Tauchman surprises Cubs with quick return to active roster
Outfielder Mike Tauchman returned to the Cubs active roster Friday, roughly a month after suffering a left groin strain.
After reaching first on an infield single in the third inning of the June 17 game against the Giants, the Palatine native signaled for the trainer and was replaced by a pinch-runner. As a corresponding move, OF Alexander Canario was sent down to Iowa.
Tauchman famously sparked the Cubs midseason turnaround in 2023 when manager David Ross started using him in center field and the leadoff spot. Last year's Cubs went 50-28 from mid-June to early September.
Whether Tauchman can provide a spark this year remains to be seen. Manager Craig Counsell has committed to playing Pete Crow-Armstrong in center field, but Cody Bellinger may be out a couple more weeks with a broken finger. Tauchman's best spot has been right field, with the Cubs going 17-13 when he plays there. He was not in Friday's starting lineup.
“I think we just have to be careful with (the injury),” Counsell said. “He's doing well. I think he made it back quicker than we were anticipating, so we just have to take note. He's a healthy player, so we're ready to go.”
The Cubs made one other roster move before Friday's game, calling up reliever Jesus Tinoco from Iowa, while Jordan Wicks (oblique strain) moved to the 60-day injured list.
Tinoco, 29, is a right-handed native of Venezuela. He's made 57 career appearances in the majors for three different teams. The Cubs are his third organization of 2024. He pitched in eight games for Texas in May and June, posting an 8.10 ERA. He then made six appearances for the Royals Triple A team before being traded to the Cubs Tuesday.
Wicks has been sidelined for a month already, so he's eligible to return from the 60-day on Aug. 14.
“He (Wicks) was experiencing symptoms as he tried to ramp up a couple times, so we just had to go slower and that has pushed the calendar back,” Counsell said.
Translator transition:
Manager Craig Counsell was asked about the Cubs' decision to dismiss Tooi Matsushita, who had worked as Seiya Suzuki's translator for the past 2 ½ seasons. The news was first reported by theathletic.com.
“Essentially we just made a decision moving forward that we can be in a good spot without Tooi,” he said. “We built a pretty good support system around Seiya with some other people that can just move the situation forward. Nothing will really change.”
Shota Imanaga's translator Edwin Stanberry remains on the job and the Cubs also have video coordinator-Pacific Rim Liaison Nao Masamoto.
Around the horn:
The Cubs had more injured pitcher updates. Ben Brown (neck strain) was scheduled to throw off the mound in Arizona on Friday. Manager Craig Counsell said he expects Julian Merryweather (rib stress fracture) to return by the start of the next road trip. Luke Little (right shoulder strain) is getting a second opinion. …
Christopher Morel and Pete Crow-Armstrong both had their first career multihomer games in St. Louis last Sunday. According to Marquee's Chris Kamka, the last time two Cubs recorded career-first, multihomer games was on May 16, 1951, when Dee Fondy and Randy Jackson pulled it off.