Cubs make several roster moves |
MILWAUKEE – The Chicago Cubs today placed infielder Nick Madrigal on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain and activated infielder Patrick Wisdom from the 10-day injured list. Additionally, the club selected right-handed pitcher Daniel Palencia from Triple-A Iowa and optioned right-handed pitcher Hayden Wesneski. To make room for Palencia on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Brad Boxberger has been transferred to the 60-day injured list.
Both Wisdom and Palencia will be available for today’s 3:10 p.m. CT game in Milwaukee. Palencia, who will wear uniform number 48, looks to make his major league debut. Wisdom, 31, hit 14 home runs in 56 games, to go along with a .196 average (36-for-184), six doubles, one triple and 28 RBI with Chicago in 2023 prior to landing on the injured list June 17 with a right wrist sprain. At the time of his injury, Wisdom’s 14 home runs were tied for the 13th-most in the N.L. In three minor league rehab games with Triple-A Iowa, he went 2-for-10 (.200) with one double, one home run and two RBI. Selected by St. Louis in the first round (52nd overall) in 2012 out of St. Mary’s College in California, the six-foot, two-inch Wisdom owns a career .213 average (228-for-1,069) with 49 doubles, one triple, 71 home runs and 166 RBI in 339 major league games with St. Louis (2018), Texas (2019) and the Cubs (2020-23). Since joining the Cubs in 2020, Wisdom’s 14.82 AB/HR ratio ranks sixth in the N.L. Palencia, 23, has pitched to a combined 6.83 ERA (22 ER/29.0 IP) and two saves in 18 games (five starts) between Double-A Tennessee and Iowa in 2023. The righthander has struck out 36 batters in 29.0 innings, good for an average of 11.2 strikeouts per 9.0 innings. He began the season with the Smokies and was promoted to Iowa May 23. Palencia has held the opponent scoreless in nine of his 13 appearances with Iowa and has tallied at least one strikeout in 12 of those outings. The five-foot, 11-inch Palencia was signed by Oakland as a non-drafted free agent in February 2020. The San Carlos, Venezuela native was acquired by the Cubs July 26, 2021, with outfielder Greg Deichmann, for left-handed pitcher Andrew Chafin. In 52 career minor league games (38 starts), Palencia is 2-5 with a 4.76 ERA (77 ER/145.2 IP), two saves and 186 strikeouts. He entered the 2023 season ranked as the Cubs’ No. 13 prospect per MLB Pipeline. Madrigal, 26, is batting .278 (42-for-151) with eight doubles, one triple, one home run and 17 RBI in 53 games for the Cubs in 2023. Wesneski, 25, is 2-3 with a 4.75 ERA (32 ER/60.2 IP) in 15 games (10 starts) for the Cubs this season. He has walked 15, struck out 49 and pitched to a 1.20 WHIP. Boxberger, 35, was placed on the 15-day injured list May 15 (retroactive to May 14) with a right forearm strain. He is 0-1 with two saves and a 5.52 ERA (9 ER/14.2 IP) in 17 relief outings.
