Baseball is underway in Mesa for many of the top young players in the Cubs system. Fall instructs started this week at the team’s facility in Mesa. And Baseball America posted the Cubs’ roster for the Instructional League.
Dylan Cease, Oscar De La Cruz, Thomas Hatch, Manuel Rondon, Bryan Hudson, Jose Paulino, Carson Sands, Justin Steele, Wyatt Short, Jen-Ho Tseng, P.J. Higgins, Ian Rice, Aramis Ademan, Wladimir Galindo, Andruw Monasterio, Christopher Morel, Isaac Parades, Carlos Sepulveda, Jason Vosler, Fernando Kelli, Donnie Dewees, Eddy Julio Martinez, Chris Pieters and Jonathan Sierra are among the more recognizable names participating in the Instructional League.
Cease, Jared Cheek, De La Cruz, Jordan Minch, Kyle Miller, Tommy Nance, James Norwood, Sands, Steele, Tseng, Higgins, Alberto Mineo, Rice, Sepulveda, Vosler, Dewees and Martinez are part of the Advanced Instructional League team. These prospects will be combined with players from the Angels system and play games against other teams in the Phoenix area.
John Arguello spotted Christian Villanueva practicing Wednesday. Villanueva is not on the Instructional League roster that was released by Baseball America. But knowing Villanueva is back on the field and participating in baseball activities again after breaking his leg early in Spring Training is a positive step for the player and the Cubs.
Ian Happ, Eloy Jimenez, Victor Caratini, Duane Underwood Jr., Ryan McNeil, James Farris and Stephen Perakslis are the seven Cubs’ prospects set to participate in the Arizona Fall League, which begins on Oct. 11.
Cubs 2016 Fall Instructional League Roster
Pitchers (39)
- Jose Albertos, RHP
- Adbert Alzolay, RHP
- Javier Assad, RHP
- Holden Cammack, RHP
- Jed Carter, RHP
- Faustino Carrera, LHP
- Dylan Cease, RHP
- Jared Cheek, RHP
- Alfredo Colorado, RHP
- Oscar De La Cruz, RHP
- Hector Garcia, RHP
- Fauris Guerrero, RHP
- Thomas Hatch, RHP
- Chad Hockin, RHP
- Marc Huberman, LHP
- Bryan Hudson, LHP
- Brailyn Marquez, LHP
- Junior Marte, RHP
- Dakota Mekkes, RHP
- Jordan Minch, LHP
- Kyle Miller, RHP
- Tyson Miller, RHP
- Tommy Nance, RHP
- James Norwood, RHP
- Carlos Ocampo, RHP
- Jose Paulino, LHP
- Yunior Perez, RHP
- Tyler Peyton, RHP
- Eury Ramos, RHP
- Stephen Ridings, RHP
- Duncan Robinson, RHP
- Manuel Rondon, LHP
- Carson Sands, LHP
- Wyatt Short, LHP
- Ho-Young Son, RHP
- Justin Steele, LHP
- Matt Swarmer, RHP
- Nathan Sweeney, RHP
- Jen-Ho Tseng, RHP
Catchers (9)
- Miguel Amaya
- Michael Cruz
- Carlos Diaz
- P.J. Higgins
- Alberto Mineo
- Jhonny Pereda
- Gustavo Polanco
- Ian Rice
- Sam Tidaback
Infielders (14)
- Aramis Ademan
- Luis Diaz
- Wladimir Galindo
- Rafael Mejia
- Andruw Monasterio
- Christopher Morel
- Rafael Narea
- Isaac Parades
- Yeiler Peguero
- Yonathan Perlaza
- Carlos Sepulveda
- Zack Short
- Jason Vosler
- Delvin Zinn
Outfielders (11)
- Luis Ayala
- Zach Davis
- Donnie Dewees
- Jose Gutierrez
- Fernando Kelli
- Kwang-Min Kwon
- Conner Myers
- Eddy Julio Martinez
- Chris Pieters
- Abraham Rodriguez
- Jonathan Sierra
Mark Gonzales reported earlier in the week the Cubs were expected to have 74 players participate in the Fall Instructional League. The Instructional League runs through Oct. 14.
The players not on the Advanced Instructional League Team practice daily at the Cubs facility in Mesa.