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Iowa Cubs Announce 2019 Opening Day Roster

April 3, 2019

DES MOINES - The Iowa Cubs, in conjunction with the Chicago Cubs, today announced their 2019 Opening Day roster preceding the first game of the season tonight at 6:35 in Nashville. The active roster is comprised of 13 pitchers, two catchers, six infielders and four outfielders.

DES MOINES - The Iowa Cubs, in conjunction with the Chicago Cubs, today announced their 2019 Opening Day roster preceding the first game of the season tonight at 6:35 in Nashville. The active roster is comprised of 13 pitchers, two catchers, six infielders and four outfielders.

Utility man Ian Happ headlines the group headed to Des Moines. The 24-year-old, a Cubs top prospect in 2017, has logged 257 games with Chicago over the last two seasons, batting .242 (182-for-751) with 39 home runs and 112 RBI. Happ hit nine home runs in 26 games with Iowa in 2017 prior to his first promotion to Chicago. 
Checking in as the Cubs' No. 11 and No. 20 prospects, respectively, according to MLB.com, infielders Zack Short and Trent Giambrone are slated for their Triple-A debuts this season with Iowa. The pair spent 2018 with Double-A Tennessee and tied for the team lead with 17 homers apiece. At 23 years old, Short is the youngest member of the I-Cubs' roster. 
Rounding out the infield is Jim Adduci, Cristhian Adames, Phillip Evans, and Dixon Machado. All have big league experience and signed as minor league free agents with the Cubs. Adduci previously logged time with the I-Cubs in 2011-12. 
Catcher Taylor Davis will be back in an I-Cubs uniform for the fifth-straight season. Among Iowa franchise position players, Davis is tied for the third-most seasons played trailing only Bill Hayes (6) and Micah Hoffpauir (7). Davis is joined behind the dish by former Los Angeles Angel, Francisco Arcia.
Donnie Dewees, a Cubs second-round draft pick in 2015, Zach Borenstein and Johnny Field will patrol the outfield grass for the I-Cubs. Field made his major league debut in 2018 and appeared in 83 big league games between Tampa Bay and Minnesota.  
Of 13 pitchers on the roster, 10 have previously appeared for the I-Cubs. Ten-year major league veteran Brian Duensing will help lead an otherwise young staff as eight pitchers are age 26 or younger. In the bullpen, righties Dillon Maples, Matt Carasiti, Dakota Mekkes, James Norwood, and Allen Webster, as well as lefty Kyle Ryan have all pitched for Iowa. Right-handed starters Duane Underwood Jr., Matt Swarmer and Duncan Robinson have also past suited up for Iowa. 
Cascade, IA native Colin Rea completes the rotation, signing as a free agent this offseason. The righty is making his way back from a 2017 Tommy John surgery. Lefty Tim Collins, a late sign after spring training, and righty Rowan Wick are the other newcomers among I-Cub pitchers. Wick, a position-player-turned-pitcher, won the Short-Season Joe Bauman Home Run Award in 2014 before converting to pitching in 2015. Collins holds a 3.62 ERA in 266 major league contests. 
Lefty Alberto Baldonado and outfielder Wynton Bernard will begin the season on Iowa's Injured List. Both logged time with the I-Cubs in 2018.
The I-Cubs' home opener is on Tuesday, April 9 with a 6:38 p.m. first pitch against New Orleans. The first 500 fans at Principal Park will receive a commemorative Opening Day bottle opener. 
For more information or tickets, visit www.iowacubs.com