The Chicago Cubs on Sunday placed right-handed pitcher James Norwood on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to Thursday) with right shoulder inflammation and recalled left-handed pitcher Justin Steele from the club’s South Bend Alternate Site. 

Steele, who joins the first major league roster of his career, will wear uniform number 35 and be available for the Cubs this afternoon when they conclude their three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field.  

Steele, 25, was originally selected by the Cubs in the fifth round of the 2014 Draft out of George County High School in Lucedale, MS. He has gone 16-23 with a 3.62 ERA (129 ER/320.2 IP) in 80 professional appearances, all but five as a starting pitcher. Steele has reached the big leagues without spending any time at the Triple-A level.

The southpaw went 0-6 with a 5.59 ERA (24 ER/38.2 IP) in 11 starts with Double-A Tennessee last year after combining to go 2-2 with a 2.31 ERA (12 ER/46.2 IP) in 11 starts in 2018 across three levels of the Cubs minor league system, reaching the Double-A level for the first time in his career to close out the year. 

The 6-foot-2 southpaw earned 2017 mid-season Carolina League All-Star honors with Single-A Myrtle Beach when he went 6-7 with a 2.92 ERA (32 ER/98.2 IP) in 20 starts.  

Norwood, 26, has posted no record and a 16.20 ERA (3 ER/1.2 IP) in three relief outings with the Cubs this season.

Chicago’s 60-man Player Pool roster remains at 58 players, with 30 active players (plus three 10-day injured list players) in Chicago and 25 players in South Bend.