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

Cubs Mao-Down Team China at Fitch Park

The normally light-hitting Jose Made drove in six runs with two RBI triples and a Grand Slam homer, and Chad Fox and five other pitchers combined to throw a two-hit shutout, as the EXST Cubs (Boise group) probably created an international incident, drubbing Team China 11-0 at Fitch Park Field #3 this morning. 

While the more-advanced EXST Cubs (Boise group) were playing Team China on Field #3, the less-advanced EXST Cubs (AZL Mesa group) faced the EXST Giants on Field #2, and dropped a 4-3 decision in 11 innings.

It was not easy watching both games simultaneously, but I managed to do it without missing a pitch in either game, thanks in no small part to eleven cups of coffee, a bottle of amphetamines, and a strong bladder. 

Continuing his rehab, Chad Fox got the start versus the Chinese National team, throwing two shutout/hitless innings (35 pitches – 21 strikes), allowing two walks while striking out two. He threw the ball very well, and appears to be getting close to completing his rehab.

Billy Muldowney followed Foxy, continuing his rehab from last July’s TJ surgery by throwing two shutout innings (one hit), and Rafael Cova (recently arrived from Venezuela after being held captive for several months with “visa problems”) got into his first game action, throwing one inning of one-hit shutout ball. 

Robert Hernandez (on the Restricted List while serving a 50-game prohibited substance suspension) then threw two innings of hitless/shutout ball (and yes, minor leaguers suspended for prohibited substance violations CAN participate in EXST), followed by Jose Severino (a 1-2-3 8th with two strikeouts) and 2007 Boise co-closer John Muller, who capped the shutout with an easy 1-2-3 six-pitch 9th (6-3, F-7, 4-3).

While the Cubs pitchers were shutting down Team China, the offense declined the offer of more Moo Goo Gai Pan, instead opting to score 11 runs on 15 hits.

Besides Made’s big day (it's pronounced "mah-day," and he's a college kid from from New York), 1B Luis Bautista (younger brother of Pirates 3B Jose Bautista) went 3-4 with an RBI, and SS Junior Lake (one of the most-patient hitters at EXST) reached base all four times with two doubles and two walks while scoring three runs and driving in two.

Team China is coached by ex-Dodger infielder (and Cub manager) Jim Lefebvre, and the pitching coach is ex-Red Sox LHP Bruce Hurst. The club is in Arizona (I believe they are based in either Peoria or Maryvale) while preparing for the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.

The team seems to be fairly well-coached and one of the pitchers who threw today wasn’t too bad, but most of the hitters really suck (pardon my Chinese). 

Over on Field #2, RHP Miguel Sierra got the start versus the Giants and worked three very impressive shutout innings. But he left the game writhing in pain after taking a line drive off his right forearm to close the top of the 3rd (despite screams of agony, the young right-hander still somehow managed to throw the batter out at 1st to complete his outing). He was last seen being removed by the training staff to the Fitch Park clubhouse via golf cart, before a trip to the hospital for further evaluation and treatment. . 

Australian LHP Cody Hams followed Sierra, and threw two shutout/hitless innings, and three other Cub pitchers threw one shutout inning each. However, Dionis Nunez allowed three runs in his two innings of work, and Carlos Rojas gave-up the go-ahead run in the top of the 11th.

On offense, catcher Alvaro Sosa had an RBI single in the 4th and two other runs scored on a wild pitch and an error in the 7th, but the Cubs failed to score after Bryan Jost led off the bottom of the 5th with a triple as Roberto Sabates, Dwayne Kemp, and Starlin Castro struck out, and then Kevin Soto demonstrated that he has been studying the Advanced Cubbery Baseruning Manual, as he was thrown out at third to end the game while needlessly and foolishly trying to take an extra base with two outs and the Cubs down 4-3.  

In EXST roster news, catcher Tony Richie (rib cage) has completed his rehab at Fitch Park, leaving Arizona this past Saturday to join the AAA Iowa Cubs.

Here are today’s abridged box scores (Cubs players only):
 
AT FITCH PARK FIELD #3 (EXST CUBS VERSUS TEAM CHINA)

LINEUP:
1. Leon Johnson, CF: 2-4 (F-8, 1B, 2B-RBI, K-s)
2. Josh Vitters, 3B: 1-4 (1B, 6-4-3 GIDP, P-6, K-c)
3. Nelson Perez, RF: 1-4 (P-6, F-8, 3-U, 1B)
4. Carlos Perez, C: 0-3 (BB, 6-3, K-s, 5-3)
5. Luke Sommer, LF: 1-3 (3-U, K-s, BB + R, 1B + R)
6. Brandon Guyer, DH #1: 2-4 (P-3, 1B + CS, 1B + R, K-c)
7. Gian Guzman, 2B-SS: 0-3 (5-3, P-4, F-9 SF-RBI, F-9)
8. Luis Bautista, 1B: 3-4 (F-8, 1B + R, 1B-RBI + R, 1B)
9. Junior Lake, SS-DH #2: 2-2 (BB + R, 2B-RBI + R, BB + R, 2B-RBI)
10. Jose Made, DH #2-2B: 3-4 (3B-RBI + R, 3B-RBI + R, HR-GRAND SLAM-4 RBI, L-4) 

PITCHERS:
1. Chad Fox - 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K (4-0 GB/FB) 
2. Billy Muldowney - 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K (5/1 GB/FB)
3. Rafael Cova - 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
4. Robert Hernandez - 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 1 GIDP
5. Jose Severino - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
6. John Muller - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K  

ERRORS:
Vitters - 2 (one overthrow at 1B, one dropped pop up)
NOTE: Vitters also dropped a line drive, but he turned it into a 5-4 FC

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
C. Perez 1-1 CS

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

AT FITCH PARK FIELD #2 (EXST CUBS VS EXST GIANTS)
    
LINEUP:
1. Starlin Castro, SS: 1-5 (5-3, 1B + R, K-s, E-5, K-c)
2. Elvis Lara, LF: 0-5 (K-s, L-8, 3-1, P-3, 6-3)
3. John Contreras, 3B: 1-4  (K-c, BB, L-8, 5-3, 1B)
4. Andres Quezada, CF: 1-5 (4-3, P-4, 1B, F-9, K-s)
5a. Alvaro Sosa, C-DH: 2-4 (K-s, 1B-RBI, 1B + SB + R, F-8)
5b. Jose Guevara, PH: 0-1 (K-s)
6. Kevin Soto, RF: 1-5 (K-s, 6-4 FC, F-9, 4-3, 1B)   
7. Bryan Jost, 1B: 2-4 (K-s, 3B, BB + R, K-c, 1B)
8. Roberto Sabates, DH-C: 1-4 (K-s, K-s, 1B, 6-3)
9. Dwayne Kemp, 2B: 1-4  (K-s, K-s, 6-3, 1B + CS)

PITCHERS:
1. Miguel Sierra - 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP (4/3 GB/FB)     
2. Cody Hams - 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K (2-3 GB/FB)
3. Dionis Nunez - 2.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP
4. Eduardo Figueroa - 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
5. Julio Pena - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
6. Rogelio Carmona - 1.0 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 WP 
7. Carlos Rojas - 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 0 K
 
ERRORS:
Contreras (overthrow at 2nd base on potential 5-4-3 GIDP)

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Sosa 0-2 CS

OUTFIELD ASSIST:
Lara (7-5-4 at 2nd base)

WEATHER: Hot and sunny
ATTENDANCE: 5

Comments

thanks in no small part to eleven cups of coffee, a bottle of amphetamines, and a strong bladder. ========================= Fortunately you didn't admit to taking the amphetamines, just carrying around a bottle of em. The new baseball observers agreement prohibits watching games while on amphetamines and the first penalty is banishment for 10 games. Of course if you have a doctors note that you have ADD you'll be given an exemption. http://www.add.org/ No comment on the strong bladder though...and the eleven cups of coffee gets you a certificate of membership to the Carlos Zambrano fan club.

What's the over/under line on the date Pie gets optioned to Iowa? I'm going with April 18th. However, Murton is NOT the answer. I don't know what is the answer, but Kosuke in CF and Dr. Strangeglove in RF isn't going to cut it.

[ ]

In reply to by George Altman

I love defense as much as the next guy. But is it really all that important to have GG caliber defense in RF? All things being equal, I take a guy who can hit in the corners. SS or 2nd base, might be a different story.

I-Cub updates: The pesky redhead went 0-5; Cotts had his fourth consecutive scoreless, two-inning outing; Fox had a two-run homer off of Yovani Gallardo and a game-winning hit in twelfth [leads the team w/ 12 rbi's]; Holliman outpitched Gallardo before Ascanio gave up ninth inning homer to Branyan that blew save & sent game into extras...

Who is this kid Jose Made ... had a big day with 2 triples and a grand slam and six rbi's. Very impresive. Thats the type of production the cubs need up the middle.

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.