Injuries & Moves: López selected from Triple-A; Thompson (rib) to IL
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June 28: RHP Jorge López selected from Triple-A Iowa
The Cubs added an experienced arm to their bullpen on Friday, bringing the veteran López up from Triple-A Iowa. The right-hander is serving as help for a Chicago pitching staff that currently has nine pitchers on the IL.
With the Cubs, López is reunited with bullpen coach Darren Holmes, who served in that role during the reliever’s time in Baltimore (2020-22, '23). That includes López’s All-Star showing in ‘22, when he had a 2.54 ERA overall and a 1.68 ERA in 44 games with the Orioles. Cubs manager Craig Counsell also had López during their years with the Brewers (2015-18).
“I’m here to step up,” López said. “I'm ready for any type of situation.”
A veteran of nine MLB seasons, López posted a 3.76 ERA in 28 games this season for the Mets, but his time in New York came to a turbulent end. After being ejected on May 29, the reliever threw his glove into the stands and made critical postgame comments that complicated the situation. López was apologetic in the aftermath, but the Mets designated him for assignment, leading to his move to the Cubs.
“It was a misunderstanding. I had quite bad emotion in that moment,” López said. “I never talked bad about the [Mets] or anything like that. I was blaming myself and saying how bad I was looking in those moments.”
June 28: RHP Keegan Thompson (right rib fracture) placed on 15-day injured list
Thompson was placed on the IL (retroactive to Thursday) after sustaining a rib fracture in his right side. Cubs manager Craig Counsell noted that the injury occurred while Thompson was going through his post-outing shoulder maintenance work on Wednesday night in San Francisco.
“He felt like a click in his ribs,” Counsell said on Friday. “He went out to throw [Thursday] -- pain on every throw. It just kind of got worse as he was going. He mentioned it to the trainers and was pretty sore afterwards. We did some imaging today and got the results. Unfortunate results.”
Thompson, 29, has posted a 3.50 ERA with 26 strikeouts against 10 walks in 18 innings (13 appearances) this season for the Cubs. The timetable for his return is unclear at the moment.
June 28: RHP Ethan Roberts recalled from Triple-A Iowa; RHP Vinny Nittoli designated for assignment
Roberts’ two-year comeback from Tommy John surgery culminated in a call to the Cubs’ bullpen on Friday in Milwaukee. Chicago recalled the 26-year-old righty, whose last MLB appearance came on April 29, 2022, as a rookie.
“It’s been a long road,” Roberts said. “You're out in Arizona, you see the same four walls every day. Physically and mentally, it's tough. But this is what you always think about in the back of your mind, getting back to this point, for sure.”
After spending the bulk of the first half slowly building back into throwing, Roberts made 14 appearances across three levels in the Minors before the Cubs’ call. In 15 innings (13 1/3 with Triple-A Iowa), the righty did not allow an earned run with 18 strikeouts against eight walks.
Nittoli was DFA’d one day after the Cubs signed the righty to a Major League contract. The right-hander will be exposed to waivers, but could potentially head to Triple-A Iowa as a bullpen depth piece for Chicago.
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Keegan Thompson (right rib fracture)
Expected return: TBD
Thompson was placed on the IL on June 28 (retroactive to June 27) after sustaining a rib fracture in his right side. Cubs manager Craig Counsell noted that the injury occurred while Thompson was going through his post-outing shoulder maintenance work on June 26 in San Francisco. Thompson "felt a click" in his ribs and, after he experienced pain while throwing on June 27, the reliever underwent imaging that revealed the fracture.
Thompson, 29, has posted a 3.50 ERA with 26 strikeouts against 10 walks in 18 innings (13 appearances) this season for the Cubs. The timetable for his return is unclear at the moment. (Last updated: June 28)
RHP Javier Assad (right forearm extensor strain)
Expected return: July
The Cubs placed the 26-year-old Assad on the IL on June 27 (retroactive to June 24) after he experienced discomfort in his throwing arm while playing catch on June 26. Manager Craig Counsell noted that Assad had been dealing with the issue “off and on” for a couple weeks, but the latest flare-up led to the decision to give the righty a period of rest and recovery.
In 16 starts this season, the 26-year-old Assad (4-3) fashioned a 3.04 ERA with 79 strikeouts and 33 walks in 83 innings for Chicago. The righty turned in a 2.27 ERA in his first 12 starts (63 1/3) this season, but has since logged a 5.49 ERA in four starts (19 2/3 innings) in June. (Last updated: June 27)
RHP Ben Brown (neck strain)
Expected return: July
Brown threw off the mound in a bullpen session on June 26 in San Francisco and estimated he worked through 16-17 pitches with no issues. That step came after the right-hander resumed a throwing program on June 18. Brown called it an “encouraging” workout for him.
“This is kind of step one,” Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said. “But it was a good day for him. I think he is progressing the way he wants to and he knows he's not going to feel like perfect right away, but it is something that he can work through through this process.”
Brown resumed throwing after follow-up testing on his neck revealed a “benign area of concern,” Manager Craig Counsell noted on June 19. Brown and the ballclub sought multiple opinions on the pitcher’s neck injury, which was initially believed to be a stress reaction.
Counsell said that team doctors were “not concerned” after further examining the images taken of Brown. The rookie righty, who is 1-3 this season with a 3.58 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings, was placed on the IL on June 11. (Last updated: June 26)
LHP Jordan Wicks (right oblique strain)
Expected return: Late July
Wicks is currently in Arizona and in the “early stages” of his throwing program, manager Craig Counsell said on June 26. Counsell added that Wicks is unlikely to return to MLB games until after the All-Star break.
The lefty exited his start against the Cardinals on June 14 after 1 2/3 innings due to the oblique issue. The Cubs placed him on the injured list on June 15 after he underwent further testing, which revealed a Grade 2 strain, according to Counsell. Wicks’ start against St. Louis was his first since April 23 and his second appearance after returning from the 15-day IL on June 7 after dealing with a left forearm strain. (Last updated: June 26)
OF Mike Tauchman (left groin strain)
Expected return: Late July/August
Tauchman did some agility work on June 25 at Oracle Park in San Francisco and has resumed light hitting drills, per Cubs manager Craig Counsell. On June 18, it was announced that Tauchman was diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain of his left groin, requiring the outfielder to be placed on the 10-day IL. Counsell said the early feedback was that Tauchman will likely need a month to heal from the setback.
Tauchman, 33, injured his groin while legging out an infield single in the third inning of the Cubs' 7-6 loss to the Giants on June 17. In 66 games this season, Tauchman has hit .259/.359/.382 with 16 extra-base hits and 33 walks, while moving between all three outfield spots. (Last updated: June 25)
RHP Mark Leiter Jr. (right forearm strain)
Expected return: July
The Cubs placed Leiter on the 15-day IL with the forearm strain prior to their game against the Mets on June 23. The move to shelve the right-hander comes after he allowed eight earned runs in 3 1/3 innings in his previous four appearances, seeing his season ERA climb to 5.34 from 3.20 in that span. Leiter has 39 strikeouts and 13 walks in 28 2/3 innings (32 games) this season for Chicago.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Leiter was not recovering well between outings, so the team opted to give him a period of rest. The manager expressed optimism that Leiter would only miss around the minimum days required.
“That was my hope, too,” Leiter said on June 24. “I was hoping to maybe not even have to go on the IL. I think it just kind of makes sense with the time of the season. And it’s just kind of making sure that -- we're playing 162 games -- so it's being strong the whole year and not not allowing something little to kind of linger all season." (Last updated: June 24)
7-DAY MINOR LEAGUE INJURED LIST
RHP Cade Horton (right lat strain)
Expected return: July
After a recent checkup in Chicago, the 22-year-old Horton (MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 Cubs prospect and the No. 17 prospect on the Top 100 list) was diagnosed with a right lat strain, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said on June 4. The current plan calls for Horton to be shut down from throwing for three to four weeks while rehabbing at the Cubs’ complex in Arizona.
Horton, who was Chicago’s first-round pick (No. 7 overall) in the 2022 Draft, exited his May 29 start for Triple-A Iowa after logging 20 pitches in one inning (two runs allowed) against Louisville. The righty has posted a 7.50 ERA with 22 strikeouts and 11 walks in 18 innings (five starts) for Iowa, following a four-start stint (1.10 ERA with 18 strikeouts and two walks in 16 1/3 innings) with Double-A Tennessee to begin the season. (Last updated: June 4)
60-DAY IL
RHP Yency Almonte (right shoulder strain)
Expected return: July
Almonte was cleared to play light catch on June 28 in Milwaukee. The Cubs still plan on seeking another opinion on the righty’s ongoing shoulder issue. Almonte faced hitters in a live batting practice session on June 18 with High-A South Bend and was “not symptom free” during that workout, per Cubs manager Craig Counsell.
On June 27, Chicago transferred Almonte to the 60-day IL. Almonte went on the IL on May 11 (retroactive to May 8) with a right shoulder strain. The injury popped up when he did not recover well from his outing on May 7 against the Padres. Almonte, who has a 3.45 ERA over 17 appearances for Chicago this season, resumed playing catch on May 21. (Last updated: June 28)
RHP Adbert Alzolay (right flexor strain)
Expected return: TBD
Alzolay moved his rehab to Arizona on May 26. Around the same time, the right-hander was shut down from throwing after seeking a second opinion on his right flexor strain, which is similar to an issue the reliever dealt with last September. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on June 2. Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on June 24 that “everything is good” with Alzolay’s rehab, but the pitcher remains “quite a ways away” from a return.
Alzolay was placed on the 15-day IL on May 13 with the injury, which flared during his outing on May 12. In 18 games this season, Alzolay has a 4.67 ERA with 13 strikeouts, six walks and six homers allowed in 17 1/3 innings. (Last updated: June 24)
RHP Julian Merryweather (rib stress fracture)
Expected return: July
Merryweather has started to face hitters in live batting practice workouts, Cubs manager Craig Counsell noted on June 24. The working expectation is that the reliever is on track to return around the All-Star break. Imaging in April revealed that Merryweather was dealing with a rib stress fracture in his back, and the righty was placed on the 15-day IL on April 7 (retroactive to April 6). He was transferred to the 60-day IL on April 17. Merryweather has a 1.93 ERA with six strikeouts and two walks through four outings (4 2/3 innings) this season. (Last updated: June 24)
RHP Caleb Kilian (right shoulder strain)
Expected return: July
As of June 7, Kilian had resumed throwing bullpen sessions at the team’s complex in Arizona. Cubs manager Craig Counsell noted on June 24 that Kilian has built up to facing hitters in live batting practice workouts.
Kilian left his March 5 start against the Royals in the third inning before an MRI exam revealed a strain of the teres major in his throwing shoulder. The 27-year-old pitcher -- acquired from the Giants as part of the Kris Bryant trade in 2021 -- was projected to return to game action around July at the time of the injury. In '23, Kilian made three appearances for the Cubs and went 8-3 with a 4.56 ERA in 120 1/3 innings with Triple-A Iowa. He was placed on the 60-day IL on March 28. (Last updated: June 24)