Cubs expect Little to be out for year; Wesneski to IL
The Cubs got more bad news in the pitcher injury category Saturday.
Manager Craig Counsell said left-handed reliever Luke Little is likely out for the year with a lat strain. He said no surgery is planned, but significant rest is needed.
Also, Hayden Wesneski went on the 15-day injured list with a right forearm strain and Hunter Bigge was recalled from Iowa. Wesneski pitched 1⅓ innings in Friday's game.
“He had some symptoms yesterday in his triceps, so we took him out of the game,” Counsell said. “We did imaging. Not overly concerned. Hoping he can be back throwing within a week. Hopefully it's just something minor and we can get him back quickly.”
Little was removed from last Friday's game in St. Louis after throwing 4 pitches. He's had a few duds this season, but was considered one of the bright spots of the bullpen, posting a 3.46 ERA at age 23.
“I think had gotten to the point where there was a real role for him on this team,” Counsell said. “I think there was development that happened this year. I think he was really trending in a good direction. Unfortunately, that's probably going to have to stop now and wait till next year.”
The Cubs still expect to get Julian Merryweather back soon. He pitched 1⅔ innings for Iowa on Friday and hit 98.1 mph with his fastball, and averaging 96.3 mph. That's getting close to last year's velocity, when he became the Cubs' surprise bullpen star. Merryweather has been out since April 6 with a rib stress fracture.
Sore arms pile up:
There was some discussion before Saturday's game about whether the term forearm strain has become a popular way of describing a sore elbow on injury reports, or if it has something to do with the actual forearm muscles between the wrist and elbow.
Hayden Wesneski is the only Cubs pitcher listed with a forearm strain, but the team has had plenty over the past few seasons.
“Elbows and shoulders, that's where pitchers are hurting,” manager Craig Counsell said.
The bottom line is pitcher injuries have become common as velocity and spin rates increase. Every team seems to be thin on pitching at some point in the season.
“We've been in a spot where we've been behind for a while,” Counsell said. “I think we've managed it all right. I think in this last stretch of the season, we've felt like we've been kind of caught up, and then it's just been kind of one guy back, one guy down. So we've never been able to get back to a good spot or a spot we'd hoped to be in when the season started.”
With the addition of Wesneski, the Cubs currently have 10 pitchers on the injured list. Shota Imanaga and Hector Neris are the only two pitchers who have been available all season on the major league roster.
Cubs sign picks:
The Cubs announced the signing of nine draft picks, including first-rounder Cam Smith and nine of the top 10 selections.
According to Jim Callis of mlb.com, Smith signed for full slot value of $5.07 million for the No. 14 overall selection. Second-round pick Cole Mathis from College of Charleston also reportedly signed for full slot value of $1.68 million at pick No. 54.
Third-rounder Ronny Cruz, a high school shortstop from Miami, signed for less than slot value of $620,000, according to Baseball America's Carlos Collazo. Others who signed are fifth-round catcher Ariel Armas, sixth-round RHP Ryan Gallagher, seventh-round OF Ivan Brethowr, eighth-round 1B Edgar Alvarez, ninth-round RHP Brooks Caple, 10th-round INF Matt Halbach and 12th-round RHP Daniel Avitia.