The 2014 Cubs By The Numbers

Pitchers and catchers are officially expected in Mesa in just a little over two weeks (Feb. 13) and the full Cubs squad in about three (Feb. 18), so here's something to get you ready for games, a full list of the rostered and non-roster players, as well as Cubs coaches and the new manager. A few notes:

• New third-base coach Gary Jones will wear No. 1. It has been a long time since a Cubs coach wore that number -- specifically, not since the Wrigleys owned the team. Cookie Rojas, who was a coach from 1977-81, was the last non-player to wear uniform No. 1.
• Welington Castillo switches from No. 53 to No. 5 for 2014; Josh Vitters, who had that number "reserved" on the 40-man list all last year without appearing in a big-league game, switches to No. 27.
• No one is listed at No. 12; that might be reserved for Chang-yong Lim, who was reported to have been issued a NRI, but that hasn't apparently been made official, yet. The last full season in which no Cub was issued No. 12 was 1982.
• I like the issuance of No. 77 to Kris Bryant. Maybe he'll keep it on making the major-league team. Meanwhile, Javier Baez retains the No. 70 he wore at spring training 2013.
• Travis Wood had given up No. 30 to Dioner Navarro in 2013, but will keep the No. 37 he wore last year for 2014. He had a really good year wearing No. 37, so why not?
• Chad Noble, the new Cubs bullpen catcher, was the 37th-round pick of the team out of Northwestern in 2010. He played four years in the system, peaking at Iowa last year. Here's his complete minor-league record.

While we're on the topic of Cubs uniform numbers, here's my annual shameless plug. If you don't yet have your copy of "Cubs By The Numbers", the book co-authored by me, Kasey Ignarski and Matt Silverman, you can order yours at this link.

Onward. Retired numbers are listed just so you have an idea of what numbers are not being issued. Non-roster players designated by *. All these numbers are tentative as of January 24 and subject to change; perhaps a free agent or two will be added before camp begins.

     1 Gary Jones, third-base coach
     2 Eric Hinske, first-base coach
     3 Bill Mueller, hitting coach
     4 Ryan Roberts *
     5 Welington Castillo
     6 Ryan Sweeney
     7 Brett Jackson
     8 Donnie Murphy
     9 George Kottaras
    10 Ron Santo (retired)
    11 Kyuji Fujikawa
    13 Starlin Castro
    14 Ernie Banks (retired)
    15 Darwin Barney
    16 Rick Renteria, manager
    17 Brandon Hyde, bench coach
    18 Chris Rusin
    19 Nate Schierholtz
    20 Justin Ruggiano
    21 Junior Lake
    22 Logan Watkins
    23 Ryne Sandberg (retired)
    24 Luis Valbuena
    25 Chris Bosio, pitching coach
    26 Billy Williams (retired)
    27 Josh Vitters
    28 Chris Coghlan *
    29 Jeff Samardzija
    30 Mike Olt
    31 Fergie Jenkins/Greg Maddux (retired)
    32 Eli Whiteside *
    33 Carlos Villanueva
    34 Kerry Wood, instructor
    35 Lester Strode, bullpen coach
    36 Edwin Jackson
    37 Travis Wood
    38 John Baker *
    39 Casper Wells *
    40 James Russell
    41 Jose Veras
    42 Jackie Robinson (retired by MLB)
    43 Brooks Raley
    44 Anthony Rizzo
    45 Mitch Maier *
    46 Pedro Strop
    47 Arodys Vizcaino
    48 Aaron Cunningham *
    49 Jake Arrieta
    50 Blake Parker
    51 Ryan Kalish *
    52 Justin Grimm
    53 Wesley Wright
    54 Darnell McDonald *
    55 Alberto Cabrera
    56 Hector Rondon
    57 Jonathan Sanchez *
    58 Mike Borzello, catching/strategy coach
    59 Zac Rosscup
    60 Chris Valaika *
    61 Christian Villanueva 
    62 Jose Castro, quality assurance coach
    63 Brian Schlitter *
    64 Franklin Font, staff assistant
    65 Tommy Hottovy *
    66 Neil Ramirez
    67 Tsuyoshi Wada *
    68 Jorge Soler
    70 Javier Baez *
    71 Dallas Beeler
    72 Matt Szczur
    73 Marcus Hatley *
    74 Brett Marshall
    75 Arismendy Alcantara
    76 Jeudy Valdez *
    77 Kris Bryant *
    78 Albert Almora *
    79 Kyle Hendricks *
    80 Eric Jokisch *
    81 Armando Rivero *
    82 Rafael Lopez *
    83 Adam Melhuse, scout
    83 Luis Flores (minor league camp)
    84 Carlos Pimentel *
    85 Desi Wilson, instructor (hitting coach, Tennessee)
    86 Mike Mason, instructor (assistant pitching coord)
    87 Bruce Walton, instructor (pitching coach, Iowa)
    88 Kyle Phillips, scout
    88 Will Remillard (minor league camp)
    89 Carmelo Martinez, instructor (Latin America field coord)
    90 Storm Davis, instructor (pitching coach, Tennessee)
    91 Marty Pevey, instructor (manager, Iowa)
    92 Jose Flores, instructor (minor league infield coord)
    93 Brian Harper, instructor (hitting coach, Iowa)
    94 Buddy Bailey, instructor (manager, Tennessee)
    95 Chad Noble, bullpen catcher
    96 Mike Brumley, assistant hitting coach
    97 Tim Cossins, instructor (minor league field coord)
    98 Derek Johnson, instructor (minor league pitching coord)
    99 Anthony Iapoce, instructor (special assistant)