Cubs recall LHP Kyle Ryan, RHP Cory Abbott from Triple-A Iowa, option Keegan Thompson to Iowa

CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today recalled left-handed pitcher Kyle Ryan and right-handed pitcher Cory Abbott from Triple-A Iowa, and optioned right-handed pitcher Keegan Thompson to Iowa.

Ryan, 29, is in his sixth stint with the Cubs, having held the opponent scoreless in three of five relief appearances while pitching to an 8.31 ERA (4 ER/4.1 IP) with four walks and three strikeouts. In 19 outings with Iowa this season, Ryan is 2-0 with one save, a 2.52 ERA (7 ER/25.0 IP) and a .092 WHIP while striking out 24 compared to seven walks.

Ryan is in his fourth season with the Cubs organization after signing with the club on December 29, 2017. The lefthander appeared in 18 games in 2020, going 1-0 with a 5.17 ERA (9 ER/15.2 IP), four holds and one save. In 2019, Ryan went 4-2 with a 3.54 ERA (24 ER/61.0 IP) and 14 holds while limiting left-handed hitters to a .226 average (21-for-93) in a career-high and team-leading 73 games.

Abbott, 25, is in his fourth stint with the Cubs as he has pitched to a 6.35 ERA (8 ER/11.1 IP) with no record in five relief appearances, walking seven and striking out eight. He made his major league debut, June 5 in San Francisco, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings. In 10 starts for Iowa this season, Abbott is 1-5 with a 7.21 ERA (39 ER/48.2 IP), 25 walks and 71 strikeouts, good for an average of 13.1 strikeouts per 9.0 innings.

Abbott, the 2019 Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Year, was selected by Chicago in the second round of the 2017 draft out of Loyola Marymount University and is 17-19 with a 3.50 ERA (126 ER/324.1 IP) in 63 career minor league starts. He has recorded a 1.22 WHIP and averaged 10.7 strikeouts per 9.0 innings, striking out 386 batters with 119 walks.

Thompson, 26, is 3-2 with one save and a 2.21 ERA (10 ER/40.2 IP) in 27 relief appearances in his debut season with Chicago. He has walked 22, struck out 43 and pitched to a 1.28 WHIP.