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

Daryle Ward (and maybe Micah Hoffpauir) gets a shot

It looks like a DL stint is in the Wardosaurus' future. The Cubs premier bat off the bench apparently injured his low back when he took a tumble at first base during spring training and it just kept hurting. This makes more sense regarding his slow start as he was 0-14 as a pinch hitter until his recent run of three game changing pinch hits.

His back pain persisted so an MRI yesterday was obtained and diagnosed a herniated disc. He's agreed to get an epidural cortisone injection to treat this. The treatment means a few days of rest (ie. no baseball activities) and so expect another Iowa callup, most likely power hitting lefty 1B-OF Micah Hoffpauir.

The lumbar spine has 5 bony segments or vertebrae connected by discs which are made of fibrous tissue (the annulus fibrosis) filled by softer gel like material (tha nucleus pulposus). When a disc herniates, the fibrous tissue usually tears and the gel like center of the disc pushes through the tear in the annulus, leading to pressure on the nerve tissue nearby. Disc herniations occur most frequently at the two lowest levels labeled by their vertebral segments (L4-5 and L5-S1, after the 5th lumbar segment is the Sacrum).

Treatment is based on the severity and the pattern of pain. The term radicular is used if a nerve root is pinched and produces pain or numbness that radiates down the leg (also generically called sciatica, after the sciatic nerve which is formed from the most common nerve roots involved in disc herniations at these levels) and if the nerve roots that are pinched control a muscle, weakness such as a dropfoot can occur. If the pain doesn't radiate into the leg (non-radicular) it's only lower back pain that results.

Since they want the speediest of recoveries, it appears they are going to give D. Ward an epidural steroid injection (cortisone shot, aka ESI). The epidural space is the anatomic space just outside of the sac where all the nerve roots are contained (the dura). Putting cortisone there theoretically works on the inflammation/swelling produced by the disc herniation and if it works, which it certainly can, should relieve the pain. It probably won't get rid of the herniated disc but it's the symptoms that count as not all disc herniations cause back or leg pain.

Of course there are other treatments that will be used to treat this including the usual non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication and specific back related exercises particularly strengthening abdominal muscles but the acute flare up needs to be addressed first and this involves a few days of rest. If there is no leg pain or weakness, it's unlikely that surgery will be involved.

Here's to a speedy return for a professional hitter.

(drop) footnote: Micah Hoffpauir was 2-4 last night for Iowa including a 3 run HR and 5 rbi's. If you hear a knocking sound out there Micah, it's Mr. Opportunity.

 

 

Comments

Hendry last night did announce that Pie was sent to Iowa, stating that he will join the I-Cubs in Round Rock on Friday. I'm not sure what the protocol is to reverse that but I think Lou's more likely to use Hoffpauir off the bench to pinch hit than Pie at this point.

From the Muskrat: Fukudome, by the way, went 3-for-5 with a double, and scored two runs. He may be moving up in the order to No. 2 with the addition of left-handed-hitting outfielder Jim Edmonds, who is expected to make his Cubs debut on Thursday. That will be Thursday's headline. http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20080514&content… I really like the idea of Fuku in the 2 spot and The Sotomizer in the 5-hole (sorry couldn't resist). Hopefully Edmonds will go on a 5 month vengeance spree and I will be able to not completely hate his fucking guts.

I hated Rodman's guts. Red Sox fans hate Johnny Damon. I'm gonna hate his guts much more if he completely sucks. Re: epidural, my older borther had one a couple months ago. While it worked as a pain relief for abt. 60 days, I was with him at the rainy 4-3 loss and he said the pain has returned. Maybe Ward will have to see Reed's PT?

The lineup with Edmonds is very tricky. I am all for moving Fuku up because he is showing more to be an on base guy versus an rbi guy. However, Theriot has done everything asked of him in the #2 hole and deserves to stay there for now. My lineup would be: Theriot Fuku Lee Ramirez Soriano Soto Edmonds DeRosa If Soriano stays in one spot, I would do the same lineup with everyone moved down one spot. Fuku would be #3.

I'm curious as to if anyone has watched Josh Kroeger in the outfield at Iowa. How's his defense? He's gotten hot and is now pasting righties for a .326/.381/.537 line. He's over two years younger than Hoffpauir, has played a lot more outfield, and just seems to be a more rounded hitter. Any comments?

Daryle Ward showed up for spring training with his back in such bad shape he couldn't even work out in February and he didn't play until the second week of ST. His collision with Mark Redman happened on March 22 and while there's no doubt it aggravated things it isn't the cause of his back problem.

Re Josh Kroeger-- I've been interested in Kroeger since he hit .380 in half a season in Double-A last year. The Cubs--I mean, Piniella--got a peek at him in spring training, where Kroeger got six hits in 21 at bats. Hoffpauir, meanwhile, got 62 turns at bat and put up numbers that were ridiculous. Hoffpauir also had a good spring the year before. So Lou definitely thinks of Hoffpauir first when he thinks of lefty power bats in the organization. Besides, they got Edmonds, so they're looking to replace Ward as a backup first baseman, not outfielder.

DWard was available on the bench yesterday, so I expect the same is true through the weekend. Basically the epidural steroid injection was probably scheduled electively for monday. The MRI made the diagnosis (basically it just shows the anatomy) but the symptoms are somewhat chronic so it's not treated like an acute injury. They just don't do epidural injections for pain on an acute/urgent basis. Now if he's pregnant and the baby's on the way they'll put the epidural in pronto (sans steroid).

Recent comments

  • 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.

  • 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.