The Iowa Cubs return for their 55th season of Triple-A baseball in Des Moines for 2024. The 2024 version of the I-Cubs has a roster filled with young talent and steady veterans that fans should be excited about with 15 pitchers, three catchers, six infielders, and four outfielders.
The active roster features 14 players with major league service time and 17 players who have past suited up for Iowa. Of that bunch, six players are on the Cubs’ Top 30 Prospects List according to MLB.com, including OF Pete Crow-Armstrong (No. 1), OF Owen Caissie (No. 3), OF Alexander Canario (No. 12), INF Matt Mervis (No. 15), INF BJ Murray Jr. (No. 18) and INF Luis Vazquez (No. 20).
Romaing the outfield grass is a highly touted trio in Crow-Armstrong, Caissie and Canario. All three players are 23 or younger, with Canario being 23, Crow-Armstrong, 22 and Caissie, 21. Crow-Armstrong batted .283 in 107 games between Double-A Tennessee and Iowa and was one of eight minor league players to have at least 20 home runs and 35 stolen bases last season. Canario hit .273 in 53 games across three levels while Caissie batted .289 with 22 home runs in 120 games with Tennessee. Darius Hill, who played in 90 games with the I-Cubs last year, rounds out the outfield.
Mervis and Vázquez headline the group of infielders for Iowa. Mervis, who has played in parts of three seasons with the I-Cubs, batted .282 and finished second on the team with 22 home runs and 78 RBI in 2023. Vázquez began 2023 with Tennessee before he hit .257 in 66 games with Iowa and brings an impressive defensive skillset to the group. Rounding out the infield will be David Bote, Murray Jr., Jake Slaughter and Chase Strumpf.
Among the 15 pitchers on the roster, Hayden Wesneski is an arm to keep an eye on. The 26-year-old suited up for Iowa in 2022 and 2023, while also spending time up in the Major Leagues with Chicago. Over the course of 2023 season, Wesneski was impressive when he was with the I-Cubs sporting a record of 1-0 and an ERA of 1.35 over five starts.
The rest of the pitching staff features five left-handers, including Edwin Escobar, Richard Lovelady, Riley Martin, Thomas Pannone and Brad Wieck. The right-handers are Colten Brewer, Chris Clarke, Chris Kachmar, Sam McWilliams, Daniel Palencia, Walker Powell, Keegan Thompson, and Riley Thompson.
Catching for the I-Cubs will be Curt Casali, Joe Hudson and Bryce Windham. Casali and Hudson are in their first seasons with Iowa while Windham returns for his second. Windham appeared in 61 games for Iowa last season and slashed .290/.367/.376 with nine doubles and 31 RBI.