It's official: Jason Heyward is back from injury |
CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today activated outfielder Jason Heyward off of the 10-day disabled list and recalled left-handed pitcher Jack Leathersich from Triple-A Iowa. In corresponding moves, the Cubs have optioned infielder Jeimer Candelario and right-handed pitcher Felix Peña to Triple-A.
Both Heyward and Leathersich, who will wear uniform number 51, will be available for the Cubs today as they begin their two-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Wrigley Field. Heyward, 27, has been on the disabled list since June 22 due to a left hand abrasion. He played two games at Single-A South Bend as part of his rehab assignment, going 3-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored and an RBI. He is batting .258 (51-for-198) with six home runs and 29 RBI in 55 games with the Cubs this season. Leathersich, 26, joins the Cubs for the first time this season. In 10 appearances since the beginning of June with Iowa, he has posted a 0.64 ERA (1 ER/14.0 IP) while striking out 26 batters and walking only five in 14.0 innings. Overall, Leathersich has gone 0-2 with a 4.56 ERA (13 ER/25.2 IP) in 22 relief outings, striking out 42 batters in 25.2 innings, an average of 14.7 strikeouts per innings. He has limited foes to a .191 batting average. The southpaw returns to the big leagues for the first time since 2015, when he went 0-1 with a 2.31 ERA (3 ER/11.2 IP) in 17 relief outings with the New York Mets before his season was cut short due to Tommy John surgery that July. Leathersich returned from his rehab to make 26 minor league appearances across three levels of the Cubs organization last year, combining to go 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA (5 ER/23.1 IP), advancing as high as Triple-A (five appearances, 0 ER/5.0 IP). Leathersich was originally selected by the Mets in the fifth round of the 2011 Draft out of the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. He was claimed off waivers by the Cubs on November 19, 2015. Candelario, 23, is batting .152 (5-for-33) with two doubles, one homer and three RBI in 11 games covering two stints with the Cubs this season. With Iowa, he is batting .272 (61-for-224) with 22 doubles, three triples, nine home runs and 41 RBI in 64 games Peña, 27, is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA (8 ER/16.0 IP) in 10 relief appearances covering three stints with the Cubs this season. He is 1-1 with four saves and an 8.31 ERA (16 ER/17.1 IP) in 13 relief appearances with Iowa this season.
