Cardenas couldn’t be happier with Cubs call-up

Adrian Cardenas made his first trip to Chicago on Monday and marveled at one thing.

“I didn’t realize Lake Michigan’s so big,” he said. “First time in Chicago. First time at Wrigley.”

Monday marked Cardenas’ first major-league call-up, as the Cubs brought him from Class AAA Iowa and sent left-handed pitcher Travis Wood back to Iowa.

Cardenas actually fills the spot of infielder Blake DeWitt, whom the Cubs designated for assignment Sunday.

The Cubs originally claimed the 24-year-old Cardenas off waivers from the Oakland Athletics on Feb. 6 to give them some infield depth.

At Iowa, Cardenas had a hitting line of .319/.376/.521 with 2 home runs, 18 RBI, 11 walks and 5 strikeouts. He was more than a little thrilled to be called up.

“Everything I’d say now would be cliché,” said Cardenas, a native of Miami. “I’m a little overwhelmed and kind of relieved, more than anything. It’s a big, long road. To finally get here is a little overwhelming.”

Cardenas said he got a call from Iowa manager Dave Bialas informing him of the call-up.

“I was eating with (outfielder) Brett Jackson and he gave me a call and said, ‘Congratulations for all the hard work you did. You’re going to Chicago,’” Cardenas said.

“So I left there in a hurry. Brett paid for my meal. He said, ‘Get out of here. Go call whoever you need to call.’ I did. It’s been great.”

Cardenas has played mostly second base in his pro career, but he also can play shortstop and third base.

“The guy can hit,” Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. “He can square a ball up. He’s got good bat speed. He’s a nice left-handed hitter to bring us another left-handed bat off the bench.

“He’s going to play a little bit, too. You’ve got to get that left-handed bat in the lineup somehow.

“He doesn’t strike out. He’ll walk. I don’t even know if he had a bad at-bat in spring training.”

Good impression:

Travis Wood turned in a quality start Sunday and then headed back to Iowa. Dale Sveum said he left a positive impression.

“No doubt,” Sveum said. “He did a good job. He settled down, and he had command. He’s come up with a slider, which is helping a lot. He had command of that with the left-handers.

“So that’s going to be equally important to get command of that slider as well as throwing his changeup and curveball. But more importantly, the slider and changeup are pivotal to him.”