This is the first post for the third annual minor league report. Thanks to Arizona Phil via the Cub Reporter, I have some preliminary rosters for the minor league teams. There will be several more (final) roster adjustments made this weekend as the Cubs finalize their MLB 25-man roster, and the Cubs four full-season minor league affiliates (Iowa, Tennessee, Daytona, and Peoria) do the same. The minor league clubs will be leaving Arizona on Sunday and Monday, and will begin regular season league play on Thursday.
Cubs Extended Spring Training (EXST) team in June will become the Boise Hawks and AZL team.
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("INACTIVE?") indicates player is not on the field and MIGHT have been released

IOWA (30) This roster will need to be reduced to 25 13 pitchers 12 position players

PITCHERS (16):
Jeff Beliveau
Alberto Cabrera
Esmailin Caridad
Marco Carrillo
Hung-Wen Chen (INACTIVE?)
Casey Coleman
Frankie De La Cruz
Jay Jackson
Scott Maine
Blake Parker
Nate Robertson
Ryan Rowland-Smith
Chris Rusin
Nick Struck
Randy Wells
Travis Wood

CATCHERS (2):
Welington Castillo
Blake Lalli

INFIELDERS (7)
Adrian Cardenas
Edgar Gonzalez
Anthony Rizzo
Bobby Scales
Marquez Smith
Matt Tolbert
Josh Vitters

OUTFIELDERS (5):
Jim Adduci
Tony Campana
Brett Jackson
Dave Sappelt
Ty Wright

TENNESSEE (27) This will be reduced to 13 pitchers and 12 position also

PITCHERS (15):
Jeffry Antigua
Frank Batista
Dallas Beeler
Dan Berlind
Marcus Hatley
Andrew McKirahan
Trey McNutt
Yoannis Negrin
Brooks Raley
Dae-Eun Rhee
Kevin Rhoderick
Ryan Searle
Juan Serrano
Casey Weathers
Tony Zych

CATCHERS (3)
Juan Apodaca
Michael Brenly
Chad Noble (INACTIVE?) I assume he was demoted back to Daytona

INFIELDERS (6)
Justin Bour
Matt Cerda
Junior Lake
Jonathon Mota
Nate Samson
Logan Watkins Also can play outfiled

OUTFIELDERS (3)
Michael Burgess
Jae-Hoon Ha
Rebel Ridling Being converted to outfield will play 1b and DH also

DAYTONA (28) Needs to be reduced to 25 also

PITCHERS (14)
Zach Cates
Gerardo Concepcion
Frank del Valle
Eduardo Figueroa
Casey Harman
Ty’Relle Harris Recovering from a serious hit run auto accident last year
Eric Jokisch
Austin Kirk
Matt Loosen
A. J. Morris
Brian Schlitter Recovering from TJ
Matt Spencer (ex-OF)
Larry Suarez
Brett Wallach

CATCHERS (2):
Yaniel Cabezas
Micah Gibbs

INFIELDERS (7):
Arismendy Alcantara
Leugim Barroso
Dustin Harrington
Richard Jones
Greg Rohan
Elliot Soto
Ronald Torreyes

OUTFIELDERS (5):
Abner Abreu (INACTIVE?)
Eliecer Bonne
Nelson Perez
Rubi Silva
Matt Szczur

PEORIA (30) Needs to be reduced to 25 also

PITCHERS (16)
Hunter Ackerman
Kyler Burke
Willengton Cruz
P. J. Francescon
Ryan Hartman
Michael Jensen
Luis Liria
Jeff Lorick
Hector Mayora
Sheldon McDonald
Jose Rosario
Hayden Simpson #1 Draft choice starting at very low level after a horrible first year
Yao-Lin Wang
Scott Weismann
Ben Wells
Joe Zeller (INACTIVE?)

CATCHERS (3):
Sergio Burruel
Anthony Giansanti (ex-OF)
Rafael Lopez

INFIELDERS (6):
Zeke DeVoss
Paul Hoilman
Dustin Geiger
Marco Hernandez
Kenny Socorro (player-coach?)
Brad Zapenas

OUTFIELDERS (5):
John Andreoli
Xavier Batista
* Pin-Chieh Chen
Taiwan Easterling
Reggie Golden

EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING (ACTIVE) (45)

PITCHERS (20)
Ian Dickson
Ethan Elias
Ramon Garcia
Cam Greathouse
David Henrie
Su-Min Jung
Jin-Young Kim
Pete Levitt
Carlos Martinez
Hector Mayora
Felix Pena
Starling Peralta
Roderik Pichardo
James Pugliese
Austin Reed
Tayler Scott
Bryce Shafer
Brian Smith
Charles Thomas (ex-3B)
Rob Whitenack (ACTIVE REHAB)

CATCHERS (6):
Wilson Contreras (ex-3B)
Taylor Davis
Luis Flores (see NOTE)
Justin Marra
Alberto Mineo (INACTIVE?)
Neftali Rosario
NOTE: Luis Flores is on the RESTRICTED LIST, but he is participating in Extended Spring Training

INFIELDERS (11):
Luis Acosta
Gioskar Amaya
Javier Baez
Jeimer Candelario
Wes Darvill
Ryan Durrence (INACTIVE?)
Brian Inoa
Danny Lockhart
Carlos Penalver
Rock Shoulders
Dan Vogelbach

OUTFIELDERS (8):
Delbis Arcila
Jeffrey Baez
Shawon Dunston
Eduardo Gonzalez
Dong-Yub Kim
Trey Martin
Garrett Schlecht
Oliver Zapata

FITCH PARK REHAB GROUP (20)
PITCHERS (11):
Jose Arias
Justin Berg
David Cales
Dustin Fitzgerald
John Gaub
Graham Hicks
Arturo Maltos-Garcia
Dillon Maples ***Didn't know he was injured*****
Tarlandus Mitchell (INACTIVE?)
Zac Rosscup
Austin Urban

CATCHERS (3):
Nate Maldonado (player-coach)
Wilfredo Petit
Antonio Valerio

INFIELDERS (3):
Ryan Cuneo
Pierre LePage
David Macias

OUTFIELDERS (3):
Yasiel Balaguert
Evan Crawford (INACTIVE - MEDICAL)
Trevor Gretzky

Thanks !

I was curious where they were going to start Concepcion out at.

Do we know what's ailing Maples?

I was also not aware that Gretzky was in the rehab group. Is it related to his wrist injury in high school?

I believe its a should injury for Gretzky. I wonder if Maples is just in the wrong group, I know the plan was extended spring training and then Boise. He is only 19 years old.

I always appreciate all the time and effort you put into these reports. Keep up the good work.

Likelihood of Baez, Candelario, Vogelbach all on Boise? Maybe Rosario too?

If so where does Amaya go? Or could he be on the same team, maybe playing 2B?

I'd go to Boise to see that team ;-)

Iowa Cubs should be very strong this season and fun to
watch....

I think the plan is to keep as many of the draftees from the last draft together and start them at Boise in June. Shortseason should be thrilled.

"I think the plan is to keep as many of the draftees from the last draft together and start them at Boise in June. Shortseason should be thrilled."

I also think it's a good idea to let Vogelbach play everyday at that level while Hoilman (who was a college guy) plays every day at 1b at Peoria.

The Cubs draft was heavy on first basemen, so it's good to get them all as much playing time as possible. Likely, if healthy, Gretzky will play at the AZ rookie league team during the short season... but where will "The Rock" play? :)

I totally agree. It should be interesting minor league season.

Hey Joe, a friend of mine tasked me with giving him 2 teams worth of minor leaguers that he should keep an eye out for this year. Basically, a first team and second team of prospects to follow. Not just MLB ready prospects but prospects worth following. Also, players who he hasn't seen on the main Cub roster and aren't starting there this year. Here's what I came up with, and I thought it would be fun to get your take (see if i forgot someone):

Pos 1st team / 2nd team

C Welington Castillo / Micah Gibbs
1B Anthony Rizzo / Dan Vogelbach
2B Ronald Torreyes / Deke DeVoss
SS Daniel Baez / Junior Lake
3B Josh Vitters / Jeimer Candelario
1OF Brett Jackson / Jae-Hoon Ha
2OF Matt Szczur / Michael Burgess
3OF Reggie Golden / Evan Crawford
1SP Trey McNutt / Dae-Eun Rhee
2SP Dillon Maples / Zach Cates
3SP Robert Whitenack / Nicholas Struck
4SP Gerardo Concepcion / Jay Jackson
5SP Austin Kirk / Ben Wells
RHRP Kevin Rhoderick / Anthony Zych
LHRP Jeff Beliveau / Jeff Antigua
CL Blake Parker / Frank Batista

Rebel Ridling is being converted from 1b to LF. If that works he will be very interesting to watch.
Michael Brenly at AA should be interesting, very good defensive catcher, he started to hit better in ST.

I think Gretzky is now listed as an OF , so maybe they moved him off 1b already since they seem loaded with 1b.

Outfield is interesting after the first 3-4. I considered Taiwan Easterling, Sappelt, and Pin-Chieh Chen as well. For some reason I don't buy into Brenly, but we'll see what he does in AA. Considered Neftali Rosario as well. I really got stuck looking for high-impact SPs for the 2nd team. High hopes for SP in the 2012 draft and foreign signings.

Ridling has already been playing out there...just going to be playing full time in LF from now on.

The last 2years, Tennessee was rotating the IF 3 to 4 times a week because of Vitters and DJ LeMahieu. Ridling would often play LF on those days.

I have my tickets already in Chattanooga for the opening on Thursday. Am going to try to catch Monday and Tuesday next week as well.

Edit:

Looked it up- Rebel played 47 games out there last season at a 985.

According to MLB Trade Rumors, Bobby Scales signed a minor league deal with the Mets today.

Nooooooo! Or maybe this was payback for the Mets originally releasing Angel Pagan, so the Cubs could sign him.

Looking forward to your game reports.

Additional News:

In roster news involving the Iowa Cubs, OF Jim Adduci was moved down to Tennessee from Iowa and 3B Marquez Smith and Bobby Scales were released. Also, it appears likely that SS Junior Lake (strained back) will open the Southern League season on the Tennessee 7-day DL. If so, he will probably remain at Fitch Park until he is ready to play again.

Bobby Scales was signed by the Mets AAA team.

Surprises me in 1 way that they let Smith go, but not really looking at in another way.

He is 27 and has been beset by the injury bug. But realistically wasnt going to see too much in the way of playing time at Iowa this year because of the plethora of IFs now on their roster.

I figured Adduci or Lalli was going back to Tennessee to shepherd the kids through the process.