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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

Angel Guzman Rehab Continues at Fitch Park

The EXST Cubs had a road game this morning, but Angel Guzman (September 2007 Tommy John surgery) and ex-catcher Jake Muyco (recently converted to pitcher) remained at Fitch Park, throwing "live" BP on Field #2 to three of the position players who did not make the trip (Bryan Jost, George Matheus, and Josh Vitters).  

Guzman threw a two-inning "simulated" game last Friday (30 pitches, 15 each inning), so today was his next scheduled day to throw. 

He was supposed to throw a pre-planned 15 pitches today, but he actually threw 16 (nine for balls and seven for strikes). Once again he had good velocity on his fastball, but had some trouble throwing it for strikes (which is fairly typical for pitchers coming back from TJS). Guzman's curve and change-up were sharp, however, and he threw all of his pitches with an effortless free & easy motion.  

So having thrown a two-inning "simulated" game last Friday and a "live" BP session today, it's likely that (barring a medical setback) Guzman will probably get into his first EXST game on Wednesday or Thursday.

Ex-catcher Muyco threw 20 pitches today (12 fastballs, five sliders, and three change-ups), and basically had the exact opposite result as Guzman. While he could throw his fastball for strikes, Muyco had trouble controlling his breaking ball and change-up. And that's fairly typical for a position player converting to pitcher.

In addition to Guzman and Muyco throwing "live" BP, injured 2007 1st round draft pick 3B Josh Vitters (sent back to EXST from Peoria last week after suffering with tendinitis in his hand) took an extensive BP session this morning, hitting against coaches both before and after he hit against the "live" BP offerngs of Guzman and Muyco. Vitters didn't appear to be having any physical problem swinging the bat, although the results today weren't particularly good.  

Vitters also took about 30 infield grounders at 3rd base, so if his hand is not too sore, he should be ready for EXST game action very soon, perhaps as early as tomorrow. 

Comments

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

I don't think won-loss is a very good measure of the success or health of a farm system. After all, only one or two players from each level will ever make a major-league contribution. I coach little league, and I've had teams with 2 or 3 extremely good players and 9 analogous to minor-league filler, and the teams generally lose. And I've had teams with 11 decent but not special players, and we win, but nobody from the team went on to play travel, for example. The real test of the strength of a system is the players it sends to the major-league club, and the last couple of years have given me some hope that things are getting better on the farm.

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

AAA is a learning/placement clearinghouse, not a prospect hotbed...if you're a hot prospect in AAA you either play for the Durham Bulls (ha) or you're damn close to coming up and not spending a lot of time there. its not in the same league as A/AA for a variety of reasons totally independent of talent. in AAA you have role players who are only there for injury reserve who dont mind spending all year riding a bus if needed. you got elders who are there to help kids transition from minors to majors and keep their head in check (and to help manage the up/down aspect of AAA-majors baseball). you got guys who are there as organizational filler because the guys who should be there either arent ready yet or they're all in the majors.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Crunch: 1- you break out the phrase "only a cubs fan would/could" again I'm pretty amazed crunch. How do you even keep track of these plebes? The guys with personality (like you or Chad or Carlos, for example) are relatively easy for me to keep track of what they've said previously (as much as my sieve-like brain can in general keep track of things). Someone like that guy you quote (navigator?) I just kind of bunch together in my mind as "one of those nondescript posters who usually say ignorant or angry things." I primarily skim these guys if I read them at all. Really. Who has time? It certainly is goofy, I'll give you that. It's either two tons of self loathing or the guy is trolling and doesn't actually like the Cubs (or its fans).

AZP: was it just you watching Guzman throw at Fitch? Were other team's scouts around? Other media? Do you have a press pass or can a guy like me just walk in and watch a rehab session? As always, thanks for the insider (or at least what feels like insider) info.

Submitted by Stevens on Mon, 05/12/2008 - 1:40pm.

AZP: was it just you watching Guzman throw at Fitch?

Were other team's scouts around?

Other media?

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

STEVENS: Just me.

What has he had, 2 drafts so far? the first one without a 2nd, 3rd or 4th round pick? BURN HIM AT THE STAKE!!!!

A club's minor - league W/L record is not indicative of the potential major league talent on board. The Cub's farm teams from the 70's were usually at the top of their respective divisions each year, and yet the club produced few players that reached their major league rosters. You could look it up - but why bother? You're just braying for the genuflection in your bathroom mirror. Simply put, you're a troll, son.

Recent comments

  • 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.

  • crunch (view)

    dbacks are signing j.montgomery to a 1/25m with a vesting 20m player option.

    i dunno when the ink officially dries, but i believe if he signs once the season begins he can't be offered a QO...and i'm not sure if that thing with SD/LAD in korea was the season beginning, either.

  • crunch (view)

    sut says imanaga getting the home opener at wrigley (game 4 of the season).

  • crunch (view)

    cubs rolling out the who's who of "who the hell is this guy?" in the last spring game.

  • videographer (view)

    AZ Phil, speaking of Jordan Wicks having better command when he tires a bit, I remember reading about Dennis Lamp 40 years ago and his sinker that was better after 3 or 4 innings when he would tire a bit and get more sink with a little less speed on the pitch.  The key for Lamp was getting to the 4th inning.