JUNE 22, 2022•CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM
Why the Chicago Cubs optioned Caleb Kilian to Triple A instead of letting him work through his strugglesThe Chicago Cubs optioned Caleb Kilian to Triple-A Iowa, hoping the rookie right-hander can reset.
Josh VanMeter - Begins rehab assignmentVanMeter (finger) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
ImpactVanMeter is ready for game action three weeks after fracturing his left ring finger. Prior to the injury, he'd hit a mediocre .214/.280/.357, and it's difficult to imagine he'll return to a regular role once healthy, especially with Oneil Cruz's arrival crowding the middle infield.
JUNE 21, 2022•ROTOWIRE
Aaron Shortridge - Returns from injured listShortridge (elbow) was activated from the injured list for Double-A Altoona on Tuesday, Mike Persak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
ImpactShortridge has been out since the end of the 2019 season due to the cancelled minors season in 2020 and then Tommy John surgery. His only game action since then consisted of three rehab starts for Single-A Bradenton in which he allowed just one run in nine innings of work. The 25-year-old righty will now look to tackle the Double-A level for the first time.
JUNE 21, 2022•ROTOWIRE
Nick Gonzales - Shifts to 60-day ILDouble-A Altoona transferred Gonzales (heel) from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day iL on Tuesday, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
ImpactWhen he was first placed on the IL on June 1, Gonzales was considered day-to-day with heel soreness, but the injury was evidently more serious than the Pirates initially believed. The 2020 first-round pick now looks like he'll be sidelined through the end of July, which is another blow to what had already been a somewhat down season for the 23-year-old. Prior to getting hurt, Gonzales was producing slightly better than the league-average player (113 wRC+, .341 wOBA) and had struck out in 32.8 percent of his plate appearances.
JUNE 21, 2022•ROTOWIRE
Jerad Eickhoff - Confirmed to start WednesdayManager Derek Shelton said Eickhoff will be called up from Triple-A Indianapolis to start Wednesday's game against the Cubs, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.
ImpactThe Pirates will likely make the transaction official at some point after Tuesday's contest. Eickhoff will be joining the rotation as a replacement for Zach Thompson, who was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday with right forearm nerve inflammation. Over his 13 outings (six starts) with Indianapolis this season, Eickhoff has turned in a 4.84 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 47:15 K:BB across 48.1 innings.
JUNE 21, 2022•ROTOWIRE
Mark Leiter Jr. - Back with big-league clubLeiter was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
ImpactLeiter will join the Cubs on Tuesday for his fourth stint in the majors this season. The 31-year-old has appeared in seven games (three starts) and has a 6.23 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 16:9 K:BB over 17.1 innings.
JUNE 21, 2022•ROTOWIRE
Caleb Kilian - Returns to Triple-AKilian was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
ImpactThe 25-year-old surrendered seven runs (five earned) over 2.1 innings Monday and will now make his way back to the minors. Kilian is Chicago's top pitching prospect, but he struggled across his first three starts in the majors with a 10.32 ERA, 2.03 WHIP and 9:12 K:BB in 11.1 innings.
JUNE 21, 2022•ROTOWIRE
