Welcome to Indiana: Meet the 2024 South Bend Cubs roster
The South Bend Cubs have finalized its 29-player opening day roster for the 2024 High-A Midwest League season. Here is a look the prospects for the parent-club Chicago Cubs.
PITCHERS
38 | Sam Armstrong
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 245
Throws right, bats right
Born: Sept. 26, 2000 (23)
Birthplace: Newton, New Jersey
Most recent team: Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Low-A)
How Acquired: 13th round of 2023 draft
Extras: He appeared in eight games for Myrtle Beach last year, throwing 13 2/3rd innings. Played collegiately at Old Dominion. His nine victories in 2023 for the Monarchs ranked third amongst Sun Belt Conference pitchers.
50 | Yovanny Cabrera
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 180
Throws right, bats right
Born: March 22, 2021 (23)
Birthplace: Santiago, Dominican Republic
Most recent team: South Bend Cubs
How Acquired: Free agent 2019
Extras: A highlight in 2023 for Cabrera was striking out seven batters in four innings for Myrtle Beach against the Fayetteville Woodpeckers on Aug. 12. Only appeared in seven games with South Bend late in the season.
30 | Angel Gonzalez
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 175
Throws right, bats right
Born: August 26, 2002 (21)
Birthplace: Manatí, Puerto Rico
Most recent team: South Bend
How Acquired: Free agent 2020
Extras: Recorded five saves in six opportunities for Myrtle Beach last season. Came to South Bend midway through the year, giving up 16 earned runs in 15 innings pitched.
34 | Drew Gray
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 190
Throws left, bats left
Born: May 9, 2003 (20)
Birthplace: Richmond Heights, Missouri
Most recent team: Myrtle Beach
How Acquired: 3rd round of 2021 draft
Extras: Gray has a lot of upside, as he’s ranked as the 16th best prospect in the Chicago Cubs farm system and second-best in South Bend. He went straight from IMG Academy to the minor leagues, where he’s taken some lumps in 16 career games. He missed the 2022 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
45 | Angel Hernandez
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 180
Throws left, bats left
Born: May 6, 2000 (23)
Birthplace: Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela
Most recent team: Myrtle Beach
How Acquired: Free agent 2020
Extras: This will be Hernandez’s first time in High-A after a combined 68 appearances with the Cubs’ rookie ball team and Low-A affiliate. He was used as a reliever in every game he pitched in, recording a 79 strikeouts in 54 1/3rd innings last season.
21 | Nick Hull
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 205
Throws right, bats right
Born: Aug. 21, 1999 (24)
Birthplace: Edmonds, Washington
Most recent team: South Bend
How Acquired: 7th round of 2022 draft
Extras: Made the late-season transition from Myrtle Beach to South Bend well last year, allowing just six runs in 16 2/3rd innings pitched across five appearances with the Cubs, including one start. Played collegiately at Grand Canyon University.
22 | Grant Kipp
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 220
Throws right, bats right
Born: Nov. 11, 1999 (24)
Birthplace: Dallas, Texas
Most recent team: South Bend
How Acquired: Free agent 2022
Extras: Kipp is one of six Yale graduates currently playing minor league baseball. He was an honorable mention All-Ivy League team selection in 2022.
27 | Koen Moreno
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 170
Throws right, bats right
Born: Aug. 1, 2001 (22)
Birthplace: Cary, North Carolina
Most recent team: Myrtle Beach
How Acquired: 5th round of 2020 draft
Extras: Moreno spent all of last season in Myrtle Beach, going 7-2 with a 2.90 ERA. He struck out 79 batters in 71 1/3rd innings pitched. Moreno bypassed college to go straight to the minor leagues, however he missed most of the 2021 and 2022 seasons due to a stress reaction in his elbow.
8 | Joe Nahas
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 185
Throws right, bats right
Born: Nov. 14, 1999 (24)
Birthplace: Pottsville, Pennsylvania
Most recent team: Tennessee Smokies (AA)
How Acquired: Free agent 2019
Extras: This will be Nahas’ fourth go-around in South Bend after spending parts of 2021 and 2023 and all of the 2022 season with the Cubs. He tossed six of the nine innings in a South Bend no-hitter against Fort Wayne on Aug. 13, 2021.
40 | Jose Romero
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 185
Throws right, bats right
Born: April 20, 2001
Birthplace: Santa Barbara, Venezuela
Most recent team: Myrtle Beach
How Acquired: Free agent 2020
Extras: Another bullpen arm, Romero made 28 relief appearances for the Pelicans last season. He wound up earning three wins and three saves, all while holding his opponents to a .193 batting average against him.
28 | Will Sanders
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 230
Throws right, bats left
Born: March 30, 2002 (22)
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia
Most recent team: University of South Carolina
How Acquired: 4th round of 2023 draft
Extras: Sanders is one of two pitchers on the staff with zero minor league experience. In college, he went 17-10 with a 4.08 ERA across three seasons, starting 36 of his 51 appearances. He recorded 222 strikeouts during that time as well.
13 | Tyler Santana
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 205
Throws right, bats right
Born: May 13, 1998 (25)
Birthplace: Miami, Florida
Most recent team: South Bend
How Acquired: Free agent 2021
Extras: He spent all of last season in South Bend, making nine starts and 30 total appearances. Santana was the pitcher of the month for the Carolina League in July 2022 for Myrtle Beach.
20 | Tyler Schlaffer
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 180
Throws right, bats right
Born: May 24, 2001 (22)
Birthplace: Homewood, Illinois
Most recent team: South Bend
How Acquired: 9th round of 2019 draft
Extras: Schlaffer pitched in one game for South Bend last year, going five innings. He spent the bulk of the year in Myrtle Beach, starting 18 games for the Pelicans.
35 | Hunter Viets
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 220
Throws right, bats left
Born: Sept. 27, 1998 (25)
Birthplace: Pensacola, Florida
Most recent team: Florida A&M University
How Acquired: free agent 2024
Extras: Viets, like Sanders, is new to minor league baseball. In his two seasons at A&M, Viets went 16-6 with 174 strikeouts and a 3.21 ERA.
33 | Chase Watkins
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 215
Throws left, bats left
Born: Oct. 4, 1999 (24)
Birthplace: Watsonville, California
Most recent team: South Bend
How Acquired: 9th round of 2021 draft
Extras: Watkins logged 21 relief appearances for South Bend last year, finishing with a 5.23 ERA. He was on the Development List for the second half of the season.
CATCHERS
39 | Dilan Granadillo
Height: 5-7 | Weight: 175
Throws right, bats switch-hitter
Born: May 18, 2001 (22)
Birthplace: Puerto Cabello, Venezuela
Most recent team: South Bend
How Acquired: Free agent 2019
Extras: Granadillo has a whole two career at-bats in non-rookie ball action, both coming last year. He only caught one inning for South Bend while serving as the designated hitter in his other game appearance.
9 | Ethan Hearn
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 200
Throws right, bats left
Born: Aug. 31, 2000 (23)
Birthplace: Mobile, Alabama
Most recent team: South Bend
How Acquired: 6th round of 2019 draft
Extras: Hearn has played a total of 242 minor league baseball games, making him one of the most experienced players on the roster. Seventy-two of those came last year in South Bend, where he only allowed three passed balls all season.
3 | Casey Opitz
Height: 5-9 | Weight: 200
Throws right, bats switch-hitter
Born: July 30, 1998 (25)
Birthplace: Littleton, Colorado
Most recent team: Tennessee Smokies
How Acquired: 8th round of 2021 draft
Extras: Opitz split time between South Bend and Tennessee last year, playing 39 games for the Cubs and 29 for the Smokies. He also spent the entire 2022 season in South Bend.
INFIELDERS
15 | Reivaj Garcia
Height: 5-9 | Weight: 175
Throws right, bats switch-hitter
Born: Aug. 12, 2001 (22)
Birthplace: Navajoa, Sonora, Mexico
Most recent team: Myrtle Beach
How Acquired: Free agent 2017
Extras: Garcia played first base, second base, third base and designated hitter for the Pelicans last year, splitting time between the four positions evenly. Of the 92 games he played, he started 91 of them in 2023.
11 | Ed Howard
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 185
Throws right, bats right
Born: Jan. 28, 2002 (22)
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
Most recent team: South Bend
How Acquired: 1st round of 2020 draft
Extras: Howard missed most of the 2022 season with a hip injury and only played in 45 games last year. Howard was ranked as high as the 14th-best prospect by MLB.com before the injury.
32 | Brian Kalmer
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 215
Throws right, bats right
Born: Aug. 17, 2000 (23)
Birthplace: Phoenix, Arizona
Most recent team: Myrtle Beach
How Acquired: 18th round of 2023 draft
Extras: Kalmer put up good numbers in Myrtle Beach last year, batting .358 with a .423 OBP and .683 slugging percentage. He smacked 10 home runs and drove in 40 RBIs in just 32 games with the Pelicans. Kalmer either played first base or designated hitter.
25 | Jonathon Long
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 210
Throws right, bats right
Born: Jan. 20, 2002 (22)
Birthplace: Orange, California
Most recent team: Myrtle Beach
How Acquired: 9th round of 2023 draft
Extras: Of the 20 hits Long had for the Pelicans last year, nine of them went for extra bases, including six home runs. He managed 12 RBIs and 11 runs scored in just 23 games (77 plate appearances).
5 | Fabian Pertuz
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 156
Throws right, bats right
Born: Sept. 1, 2000 (23)
Birthplace: Barranquilla, Colombia
Most recent team: Tennessee Smokies
How Acquired: Free agent 2017
Extras: Pertuz started 37 games at third base for the Cubs last year. He’s looking to bounce back after a career-low .190 batting average in 2023.
7 | Pedro Ramirez
Height: 5-8 | Weight: 165
Throws right, bats switch-hitter
Born: April 1, 2004 (20)
Birthplace: Temblador, Venezuela
Most recent team: Myrtle Beach
How Acquired: Free agent 2021
Extras: This will be Ramirez’s first stint in South Bend. He is the 18th-ranked prospect in the Chicago Cubs farm system. Ramirez split time between second and third base primarily last year. The highlight of last season for Ramirez was a walk-off two-run double on Aug, 25.
2 | Jefferson Rojas
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 150
Throws right, bats right
Born: April 25, 2005 (18)
Birthplace: Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Most recent team: Myrtle Beach
How Acquired: Free agent 2022
Extras: The top prospect in South Bend, Rojas ranks ninth in the Chicago Cubs farm system. The teenager batted .265 with 31 RBIs and 48 runs scored for Myrtle Beach last year. Of the 70 games he played last season, 61 of them were at shortstop.
OUTFIELDERS
6 | Brett Bateman
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 170
Throws left, bats left
Born: March 19, 2002 (22)
Birthplace: St. Paul, Minnesota
Most recent team: Myrtle Beach
How Acquired: 8th round of 2023 draft
Extras: Although his slugging numbers weren’t high, Bateman recorded 31 hits and 24 walks in 29 games for Myrtle Beach, helping him have a .418 on-base percentage. He primarily plays centerfield.
4 | Parker Chavers
Height: 5-9 | Weight: 185
Throws right, bats left
Born: July 25, 1998 (25)
Birthplace: Montgomery, Alabama
Most recent team: South Bend
How Acquired: 7th round of 2021 draft
Extras: Chavers had a brief taste of South Bend last year, playing just eight games for the Cubs after appearing in 76 for Myrtle Beach. He had an impressive seven-RBI performance for the Pelicans in a game against Fayetteville on Aug. 8, 2023.
16 | Rafael Morel
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 170
Throws right, bats right
Born: Nov. 22, 2001 (22)
Birthplace: Santiago, Dominican Republic
Most recent team: Myrtle Beach
How Acquired: Free agent 2018
Extras: He is the younger brother of current Chicago Cubs outfielder Christopher Morel. This will be the first time the younger Morel has faced High-A competition.
17 | Yohendrick Pinango
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 170
Throws left, bats left
Born: May 7, 2002 (21)
Birthplace: Carora, Venezuela
Most recent team: South Bend
How Acquired: Free agent 2018
Extras: This will be the third season for Pinango in South Bend. He’s played 219 total games for the Cubs, with his offensive numbers slightly regressing from 2022 to 2023. He played 66 games at leftfield and 37 as the designated hitter last year.
Manager: Nick Lovullo #18
Pitching coach: Bruce Billings #36
Hitting coach: Nate Spears #29
Bench coach: Kyle Moore #24
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Meet the 2024 South Bend Cubs roster
