Cubs call up 3 players from Iowa for today's game

DJ LeMahieu and Lou Montanez have been here before, but for John Gaub, Tuesday's call-up to the major leagues was something brand new … and special.

The Cubs recalled all three players from Class AAA Iowa. LeMahieu and Montanez were up earlier this season. Gaub had never gotten a major-league call-up.

The 26-year-old Gaub, a left-handed reliever, came to the Cubs from Cleveland in the Mark DeRosa deal on Dec. 31, 2008.

“I'm very excited,” he said. “I don't think it's really sunk in yet. I'm ready to go. I had a much better year this year. Last year I struggled. I battled injury last year, too.

“This year I pitched well. I made my first all-star game of my career. I just did well. I was consistent all year. They rewarded me with a September call-up, so I'm pretty happy.”

At Iowa, Gaub was 4-4 with 7 saves and an ERA of 3.42 in 50 relief appearances. He struck out 75 in 55 innings, an average of 12.2 strikeouts per 9 innings.

LeMahieu was a second-round pick in 2009. Montanez was the Cubs' first-round pick in 2000. He played parts of the previous three seasons with Baltimore before re-signing with the Cubs on a minor-league deal last winter.

“It's great; it's like baseball heaven for me,” Montanez said. “It's always nice to come back and contribute a little bit.”

Catcher Welington Castillo, who also was up earlier this season, was at Wrigley Field on Tuesday but that was more to get treatment on the hamstring injury that put him on Iowa's disabled list.

“I got no indication that he would be available any time soon,” Cubs manager Mike Quade said.

DeWitt tests it:

Infielder-outfielder Blake DeWitt ran the bases under the supervision of the trainer Tuesday. DeWitt has been bothered by a tight left hamstring.

He's available to pinch hit, but the Cubs had to use pitcher Casey Coleman to pinch run for him Sunday.

Minor matters:

The Cubs have added third-base prospect Josh Vitters and pitching prospect Marcus Hatley to the Mesa roster for the Arizona Fall League. Vitters replaces center-field prospect Brett Jackson, who will play this fall for Team USA.

The Cubs had indicated for several weeks that Jackson would not get a major-league call-up in September. He hit .297 at Iowa after a promotion from Class AA Tennessee. He could be the front-runner to grab the starting center-field job next year.

“I think that's up to him,” Mike Quade said. “We never had that conversation about Tyler Colvin before last year, and what a spring he had.

“I'm sure he (Jackson) is confident enough in what he was able to do for a limited time in Triple-A. He'd get a good look at spring training next year. And he should. He earned it.”

Follow Bruce Miles on Twitter @BruceMiles2112.