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

EXST Cubs Pitchers Throw Two-hitter at Fitch

Five Cubs pitchers combined to throw a two-hitter and Gian Guzman drove in three runs, as the EXST Cubs defeated the EXST Giants 5-1 at Fitch Park Field #3 this morning in Mesa.  

Tennessee RHP Grant Johnson, at EXST rehabbing from a sprained elbow ligament that was diagnosed midway through Minor League Camp last month, finally got into some game action and worked a 1-2-3 1st inning, striking out the side.

Fellow Smokie RHP Jim Henderson, who is also on the Tennessee DL, worked the next two innings, and allowed a solo HR and a two-out walk in the 3rd. Both pitchers appear to be on the fast track to get out of Fitch and back to AA ASAP.  

LHP,Arik Hempy, RHP Rogelio Carmona, and LHP Jeffry Antigua followed the two Smokies, each throwing two shutout innings. The 17-year old Antigua was especially impressive, as the southpaw struck out the side on ten pitches in the top of the 9th.

On offense, Gian Guzman drove in single runs in the 4th, 6th, and 8th with three RBI singles, and Kevin Soto reached base twice, stealing a base each time, and scoring each time. 
  
On the injury rehab front, RHP Angel Guzman, who underwent Tommy John elbow ligament transplant surgery last September, says his rehab is “ahead of schedule” and he is throwing “pain-free.” While he is still limited to side (bullpen) sessions only at this point, a third party who has seen him throw says his velocity is outstanding. While Gooz might not be ready for game action just yet, it’s nice to know that the Cubs might possibly have another power arm available in the bullpen for the stretch run.  

And the Venezuelan contingent at EXST welcomed some new blood today, as SS George Matheus, RHP Israel Camacaro, and OF Cesar Salazar reported to Fitch Park. The trio had been working out at the Cubs Venezuelan Baseball Academy in Puerto Cabello prior to leaving for the U. S., so they should be ready for game action in fairly short order. 

The 19-year old Matheus played for the VSL Cubs/Twins co-op club in 2007 after signing in May, while Salazar and Camacaro signed with the Cubs a couple of months ago. 

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

LINEUP:
1. Kevin Soto, LF: 1-2 (Ks, HBP + SB + R, 1-4 SH, 1B + SB + R)
2. Gian Guzman, 3B: 3-4 (5-3, 1B-RBI, 1B-RBI + CS, 1B-RBI + SB)
3. Nelson Perez, RF: 0-4 (4-3, Ks, F-8, Ks)
4. Carlos Perez, C: 0-3 (5-3, 6-3, Kc, F-9 SF-RBI)
5. Andres Quezada, CF 2-4 (5-3, 2B + R, 1B, 4-3) 
6. Luis Bautista, 1B: 2-3 (5-3, 1B, 1B) 
7. Dwayne Kemp, DH #1: 0-1 (5-3, F-9 SF-RBI, BB) 
8. Roberto Sabates, DH #2: 1-3 (1B, 5-4 FC, 5-2 FC) 
9. Junior Lake, SS: 0-3 (5-4 FC, Ks, P-4)
10a. Starlin Castro, 2B: 0-1 (3-U)    
10b. Jose Made, 2B: 2-2 (1B + R, 1B + R) 

PITCHERS:
1. Grant Johnson – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K (16 pitches – 11 strikes)
2. Jim Henderson – 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR (4/1 GB/FB)
3. Arik Hempy – 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K (5/0 GB/FB)
4. Rogelio Carmona  - 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
5. Jeffry Antigua – 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 1 GIDP

DEFENSE: No errors! (not a misprint)

BASERUNNING ADVENTURES: Gian Guzman was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double with no outs in the bottom of the 4th, and then was thrown out trying to steal 2nd base with two outs in the bottom of the 6th.

WEATHER: Warm & sunny
ATTENDANCE: Four

Comments

AZ Phil, can you think of another MLB player that experienced the kind of continuous arm problems Guzman has, yet come back to have a good ML Career? Was it really 5 years ago now that Guz was our #1 prospect, absolutely dominating AA, and literally days from being called to Chicago and inserted into a playoff-bound rotation? (to replace Estes, I presume?)

2003: On the injury rehab front, RHP Angel Guzman...says his rehab is “ahead of schedule” and he is throwing “pain-free.” 2004: On the injury rehab front, RHP Angel Guzman...says his rehab is “ahead of schedule” and he is throwing “pain-free.” 2005: On the injury rehab front, RHP Angel Guzman...says his rehab is “ahead of schedule” and he is throwing “pain-free.” 2006: On the injury rehab front, RHP Angel Guzman...says his rehab is “ahead of schedule” and he is throwing “pain-free.” 2007: On the injury rehab front, RHP Angel Guzman...says his rehab is “ahead of schedule” and he is throwing “pain-free.” 2008: On the injury rehab front, RHP Angel Guzman...says his rehab is “ahead of schedule” and he is throwing “pain-free.”

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days. 

  • 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...