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K (2/2 GO/FO) - 9 pitches (6 strikes)
7. Jayson Ruhlman - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (1/0 GO/FO) - 13 pitches (11 strikes)

ERRORS (3):
1. Starlin Castro, E-6, dropped pop fly in LF foul territory  
2. Junior Lake, E-5, misplayed ground ball allowing batter to reach base
3. Jake Muyco, E-1, overthrew pick-off attempt at 1st base allowing runner to reach 2nd base
 
CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Michael Brenly: 1-3 CS
Matt Cerda: 1-3 CS

WEATHER: 100+, sunny, hot, hot hot
ATTENDANCE: 17 (mostly scouts)

Tags
Aaron Shafer
Robinson Chirinos
Starlin Castro
Chris Carpenter
AZ Instructional League

Comments

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 09/26/2008 - 09:32 pm

Submitted by skavoovee on Thu, 09/25/2008 - 7:35pm.

 Any feel for how Josh Harrison compare to Tony Thomas?

And where is Josh Vitters?

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

SKAVOOVEE: Tony Thomas is the better hitter, and Josh Harrison is the better defender and is more versatile. Both have plus-speed.

While Harrison could morph into an IF-OF utility guy (in fact that's how I would project him down the line), Thomas really will have to make it as an everyday 2B.

I don't know what's up with Josh Vitters. 

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 09/26/2008 - 09:38 pm

Submitted by GreenKnight on Fri, 09/26/2008 - 2:30pm.

Phil - Thanks for the updates on the prospects.

Just FYI - Shafer was the 2nd round draft choice this year not the 3rd. He was the Cubs 3rd pick because they had a supplemental round pick between rounds 1 and 2.

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

GREEN KNIGHT: Thanks. I have fixed that. For some reason I keep mixing up where Shafer and Carpenter were drafted. Hopefully I'll remember it now. 

Recent comments

  • First.Pitch.120 (view)

    Honorable mention to Jim Bullinger via BleedCubbieBlue: 

    Bullinger, a converted shortstop, had pitched in three games before he came to the plate. He had entered the game to relieve starter Shawn Boskie after four innings, and came to the plate to lead off the fifth, and hit Rheal Cormier's first pitch over the left-field wall to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead; they eventually won the game 5-2 in 14 innings. Of the 129players to homer in their first MLB at-bat, Bullinger is one of just 32 to hit that blast on the first big-league pitch he saw (including Contreras) and one of just six pitchers to do so.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Most of this activity will lead nowhere, of course, but it is fantastic that they’re looking for talent in every nook and cranny. You never know where that can lead, and virtually nothing is lost if if leads nowhere, as long as no one of superior talent and potential is losing an opportunity.

  • First.Pitch.120 (view)

    Fun 1st Hit / HR Fact…


    Recent Cubs players to have HR as 1st MLB hit:

    PCA

    Morel

    Happ

    Contreras

    Baez

    Soler

    Castro

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Childersb3: Miguel Cruz walked six in 1.2 IP in his last start, so I guess he is improving. Wilme Mora also walked six in one of his appearances a week or two ago, and one or two others have walked five. I don't know what would be the most I have ever seen a pitcher throw in a game out here, because the manager / pitching coach usually gets the pitcher out of the game if it gets too ridiculous. 

    As for the attendance, probably about 20 of the 25 were early arrivals for the Savannah Bananas game who came over to Field # 1 to see what was going on, and once they saw all the bases on balls (12 walks by Cubs pitchers and four by Angels pitchers) they ran away screaming. I'm used to it so it didn't bother me that much. 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Jed has added Teheran, Tyranski, Kissaki, and now Straily and Nico Zeglin today.

    Zeglin is 24 yrs old. Pitched well at Long Beach St in '23 and well in some Indy Ball.

    They also added Reilly and Viets in late ST.

    Have to search for MiLB arm depth anywhere you can and at all times!!!

  • Childersb3 (view)

    25 in Attendance!!!

    Phil, is that a backfield record?

    Also, 6 BBs for Cruz in 2 IP. What's the most walks you've seen in one EXT ST outing that you can recall?

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    He has a pulse. Apparently that’s the only requirement at this point.

  • crunch (view)

    cubs sign dan straily...for some reason.  minor league deal.

    welcome back.

    zac rosscup is down in mexico trying to make it happen...maybe they could throw him a contract, too.  junior lake is his teammate.  shore up a bunch of holes with some washups.

  • fullykräusened (view)

    The great thing about going to live sports events is you don't know if you're going to see something historic. Today I went to the Cub game, after putting the liner back in my coat and fishing my Cubs knit hat out of the closet. I needed all that- my seats are in the upper deck, left, so the east wind was in my face. Both teams failed to capitalize on good situations, but both starters did a good job to accomplish this. So, we go to the bottom of the sixth inning. The Cubs tie it up, and then Pete Crow-Armstrong comes up. We all know he would still be in AAA if not for injuries, and future Hall-of-Famer Justin Verlander absolutely carved up the young fellow up in his first two plate appearances. So this time he hits a fly ball. The wind was blowing in and had suppressed several strong fly balls- including a rocket off Altuve's bat that Canario hauled in (does he remind anybody else of Jorge Soler?) , but the ball kept carrying and carrying. 107mph, legit angle and carry. The crowd went nuts, the dugout went nuts. Maybe, just maybe, I saw the first homer from a long-term Cub.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Which was my original premise. They won the trades but lost their souls. They no longer employ the Cardinal way which had been so successful for so long.

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