2014 Iowa Cubs: Where are they now?

Player movement is the name of the game in the minor leagues. Sometimes a minor league roster only changes a little, while other times it can be completely overhauled from one season to the next, especially at the Triple-A level.

 

With that, here's a look at what some of last year's Iowa Cubs are up to around the world of professional baseball.

 

Pitchers:

 

Marcus Hatley:

First coming to the Iowa Cubs in 2011, right-hander Marcus Hatley went through two more stints with Iowa, going 2-6 with a 4.60 ERA (24ER/47.0IP) and one save in six save opportunities with the I-Cubs in 2014.

 

After eight years in the Cubs organization, Hatley was inked by the St. Louis Cardinals organization to a minor league contract on Nov. 11, 2014. Hatley appeared in eight games during Cardinals Spring Training, posting a 2.70 ERA (2ER/6.2IP) in eight games.

 

The righty was assigned to Triple-A Memphis to start 2015 and has gone 2-1 with a 1.30 ERA (4ER/27.2IP) with the Redbirds, striking out 21 while walking 10. He has also collected three saves.

 

Marcos Mateo:

Mateo pitched parts of four seasons with the I-Cubs, posting a 3-0 record with a 3.86 ERA (16ER/37.1IP) during 2014.

 

In January, Mateo signed a Minor League contract with San Diego Padres and was shortly thereafter assigned to Triple-A El Paso on Jan. 12, 2015. In Spring Training Mateo was 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA (6ER/10.0IP). Mateo has started off the 2015 season strong with El Paso, going 1-0 with six saves and a 2.49 ERA (6ER/21.2IP) over 17 relief appearances with the Chihuahuas.

 

Chris Rusin:

Rusin was drafted out of the University of Kentucky by the Chicago Cubs organization in the 2009 June draft. The left-hander made 75 career starts with the I-Cubs, going 8-13 with a 4.31 ERA (70ER/146.1IP) in 2014.

 

One of his eight wins at Triple-A in 2014 came on a no-hitter against New Orleans on May 7.

 

On Sept. 27, 2014 the Colorado Rockies claimed Rusin off of waivers from the Cubs. The left-hander began 2015 with Triple-A Albuquerque and went 3-2 with a 6.29 ERA (24ER/34.1IP) over six starts and one relief appearance with the Isotopes.

 

He was then promoted to Colorado and has since gone 1-0 with a 0.77 ERA (1ER/11.2IP). His one win came in a 7.0-inning outing against Cincinnati in which he allowed just four hits and one earned run.

 

Dan Straily

Right-hander Dan Straily came to the Cubs organization from Oakland along with Addison Russell and Billy McKinney in the trade for Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel on July 4, 2014.

 

Straily made 10 starts in Iowa in 2014, going 3-5 with a 4.09 ERA (25ER/55.0IP), while getting just one start with Chicago before being optioned back to Iowa. Straily is now in the Houston Astros organization after being traded with Luis Valbuena on Jan. 19, 2015 in exchange for outfielder Dexter Fowler.

 

The Redlands, Calif. native is now back in his home state pitching for Triple-A Fresno of the Pacific Coast League. In nine starts Straily is 4-3 with a 3.91 ERA (21ER/48.1IP). He has punched out 41 batters thus far, nearly a strikeout per inning.

 

Arodys Vizcaino

Right-handed reliever Arodys Vizcaino spent part of the 2014 season with Iowa while splitting time in Advanced-A Daytona, Double-A Daytona and Chicago. He made 17 appearances with Iowa.

 

Vizcaino is now in the Atlanta organization after being traded for second baseman Tommy La Stella and an international signing bonus slot on Nov. 16, 2014. On Mar. 30, 2015 Vizcaino was optioned to the Gwinnett Braves of the International League.

 

The 24-year old right-hander was 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA (8ER/8.0IP) in Braves Spring Training before being optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on March 30. Vizcaino was suspended for 80 games on April 2 for testing positive for performance enhancing drugs.

 

Catchers:

 

Luis Flores

Catcher Luis Flores first worked his way up to Triple-A Iowa in 2013 after being drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 7th round in 2008 draft. Flores hit .219 with seven home runs and 25 RBI between 2013-14 in two partial seasons with the I-Cubs.

 

Flores is now in the Houston organization after being selected by the Astros in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 Draft on Dec. 11, 2014. Flores is playing alongside Dan Straily with the Fresno Grizzlies. He is hitting .200 (9-for-45) with one home run and five RBI in 14 games with the Grizzlies.

 

Eli Whiteside

The veteran played in 63 games with Iowa in 2014, hitting .214 with six home runs and 21 RBI. Whiteside then opted for free agency in October of 2014 and made a move towards returning to the big leagues by signing a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves.

 

The Mississippi native retired in January and is now a bullpen catcher and coach with the San Francisco Giants.

 

Infielders/Outfielders:

 

Brett Jackson

A first round pick of the Chicago Cubs in the 2009 June amateur draft, outfielder Brett Jackson broke into the big leagues in 2012 with Chicago amidst four different stints with Iowa (2011-14').

 

The outfielder hit .246 with 36 home runs and 116 RBI in an I-Cubs uniform during those years. On Aug. 14, 2014 the Cubs traded Jackson to the Arizona Diamondbacks for right-hander Blake Cooper.

 

He played seven games with the Diamondbacks before being outrighted from the roster and selected by the San Francisco Giants in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft on Dec. 11, 2014.

 

Jackson was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento to start 2015 and has since posted a .277 average (28-for-101) with three home runs and 13 RBI.

 

Josh Vitters:

The Cubs selected Josh Vitters as the third overall pick in the 2007 amateur draft. He appeared in 450 games with the I-Cubs from 2012-14' at third base and the outfield.

 

Vitters played in 36 games with Chicago during 2012, hitting .121 with two home runs and five RBI in 99 at-bats.

 

He signed a minor league contract with Colorado in February of 2015 and appeared only briefly in Spring Training before being released by Colorado on March 31. Vitters is currently a free agent.

 

Manny Ramirez:

Manny Ramirez was hired as a hitting consultant for the Chicago Cubs in February of 2015. Ramirez hit .222 with three home runs and 22 RBI in 72 at-bats with Iowa last season.

 

Ryan Kalish:

Outfielder Ryan Kalish hit .251 in 87 games with the I-Cubs last season. He became a free agent following the 2014 season and was looking to join the Toronto Blue Jays organization, although a minor league contract made Dec. 17, 2014 fell through. The 26-year-old outfielder is now a free agent.