Strop returns to Chicago Cubs' bullpen
The Chicago Cubs activated Pedro Strop off the injured list Tuesday, in time for the series against the Colorado Rockies, the team that knocked the Cubs out of the National League wild-card game last fall.
"I was just thinking how crazy it was; my last inning of the 2018 season was against the Rockies with a hamstring injury," Strop said. "I'm just happy to feel 100 percent."
Strop, the backup closer to the injured Brandon Morrow, had been on the IL since May 7 with a left-hamstring strain. Strop missed most of September last year with a hamstring injury and wants to put the issue to bed once and for all.
"Just stick to the plan and keep doing what we've been doing," he said. "Don't try to do too much. Hamstrings are really tricky. Sometimes you do too much and you're kind of fatigued. You're pitching and doing all this stuff and it could be dangerous. But we've just got to keep on top of it and keep working on the things that we think have been good for us."
To make room on the roster, the Cubs optioned right-handed reliever Dillon Maples to Class AAA Iowa. Strop pitched the ninth inning of Tuesday's 6-3 victory over the Rockies to earn his fifth save of the season.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he had encouraging words for Maples.
"I told him, 'I want this to be the last time I have this conversation with you. You're good enough to stay here and be really effective,'" he said. "I want him to leave here knowing how much we thought about him, in a positive way. Really, he's (had) this big-arm reputation of 97 mph fastball, really good slider. Good, now go pitch. Don't just throw; let's go pitch.
"When he does, he's not leaving. He'll have a nice little locker stall out there for a long period of time. His stuff is that good."
Continuing to pick 'em:
The Cubs completed the second day of baseball's amateur draft, going through Round 10. In Rounds 1 and 2 on Monday, they took right-handed pitcher Ryan Jensen out of Fresno State at No. 27 overall and infielder Chase Strumpf out of UCLA at No. 64.
With their first three picks Tuesday, the Cubs selected right-handed pitcher Michael McAvene out of the University of Louisville (third round), right-hander Chris Clarke out of the University of Southern California (fourth round) and right-handed pitcher Josh Burgmann out of the University of Washington (fifth round).
In Rounds 6-10, they went with catcher Ethan Hearn, right-hander Brad Deppermann, lefty Davidjohn Herz, righty Tyler Schlaffer and catcher Wyatt Hendrie.
Schlaffer is from south suburban Homewood-Flossmoor High School.
The draft concludes Wednesday.