Injuries & Moves: Kilian activated from 60-day IL
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July 31: RHP Caleb Kilian activated from 60-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A Iowa
Kilian reached the end of his Minor League rehab assignment and was reinstated from the 60-day IL, where he landed on March 28 when the Cubs set their Opening Day roster. The right-hander has been optioned to Triple-A Iowa.
Kilian, who sustained a strain of the teres major muscle in his right shoulder in a Spring Training outing on March 5, made eight rehab appearances prior to being activated. In those Minor League outings, the righty had a 7.50 ERA with eight strikeouts and eight walks in 12 innings of work.
Acquired from the Giants in the 2021 trade for Kris Bryant, the 27-year-old Kilian has made six appearances for the Cubs with mixed results in the ‘22-23 campaigns. In Triple-A last year, he had a 4.56 ERA in 120 1/3 innings.
July 30: RHP Ethan Roberts recalled from Triple-A Iowa; INF Miles Mastrobuoni optioned to Triple-A Iowa
With Mark Leiter Jr. traded to the Yankees on Tuesday, the Cubs recalled Roberts to fill the vacancy in the bullpen. Roberts, 27, rejoins Chicago with a 0.00 ERA in four appearances for the MLB team already this season. The righty has a 1.50 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 18 innings across three Minor League levels this year.
Mastrobuoni, 28, was optioned to Iowa to clear a spot on the active roster for All-Star third baseman Isaac Paredes, who reported to the Cubs on Tuesday. Chicago acquired Paredes from the Rays on Sunday in exchange for infielder Christopher Morel, rookie righty Hunter Bigge and pitching prospect Ty Johnson.
July 30: Acquired RHP Jack Neely and INF Ben Cowles from the Yankees in exchange for RHP Mark Leiter Jr.
The Cubs added a pair of prospects in Neely (ranked No. 20 on Pipeline’s Top 30 list for Chicago) and Cowles (No. 30) in exchange for Leiter, who emerged as a late-inning weapon for the North Siders over the past two seasons.
Neely, 24, has posted a 2.81 ERA with 63 strikeouts and 16 walks in 41 2/3 innings (31 games) between the Double-A and Triple-A levels in the Yankees’ system this year. The 2021 Draft pick (11th round) features a four-seamer (95.4 mph average this year, per Statcast) and a slider, and has struck out batters at a rate of 14.3 per nine innings in his four Minor League seasons.
The 24-year-old Cowles was selected in the 10th round of the 2021 Draft out of Maryland, where he was a teammate of Cubs prospect Matt Shaw. In 88 games this season with Double-A Somerset, the infielder has hit .295/.376/.472 with nine homers, 25 doubles, 51 RBIs and a 17.7% strikeout rate. Cowles has mostly played shortstop this season, but has also logged innings at second and third base. More >>
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
C Tomás Nido (right knee sprain)
Expected return: September
The Cubs announced on July 30 that Nido underwent a right knee scope (debridement) while in Cincinnati and is scheduled to begin his rehab process when the team returns to Chicago later this week. The veteran catcher tweaked his knee on July 24 and was placed on the 10-day IL two days later. Cubs manager Craig Counsell indicated on July 31 that Nido would likely be sidelined around four to six weeks. (Last updated: July 31)
RHP Hayden Wesneski (right forearm strain)
Expected return: August
Wesneski suffered a setback in his recovery when he was pulled after 1 1/3 innings on July 19 against Arizona due to discomfort in his arm and imaging revealed a forearm strain. He was placed on the IL on July 20, and on July 28 manager Craig Counsell said the Cubs expect his stint to last "probably more time than initially [thought]."
Wesneski is not expected to resume throwing until the Cubs return home on Aug. 1 against the Cardinals. He will then have to build back up before his return.
In 25 games (seven starts) this season, the 26-year-old Wesneski has logged a 3.94 ERA in 61 2/3 innings for the Cubs. (Last updated: July 28)
RHP Keegan Thompson (right rib fracture)
Expected return: August
Thompson was sent to Triple-A Iowa on July 26 to begin a rehab assignment after throwing 20 pitches in a live batting practice session at the Cubs’ complex in Arizona on July 23. In his first appearance for the I-Cubs on July 26, Thompson got through a scoreless frame despite hitting and walking a batter.
Thompson also did a light bullpen session on July 20. The right-hander was placed on the IL on June 28 (retroactive to June 27) after sustaining a rib fracture in his right side.
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: July 27)
60-DAY IL
RHP Adbert Alzolay (right flexor strain)
Expected return: TBD
Alzolay is likely to undergo surgery, Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on Aug. 1. The right-hander is seeking second opinions to determine the exact details of what the procedure will entail. The team expects to have more information the week of Aug. 5.
Counsell noted on July 29 that Alzolay had not recovered well from his Minor League rehab outing with Triple-A Iowa on July 27. Counsell called it a "setback," noting that the reliever was headed to Chicago to be evaluated by the Cubs’ medical team. (Last updated: Aug. 1)
RHP Ben Brown (neck strain)
Expected return: August
Brown was transferred to the 60-day IL on July 26 to make room for catcher Christian Bethancourt, but is ramping up and threw another bullpen session on July 26. Manager Craig Counsell said on July 28 that Brown is still only throwing bullpens in Arizona, so he still has to face live hitters and throw in games before his return, which would be a "minimum of two weeks."
The right-hander had a light “touch and feel” bullpen session on July 19 after Brown resumed a throwing program on June 18 following testing on his neck that revealed a “benign area of concern,” Counsell noted on June 19. Brown has thrown steadily over the past month with varying degrees of symptoms.
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: July 28)
LHP Jordan Wicks (right oblique strain)
Expected return: August
Wicks is currently in Arizona and threw a bullpen on July 26. His next step is live bullpens, and if that goes well, he will start throwing in games. His recovery process is “going a little slow,” manager Craig Counsell noted on July 11. The lefty is playing catch, but his comeback could linger beyond late July and into August. On July 19, Wicks was transferred to the 60-day IL in a procedural move by the ballclub.
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: July 28)
LHP Luke Little (left shoulder strain)
Expected return: 2025
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on July 20 that the current expectation is that Little will miss the remainder of the 2024 season due to his left shoulder/lat injury. The lefty landed on the 15-day IL on July 13 -- one day after exiting his outing against the Cardinals after just four pitches. He was moved to the 60-day IL on July 22.
“I think Luke had gotten to a point where there was a real role for him on this team,” Counsell said on July 20. “I think there was development that happened this year and I think he was really trending in a good direction. Unfortunately, that’s probably going to have to stop now and wait until next year.”
Little posted a 3.46 ERA in 30 games overall this season, but had a 1.59 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 17 innings and a .127 opponents’ average in the 20 appearances prior to the IL stint. (Last updated: July 22)
RHP Yency Almonte (right shoulder strain)
Expected return: 2025
Almonte underwent a successful labral repair surgery, per the Cubs.
The righty had been attempting to come back from the injury for two months after landing on the injured list on May 11, retroactive to May 8, before opting for the surgery.
“I got news that I didn't want to get,” said Almonte, who was acquired from the Dodgers in January. “It's upsetting. I came here with a positive mindset from the trade, ready to go dominate. And I feel like I started off pretty well and just was in a good place mentally.”
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, leading to the second opinion. The pitcher said he is dealing with a minor tear of his labrum. Almonte posted a 3.45 ERA over 17 appearances for Chicago. (Last updated: July 12)
RHP Colten Brewer (fractured left hand)
Expected return: TBD
Brewer, 31, punched a wall in the Cubs’ dugout after his outing against the Angels on July 6 and sustained a fractured left hand. He was placed on the 60-day IL as a result on July 7. The righty has logged a 5.66 ERA in 20 2/3 innings this season, striking out 22 and walking nine. He had a 3.45 ERA in his first 11 outings for the Cubs, but has slumped to the tune of a 12.60 ERA in his past five appearances, culminating in the July 6 setback.
“Colten, after he came out of the game, made a mistake, clearly out of frustration,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on July 7. “It’s something that he regrets, clearly. It’s something you don’t want to have happen. It’s unfortunate, and now the consequence is you’re going to find yourself with a broken hand and on the injured list for quite a while.” (Last updated: July 7)
7-DAY MINOR LEAGUE INJURED LIST
RHP Cade Horton (right lat strain)
Expected return: July
Horton is in the early stages of a throwing program in Arizona, Cubs assistant general manager Jared Banner said on July 10. 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 on June 4 and was shut down from throwing for roughly a month.
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: July 10)