Chicago Cubs player profiles
2023 Cubs player profiles: Alexander Canario
Alexander Canario got a cuppa and breakfast, one at-bat, and some good paychecks in 2023. 2024 will look brighter for him.
2023 Cubs player profiles: José Cuas
The reliever with the funky sidearm delivery has a murky future with the Cubs. Great story though.
2023 Cubs player profiles: Jordan Wicks
Wicks has pitched like his hair’s on fire while he maintains a calm demeanor so far in his short Cubs career. He looks like he’s in The Show to stay after a meteoric rise through the minor-league system.
2023 Cubs player profiles: Luke Little
Luke is anything but little, and he might be a big deal for the Cubs, who need lefty relief. He has rocketed through the Cubs’ minor-league system and is ready to contribute.
2023 Cubs player profiles: Pete Crow-Armstrong
Pete Crow-Armstrong has arrived in the Majors and his glove has already shown up. His bat shouldn’t be far behind.
2023 Cubs player profiles: Jeimer Candelario
The switch-hitting third baseman is a possible keeper as a bridge between Patrick Wisdom and Matt Shaw. He’s at just the right age where a couple of years at a small raise might be appealing. His bat and glove have good value.
2023 Cubs player profiles: A cool half-dozen minor-leaguers
Last in a series. Six players who are on the 40-man are unlikely to see any time in Chicago this year but almost certainly will in the future. We provide thumbnail portraits for each to conclude our series (for now?) and will await developments.
2023 Cubs player profiles: Jared Young
39th in a series. Jared Young is a good coffee date but as a permanent fixture leaves something to be desired.
2023 Cubs player profiles: Nelson Velázquez
38th in a series. Nelson Velázquez needs to improve in several areas to be an effective major league player — he certainly has the potential but might find himself on another squad.
2023 Cubs player profiles: Daniel Palencia
37th in a series. Daniel Palencia has rocketed up from Myrtle Beach and is in the Cubs’ bullpen. He has enormous potential.
2023 Cubs player profiles: Nick Burdi
36th in a series. Burdi has been hurt and/or ineffective for his entire career, though he began with plenty of promise and a three-digit heater.
2023 Cubs player profiles: Brandon Hughes
35th in a series. Hughes has been hurt most of the year and ineffective when he’s in there. He needs to get right.
2023 Cubs player profiles: Anthony Kay
34th in a series. Anthony Kay has bounced around the minors a bit, after being a highly-regarded prospect.
2023 Cubs player profiles: Jeremiah Estrada
33rd in a series. Jeremiah Estrada came all the way up from A ball and probably could use a little more seasoning.
2023 Cubs player profiles: Adrian Sampson
32nd in a series. If Sampson pitches at all this year, it’ll be late, and with an eye toward possibly retaining his services. He’s not going to be any help this year.
2023 Cubs player profiles: Codi Heuer
Thirty-first in a series. Codi Heuer is perhaps the leading closer candidate for the Cubs and is recovering from TJS. He’ll be back soon and his rebuilt electric arm will be in play.
2023 Cubs player profiles: Brad Boxberger
Thirtieth in a series. Brad Boxberger hasn’t panned out but he’s been injured. He’ll be back fairly soon, and then we’ll find out how much of his ineffectiveness was due to a forearm strain. Regardless, he’s an older player and won’t be around much longer.
2023 Cubs player profiles: Keegan Thompson
Twenty-ninth in a series. Keegan Thompson isn’t having his best season, but he’s a prisoner of his own success, to a degree. He should be back before too long.
2023 Cubs player profiles: Michael Fulmer
Twenty-eighth in a series. Michael Fulmer was a much-heralded signing, but it hasn’t worked out for him at all. I don’t think he should buy a house in Chicagoland.
2023 Cubs player profiles: Michael Rucker
Twenty-seventh in a series. Rucker has had his ups and downs but has mostly stayed in the major-league bullpen.
2023 Cubs player profiles: Mark Leiter Jr.
26th in a series. Mark Leiter Jr. has carved out a role in the Cubs bullpen after he was designated for assignment earlier this year. Patrick Wisdom calls his work "The Leit Show".
2023 Cubs player profiles: Javier Assad
No. 25 in a series. Javier Assad is valuable insurance for now and a potential rotation piece going forward.
2023 Cubs player profiles: Kyle Hendricks
24th in a series. Kyle Hendricks hasn’t been the same pitcher he was earlier in his career, for the past couple of years. A lot of weak contact has been barreled. He’s just back from a year on the IL.
2023 Cubs player profiles: Adbert Alzolay
23rd in a series. No. 73 took a while to get to Wrigley but he’s here to stay. Maybe one day he’ll be the closer. He’d like that.
2023 Cubs player profiles: Mike Tauchman
23rd in a series. Mike Tauchman is an older player with a low ceiling and a good half-year as a major leaguer. He has some skills but is just here for coffee.
2023 Cubs player profiles: Miles Mastrobuoni
22nd in a series. Miles to go, and miles before I sleep. The utility man is on the Iowa shuttle but might log significant time in Chicago, depending.
2023 Cubs player profiles: Christopher Morel
Twenty-first in a series. He’s been on a tear since coming back to the Show. And he almost didn’t make it. Here’s a bit of his story.
2023 Cubs player profiles: Matt Mervis
Nineteenth in a series. Rookie first baseman Matt Mervis and his big bat arrived in Chicago in early May and it doesn’t look like he’s going anywhere.
2023 Cubs player profiles: Hayden Wesneski
Eighteenth in a series. The rookie is holding his own so far, and looks like he’s here to stay.
2023 Cubs player profiles: Drew Smyly
Seventeenth in a series. Southpaw Smyly is enjoying a good year and having a fine time in Chicago. He has at least another year on his contract, though he does have an opt-out after this year, which he’s unlikely to exercise.
2023 Cubs player profiles: Jameson Taillon
Sixteenth in a series. Signing Taillon was a big step in the right direction for the Cubs, though the results remain to be seen.
2023 Cubs player profiles: Justin Steele
Fifteenth in a series. Justin Steele is the Cubs’ most potent homegrown in years. And he won’t be the last.