Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the dark-horse candidates to make the Chicago Cubs Opening Day roster?
Connor Menez and Ben Leeper are the two non-roster invites with the best shot at cracking the Opening Day roster. Menez fills a need as a lefty in the bullpen, while Leeper has posted dominant strikeout numbers in both Double-A and Triple-A.
How did Connor Menez perform before the Cubs selected him in the Rule 5 draft?
Menez pitched 42.2 innings for the San Francisco Giants Triple-A affiliate across 26 games with a 6.75 ERA, a 24.2 K%, and a 4.8 BB%. When called up to the Giants, he appeared in 8 games and threw 14 innings with improved peripherals.
What are Ben Leeper's minor league stats that make him a bullpen candidate?
In Double-A, Leeper posted a 1.26 ERA with a 37.3 K% and 30.5 K-BB% in 14.1 innings. He was even better in Triple-A, going 17 games with a 1.31 ERA, a 40.3 K%, and a 28.6 K-BB% over 20.2 innings.
Will Brennen Davis make the Cubs Opening Day roster in 2022?
Despite his impressive 2021 season where he slashed through High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A, Davis is expected to begin 2022 back at Triple-A with the Iowa Cubs. If he keeps performing well, he could earn a call-up by June.
How did Brennen Davis perform across the minor league levels in 2021?
Davis slashed .321/.406/.607 with a 172 wRC+ in High-A, then .252/.367/.474 with a 135 wRC+ in Double-A, and bounced back in Triple-A slashing .268/.397/.536 with a 150 wRC+. He was ranked No. 14 on the top-100 prospects list that year.