Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

37 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (three slots are open)

Last updated 11-17-2023
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 20
Adbert Alzolay 
Michael Arias
Javier Assad
Ben Brown
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
Porter Hodge
* Bailey Horn
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Daniel Palencia
Michael Rucker
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 8
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
* Matt Mervis
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Luis Vazquez
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 7
Kevin Alcantara
Alexander Canario
* Pete Crow-Armstrong
Brennen Davis
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman

 


Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Diamondbacks Red Bats Too Much for Cubs at Talking Stick

Submitted by Arizona Phil on

SP Erick Reynoso tossed three innings of shutout ball, Junior Franco singled twice, scored two runs, and drove-in two more, Ruben Santana (Diamondbacks #17 prospect) drilled an RBI single in the 4th and walked and scored in the 6th, and shortstop Cristofer Torin (Diamondbacks #16 prospect) singled, stole a base, and scored a run in the 1st, belted an RBI triple and scored in the 5th, and made a highlight reel backhanded catch in short LF to end the game, as the Diamondbacks Red squad cruised past the Cubs 7-4 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training game action Monday morning on Whirlwind Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, east of Scottsdale, AZ.   

Jefferson Rojas ripped a line-drive two-run single, walked, stole two bases, and scored a run, Frank Hernandez reached base four times (a single and three walks), scored a run, and threw out a runner at the plate, Christopher Paciolla hammered an RBI double down the LF line and scored a run, Ed Howard singled twice and drew a walk, and SP Luis Rujano hurled three innings of one-run / one-hit ball for the Cubs, albeit in a losing cause.  

The game was pre-planned as an eight inning affair. 

Just called up from the Cubs Dominican Academy, 20-year old INF Lizardo Ruiz (2019 IFA - Dominican Republic) made his stateside game debut, relieving Anderson Suriel at 1st base in the bottom of the 4th inning and getting two AB. He contributed an RBI GO in the 5th, and then he drew a walk and stole a base in the 7th. 

In one other EXST Cubs roster move, RHP Manuel Espinoza has completed his rehab and has been reinstated from the South Bend 7-day IL.    

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

EXST CUBS LINEUP:
1. Christopher Paciolla, DH-SS: 1-5 (K, F-8, 6-4-3 DP, 2B, 3-U, R, RBI)
2. Jefferson Rojas, SS-DH: 1-4 (F-9, K, BB, 1B, F-7, R, 2 RBI, 2 SB) 
3a. Ed Howard, 2B: 2-3 (BB, 1B, 1B, P-6) 
3b. Raino Coran, RF: 0-1 (K) 
4a. Adan Sanchez, C: 0-3 (K, BB, P-3, F-8) 
4b. Jairo Diaz, C: 0-1 (P-6)
5. Brayan Altuve, CF: 2-3 (1B, 1B, HBP, 5-3) 
6a. Anderson Suriel, 1B: 0-2 (F-9, L-3)
6b. Lizardo Ruiz, 1B: 0-1 (6-3, BB, RBI, SB) 
7. Alexis Hernandez, 3B: 1-4 (1B, K, F-8, K) 
8. Christian Olivo, RF-2B: 1-4 (F-7, K, 1B, P-4, R) 
9. Frank Hernandez, LF: 1-1 (BB, 1B, BB, BB, R) 

EXST CUBS PITCHERS: 
1. Luis Rujano: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 2 WP, 5/2 GO/AO, 42 pitches (23 strikes) 
2. Scarlyn Lebron: 2.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R (5 ER), 4 BB, 0 K, 1 WP, 1 GIDP, 2/1 GO/AO, 56 pitches (28 strikes)
3. Tomy Sanchez: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 0/2 GO/AO, 42 pitches (25 strikes) 

EXST CUBS ERRORS: NONE 

EXST CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
1. Adan Sanchez: 0-1 CS 
2. Jairo Diaz: 1-2 CS 

EXST CUBS OUTFIELD ASSISTS: 
1. RF Christian Olivo - runner thrown out 9-5 attempting to advance from 1st to 3rd after single to RF 
2. LF Frank Hernandez - runner thrown out 7-2 attempting to score from 2nd base on single to LF 

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 80's 

ATTENDANCE: 25 

Arizona 
Scoring 
Service 

"Just because it isn't official doesn't mean it didn't happen" 

Tags
Cubs Extended Spring Training

Comments

Submitted by Finwe Noldaran on Mon, 05/08/2023 - 05:19 pm

Thanks Phil!

Out of the non-rehab guys (so excluding Triantos, Howard, etc.; although, I am curious as to their next step), who, if anyone, do you see getting called up out of the guys fine-tuning (like Coran, Mena and Santana, for example), and the guys on the cusp of graduating ACL (like Suriel, Altuve, etc.)?

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 05/09/2023 - 05:58 am

FINWE: Not including rehabbers, the EXST pitcher who looks like he is most-ready for Myrtle Beach is LHP Carlos Garcia. He is stretched out for multiple inning and has been mostly dominating on the mound. 

LHSP Joel Machado is (finally) healthy and has pitched well in EXST games. He is the classic "soft-tossing lefty," with an 86-88 FB, a plus CV, and a decent CH, a mix which should work well against younger hitters in single-A.  

Now that Jackson Ferris has been moved-up to Myrtle Beach, RHSP Luis Rujano (Cubs 2022 13th round pick) is getting stretched out as a SP, and he could possibly get moved-up to the Pelicans at some point this season. 

As far as position players are concerned, I would think Felix Stevens will be moved up to South Bend soon and replace Haydn McGeary there (McGeary has already been moved up to AA), which would open up 1B for Anderson Suriel at MB.

I have mentioned this before, but Suriel has turned himself into a really good "Fancy Dan" defensive first-baseman, and has saved numerous throwing errors at 1st base this season. And of course he has improved as a hitter (especially SLG -- he is leading the EXST Cubs in HR) by changing his launch angle to get more lift, combined with hitting the ball harder and not striking out much. (Yesterday he went 0-2, but the two outs were a fly ball to the warning track in RF and a line drive that required the D'backs first-baseman to making a leaping catch). He also has above-average speed and is tied for the team lead in SB. And he can play LF in addition to 1B. 

The only negatives are that he doesn't take walks, and while he can play LF (which is his "natural" position), he is limited to LF because he has a below-average arm. 

Also, Brayan Altuve has cut his K-rate and has been hitting the ball well (albeit not for HR power). He always had a line-drive swing with high exit velo, but he didn't make consistent contact. He has above average speed (he is tied for the team lead in SB), and can play all three OF positions. He is a hyper-aggressive outfielder and baserunner (sometimes too aggressive), and plays like his hair is on fire. It's hard to believe he was signed as a catcher! (same ISP  the Cubs signed the recently-released Ronnier Quintero, BTW). 

The third position player I will mention is INF Christopher Paciolla, who is leading the team in doubles (my favorite stat at this level). He has a line drive stroke but he also can elevate the ball (he pulled a couple of near-HR in games that curved foul at the last second). He is a smooth / silky defender who almost glides to the ball. As with most all of the non-1B infielders at EXST, the Cubs have been moving Paciolla around between 2B-3B-SS, but I would say his best position is 3B. So if the Cubs do move him up to Myrtle Beach at some point this season, he would probably play mostly 3B there (and maybe occasionally some SS and 2B to promote his defensive versatility).

And then of course there is OF Ke'Shun Collier, who is a walking machine with plus-plus speed on the bases (he is probably the third fastest player in the system, behind only Erbin Jaque and Zach Davis). He has a good arm but needs to improve his outfield defense, and his hitting needs work. 

[ ]

Submitted by Childersb3 on Tue, 05/09/2023 - 05:20 am

I was really hoping that Felix Stevens would a chance at SB, but B. Ball has been moved down to SB with McGeary taking the 1B spot in TN. 
Felix is demolishing pitchers in MB but he's clearly better than most of them.
It would've been nice to challenge him and give A. Suriel a chance.
Bryce Ball doesn't seem to have much of a chance anymore. 
But he's a LH bat with some pop. Hard to move on from that.

[ ]

Submitted by Finwe Noldaran on Tue, 05/09/2023 - 05:01 pm

I agree, Stevens to South Bend and Suriel to Myrtle Beach makes the most sense developmentally for both (and the organization); but I wonder if they're going to give Ball a week in South Bend to give them a reason to not release him, and then work on promotions afterwards?

[ ]

Submitted by Finwe Noldaran on Tue, 05/09/2023 - 05:05 pm

Thanks Phil! Nice to see the kids really using the time and putting in the work! Prayerfully they continue to develop and see results from their hard work! Glad to hear Suriel is a potentially plus defensive 1B, who's developing the hit tool, and now needs to work on taking some pitches! The INF depth in the system is staggering, the OF too; even catching! 

Submitted by crunch on Mon, 05/08/2023 - 05:20 pm

i like seeing ed howard doing bat things.  i know it's "just" arizona, but i'll take anything bat-related from him that's positive right now.

[ ]

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 05/09/2023 - 05:46 am

CRUNCH: Ed Howard is a savvy baseball player. 

Yesterday (Monday) he worked a walk in the top of the 1st inning and then faked breaking to 2nd base a couple of times, causing the pitcher to balk. And then he did it again after he got to 2nd base, and got the pitcher to balk again! (And this was a D'backs pitcher (Reynoso) who threw three shutout innings). 

Also, Howard's defense at SS has been stellar, and he clearly has been working on his hitting during his rehab because he is making better contact and hitting the ball harder.

Yesterday Howard played 2B for the first time this year (he  had been playing mostly SS while rehabbing (and he is a good defensive SS), and with future Gold Glover Kevin Made at SS at South Bend, 2B is probably where Howard will play (primarily) once he gets back to South Bend.   

It's good to know that Howard did not waste any time while rehabbing. He definitely added some upper body muscle, and hopefully it will translate to more SLG. 

 I wasn't a big Howard fan prior to his injury, but seeing what I am seeing now, I am much more optimistic. 

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    thomas hatch is going to fight ham in japan.  he was on PIT's 40-man.

  • crunch (view)

    morel played somewhere besides 3rd and SS...he got 8 innings in CF, 2 putouts and an assist.

  • crunch (view)

    ryan flaherty new cubs bench coach.

  • crunch (view)

    bellinger wins comeback player of the year.  the AL winner was liam hendricks and his 5ip before he got tommy john...setting himself up for a 2025 shot at the award.

  • Bill (view)

    I hope that Perlaza goes on to have a successful career.  On most Cubs teams prior to the current administration, he would have been one of their more highly ranked prospects.  As far as the others are concerned, one or more may well go on to be much better than expected, but unfortunately there is no way to tell which one at the present time.  You can't keep everyone.

  • crunch (view)

    s.gray signs with the cards...3/75m

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Another one of the nine Cubs post-2023 Rule 9 minor league 6YFA has signed, as RHP Carlos Guzman (acquired from the Tigers for Zack McKinstry at the end of Spring Training) signed a 2024 minor league contract with the Mets. 

     

    So RHRP Yovanny Cruz (SD), C-INF P. J. Higgins (CIN), and now Carlos Guzman (NYM) have already signed 2024 minor league contracts with new MLB organizations, and OF Yonathan Perlaza is headed for Korea (Hanhwa Eagles).

  • crunch (view)

    ...and back to 3rd for another game.  at this point i'm gonna hang back and when/if he actually plays 1st then i'll find it notable.  i am glad he's playing a good amount of 3rd, though...give the club one more good look at him there.  shrug

  • crunch (view)

    morel played SS last night (no errors)...hit a homer and a double.  he's got 2 of both in 19PA.

  • crunch (view)

    e.escobar was throwing 95-97mph on his fastball in 2023.

Click HERE for the last 50 comments