Marcus is a non-roster invitee to major league Spring Training for the first time in his career ... begins his eighth pro season in the Cubs organization after joining the club as a 2006 draftee … is 22-18 with 18 saves and a 4.20 ERA (174 ER/372.2 IP) in 206 minor league games (39 starts)...Has struck out 341 hitters compared to 180 walks in 372.2 career innings, an average of 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings..Has surrendered three or fewer home runs in six of seven minor league campaigns...Has combined to go 11-5 with a 4.32 ERA (72 ER/150.0 IP) in 111 relief appearances at the Double and Triple-A levels...Participated in the Cubs inaugural Rookie Development Program in Chicago in January of 2013...Attended Palomar Community College in California, where he earned First-Team All-Pacific Coast Conference Honors in 2007...Graduated from Mission Hills (Calif.) High School in 2006.
2013
Marcus split the campaign between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa, going 4-4 with a 3.86 ERA (26 ER/60.2 IP) in a career-high 49 relief appearances … struck out a career-best 74 hitters, an average of 10.98 strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched, while issuing 35 free passes ... Began the season at Tennessee, going 1-2 with two saves and a 3.00 ERA (6 ER/18.0 IP) before earning a promotion to Iowa in May ... Held Double-A left-handed hitters to a .185 batting average (5-for-27) compared to a .235 mark (8-for-34) against righties ... Went 3-2 with a 4.22 ERA (20 ER/42.2 IP) in 35 games with Iowa ... Did not allow a run in eight-straight appearances (8.1 IP), July 9-28 ... Recorded at least one strikeout in 29 of 35 relief appearances at Iowa ... Made 17 relief appearances with Tomateros de Culiacan in the winter Mexican Pacific League ... was 1-3 with a 3.94 ERA (7 ER/16.0 IP).
2012
Began the season on Tennessee's seven-day disabled list before reaching the Triple-A level in July for the first time in his career … went 4-1 with four saves and a 4.62 ERA (31 ER/60.1 IP) in 40 relief appearances
between the two affiliates ... Posted a 3-1 mark with four saves and a 3.40 ERA (17 ER/45.0 IP) in 28 relief appearances with the Smokies ... Placed on Tennessee's seven-day disabled list, April 5-12, with a right
hip strain ... Recorded an 8.1-scoreless inning streak from June 1-21 (five appearances) ... Allowed just three home runs in 45.0 innings of work ... Promoted to Iowa, July 24 ... Held Triple-A right-handed hitters to a .103 batting average (3-for-29) compared to a .367 mark (11-for-30) against lefties.
2011
Pitched in 48 games between Single-A Peoria, Single-A Daytona and Double-A Tennessee, combining to go 5-1 with a career-high 11 saves and a 3.32 ERA (22 ER/59.2 IP) … allowed just two home runs and 30 walks
in 59.2 innings while striking out 60 ... Began the campaign with Peoria, and was 2-1 with three saves and a
2.35 ERA (4 ER/15.1 IP) in 13 relief appearances ... Landed on Peoria's disabled list, April 18-27, with a right thumb sprain ... Promoted to Daytona in May, and posted no record with four saves and a 1.76 ERA (3 ER/15.1 IP) in 13 games ... Promoted to Tennessee in July, appearing in 22 games while going 3-0 with four saves and a 4.66 ERA (15 ER/29.0 IP).
2010
Posted no record with a 2.70 ERA (6 ER/20.0 IP) in just 11 starts between Mesa, Single-A Boise and Single-A Peoria … struck out 20 hitters while issuing nine walks in 20.0 innings of work ... Placed on Peoria's seven-day disabled list, April 8-June 16, after undergoing right elbow surgery ... Landed on Boise's disabled list, July 5-30, with a right forearm strain after just two relief appearances ... Transferred to Peoria at the end of July, starting seven games while posting a 3.38 ERA (5 ER/13.1 IP).
2009
Marcus spent the entire campaign at Single-A Peoria, going 6-6 with a 4.64 ERA (49 ER/95.0 IP) in 30 games (16 starts) before a seasonending injury … struck out 64 hitters while walking 41 in a career-high 95.0 innings of work ... Went 1-0 with a 1.01 ERA (3 ER/26.2 IP) in 14 games as a reliever compared to a 5-6 mark with a 6.06 ERA (46 ER/68.1 IP) as a starter .. Missed the rest of the season after landing on Peoria's disabled list, August 26 due to a right elbow strain suffered the day before.
2008
Appeared in 12 games (six starts) with Single-A Boise, going 1-3 with a 5.71 ERA (22 ER/34.2 IP) … allowed just three home runs while walking 21 and striking out 30 in 34.2 innings ... Struck out at least one hitter in 11 of 12 appearances ... Posted a 0.79 ERA (1 ER/11.1 IP) in June compared to an 8.10 ERA (21 ER/23.1 IP) in July and August, combined.
2007
Went 2-3 with a 3.83 ERA (18 ER/42.1 IP) in 16 games (six starts) with Rookie League Mesa and Single-A Boise in his first pro season … allowed one home run while striking out 29 in 42.1 total innings of work.
