Chicago Cubs Option Triantos, Cowles, Neely, Martin to Triple-A Iowa

The Chicago Cubs reduced their Spring Training roster from 62 players to 53, then moved four players to Triple-A Iowa, a set of options that reorders Des Moines’ infield and pitching mix ahead of the club’s March 27 home opener. "MESA, Ariz. – The Chicago Cubs today reduced the Spring Training roster from 62 to 53 players," the team noted in its media release.

Cubs Media Relations spelled out the primary moves: "Right-handed pitchers Riley Martin and Jack Neely and infielders Ben Cowles and James Triantos have been optioned to Triple-A Iowa. Infielder Pedro Ramirez has been optioned to Double-A Knoxville. Right-handed pitchers Grant Kipp, Connor Noland, Connor Schultz and Jaxon Wiggins have been returned to minor league camp." That sequence sends two established organizational infielders and two arms to Principal Park as the I-Cubs finalize their roster for the season opener.

James Triantos arrives in Des Moines with clear prospect pedigree and production. MiLB notes, "Triantos the No. 72 prospect according to MLB.com, returns to Iowa after being promoted from Double-A Knoxville in August. He became the first Cubs’ minor leaguer since 2010 with at least 130 hits and 45 stolen bases last season." MiLB also lists Triantos as No. 5 on the Cubs’ Top 30 Prospects List, a distinction that reflects his standing inside the organization even while MLB.com ranks him No. 72 overall.

Iowa’s roster preview from MiLB frames the I-Cubs as a balance of youth and veteran help. The infield mix now includes Triantos, Ben Cowles, Jonathon Long, Dixon Machado and Chase Strumpf, while the outfield features Owen Caissie, Kevin Alcántara, Christian Franklin, Darius Hill and Greg Allen. Catchers listed are Moises Ballesteros, Reese McGuire and Carlos Pérez. MiLB also details the pitching staff and its prospect pieces: "Among the 15 pitchers on the roster, Horton returns for his second stint with the I-Cubs after going 2-1 with a 4.46 ERA (17 ER in 34.1 IP) across nine starts with Double-A Knoxville and Iowa in 2024." The MiLB piece names right-handers Phil Bickford, Chris Flexen, Gavin Hollowell, Caleb Kilian, Brooks Kriske, Jack Neely, Connor Noland, Daniel Palencia, Cody Poteet, Trevor Richards and Ethan Roberts, and lists left-handers Brandon Hughes, Luke Little, Riley Martin and Jordan Wicks; the piece’s numeric counts do not match the enumerated names.

A closely watched name not included in the option group is Jaxon Wiggins, who was returned to minor-league camp. "The Cubs announced on March 8 that right-handed pitcher Jaxon Wiggins has been returned to the minor-league camp. Wiggins was at big-league spring training as a non-roster invitee by the Cubs," the Des Moines Register reported. Wiggins, a 24-year-old 2023 second-round pick (68th overall), posted a 3-4 record with a 2.19 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 97 strikeouts in 78 innings across High-A, Double-A and Triple-A in 2025 and logged three starts with Iowa last year (0-2, 4.66 ERA, 14 strikeouts in 9.2 innings).

One other item to watch: sources disagree on Riley Martin’s handedness. The Cubs media release describes Martin as a right-handed pitcher, while MiLB’s roster text lists him among left-handers on the Iowa staff; that inconsistency remains in the team and minor-league copy. With Iowa’s opener set for March 27 against the Columbus Clippers at Principal Park, first pitch 7:08 p.m., these options give the I-Cubs a mix of top-30 organizational prospects such as Cade Horton, Owen Caissie, Moises Ballesteros and Triantos alongside veteran arms as Des Moines closes its spring roster.