Chicago Cubs host 39 pitchers in early weeks of camp

Long shots

As there is each Spring Training, several players working with the Chicago Cubs are long-shots to make the Major League team. With the experience several bring to camp, the pantry is full.

However, there may be a few surprises once camp breaks.

Jack Leathersich pitched in 17 games for the 2015 New York Mets, and performed well. However, elbow issues led to Tommy John surgery. Even so, the Cubs claimed him off waivers. A career reliever with eight years in the minors, Leathersich boasts a 3.38 ERA in 234 innings. In 26 games with the Cubs minor league affiliates in 2016, he finished with a 1.93 ERA.

Williams Perez was dropped by the Atlanta Braves, then signed by the Cubs to a minor league contract. He will join the Iowa Cubs’ starting rotation when camp breaks. Seth Frankoff with join Perez there as a result of the team’s already-strong early season depth. Frankoff will be 29 later this year and has a solid minor league stat line. He’s pitched in 242 games, started 49 and has a record of 25-25 with a 3.67 ERA. He walked 188 batters and struck out 512 in 520 2/3 innings.

Finally, there is Gerardo Concepcion, who saw time with the Cubs in 2016. Those three games provided him a World Series ring. However, Concepcion has struggled in five minor league seasons.

Once a heralded arm in the system, in his 219 2/3 innings under his belt, his career ERA is a robust 5.45. After the season was over, the Cubs did not tender him a contract, which released him from team control. The Cubs then invited him back to camp this spring.