The Cubs positioned outfielder Seiya Suzuki on the 10-day injured record resulting from a sprain within the ring finger on his left hand. As effectively, right-hander Robert Gsellman has been designated for project, and left-hander Brandon Hughes will be part of the Cubs after his contract was chosen from Triple-A.
Suzuki’s placement is retroactive to May 27, because the outfielder hasn’t performed for the reason that damage pressured to make an early exit from the Cubs’ 20-5 loss to the Reds on May 26. After a couple of days of monitoring Suzuki’s situation, there wasn’t sufficient enchancment to keep away from an IL journey, and Chicago’s busy schedule seemingly additionally performed an element. The Cubs have 9 video games inside a seven-day span, together with at present’s doubleheader with the Brewers and one other doubleheader Saturday in opposition to the Cardinals.
Signed to an enormous five-year, $85MM deal within the offseason, Suzuki’s first 163 PA in MLB have gone effectively general, as his .245/.344/.432 slash line interprets to a 116 wRC+ and 119 OPS+. However, it actually looks like pitchers have gotten a ebook on Suzuki, as he had a whopping 1.090 OPS over his first 72 PA however solely a .545 OPS in his final 91 journeys to the dish. Suzuki’s paycheck and prolonged resume of success in Japan can obscure the truth that he’s nonetheless a participant seeing Major League pitching for the primary time, so there are inevitable going to be some ups and downs as he adjusts.
The sprained finger provides one other impediment for Suzuki to beat, although provided that the crew was nonetheless hopeful that he may return as early as at present, he won’t miss greater than the minimal 10 days. Clint Frazier (simply again from the IL himself) and rookie Nelson Velazquez will in all probability get the majority of time in proper subject till Suzuki or Jason Heyward return from the injured record.
Gsellman signed a minors cope with the Cubs in the course of the offseason, and posted a 5.02 ERA over 14 1/3 innings for Chicago since his contract was chosen earlier this month. Never an enormous strikeout pitcher even his greatest years as a reliever and swingman with the Mets, Gsellman has solely a 13.5% strikeout price over 57 MLB innings for the reason that begin of the 2020 season.
Hughes rejoins the Cubs after making historical past in his Major League debut earlier this season, putting out the primary 5 Pirates batters he confronted on May 17. This made Hughes the primary pitcher in fashionable (since 1901) baseball historical past to file not less than 5 outs all by strikeouts in his first massive league look. Overall, Hughes had a 2.57 ERA over seven innings and 5 appearances.
