Cubs Roster Moves: Mark Leiter Jr. recalled, optioned pitcher |
PITTSBURGH – The Chicago Cubs today recalled Mark Leiter Jr. from Triple-A Iowa and optioned right-handed pitcher Caleb Kilian to Triple-A Iowa.
Leiter Jr., 31, begins his fourth stint with the Cubs this season having gone 1-1 with a 6.23 ERA (12 ER/17.1 IP) in seven games (three starts) with the team from April 16-30, May 11-18 and May 29-June 3. At Triple-A Iowa, the righthander owns an 0-3 record with a 6.16 ERA (13 ER/19.0 IP) in five starts. He has allowed five walks and struck out 27 batters, good for a 1.21 WHIP. The six-foot tall Leiter Jr. signed a minor league contract with the Cubs this past offseason after spending 2021 in the Detroit organization, combining to go 10-8 with a 3.77 ERA (48 ER/114.2 IP) in 25 games (19 starts) with Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo in his first action since 2018. He averaged 11.4 strikeouts per 9.0 innings thanks to 145 strikeouts in 114.2 innings against 31 walks which contributed to a 1.07 WHIP. Leiter Jr. was claimed off waivers by Toronto September 1, 2018, then underwent Tommy John surgery March 12, 2019, missing the 2019 campaign. He signed a minor league contract with Arizona for the 2020 season, which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All told, Leiter Jr. owns a 42-35 record with a 3.57 ERA (253 ER/637.1 IP) in 153 career minor league games, including 98 starts, and is 4-8 with a 5.62 ERA (82 ER/131.1 IP) in 54 career major league games (14 starts). He was originally selected by Philadelphia in the 22nd round of the 2013 Draft out of the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Kilian, 25, has made three starts for Chicago this season, going 0-2 with a 10.32 ERA (13 ER/11.1 IP).
