Cubs add lefty reliever from Triple-A Iowa, DFA'd Taylor Davis |
MILWAUKEE – The Chicago Cubs today selected the contract of left-handed pitcher Danny Hultzen from Triple-A Iowa. To make room for Hultzen on the 40-man roster, catcher Taylor Davis was designated for assignment. Hultzen, who will wear uniform number 39, will be available for the Cubs tonight when they continue their four-game series at the Milwaukee Brewers. Chicago’s active roster now stands at 35 players.
Hultzen, 29, joins the first major league roster of his professional career since being selected by the Seattle Mariners with the second overall pick of the 2011 Draft out of the University of Virginia. He has persevered through multiple shoulder surgeries, causing him to miss the entire 2014 and 2017 seasons, and joined the Cubs organization on a minor league contract in 2018 after pitching parts of four seasons in the Mariners minor league chain (2012-13, 2015-16). The southpaw made 10 appearances (three starts) in the Cubs minor league system last year, posting no record and a 5.19 ERA (5 ER/8.2 IP), before making his 2019 debut with Iowa on June 16. Hultzen went 0-1 with three saves, a 0.91 WHIP and a 1.26 ERA (2 ER/14.1 IP) in 14 relief outings with Iowa this season, striking out 23 batters in 14.1 innings. He limited foes to a .087 batting average against (4-for-46), including a .050 batting average by lefties (1-for-20). Hultzen is 14-10 with three saves and a 2.85 ERA (61 ER/192.2 IP) in 61 career minor league appearances (40 starts) covering six seasons in the Mariners and Cubs organizations. He has 225 strikeouts in 192.2 innings while holding opponents to a .195 batting average and posting a 1.21 WHIP. Hultzen is a native of Bethesda, Maryland. Davis, 29, batted .167 (3-for-18) with one homer and four RBI in seven games with the Cubs this season. With Iowa this year, Davis hit .235 (48-for-204) with four doubles, five homers and 23 RBI in 61 games.
