Miley goes on injured list; OF Velazquez appears set to make Cubs debut
The Cubs made a couple of roster moves Sunday, while a minor league call-up was forecast on social media.
Veteran starter Wade Miley went on the 15-day injured list retroactive to May 26 with a left shoulder sprain. The injury happened during his last start against Arizona and manager David Ross doesn't think it will keep Miley on the shelf for very long. Miley, 35, began the season on the injured list and has posted a 3.38 ERA in three starts.
The Cubs called up right-hander Mark Leiter Jr. from Iowa. He last pitched on May 24, which makes him a candidate to start a leg of Monday's doubleheader against Milwaukee at Wrigley Field. So far, the Cubs have committed to starting Drew Smyly in one of those games, Justin Steele on Tuesday and Kyle Hendricks on Wednesday.
Reliever Chris Martin went on the bereavement list Sunday. The Cubs did not announce a replacement, but outfield prospect Nelson Velazquez posted on his Instagram that he's getting a call-up.
Velazquez, 23, was a fifth-round draft pick in 2017, but has made a big move up the prospect watch list in the last couple of years. The Puerto Rico native started this season in Double A Tennessee and hit .288 with 9 home runs in 22 games before being promoted. At Triple A Iowa, he's hit .214 with 3 home runs in 19 games.
Outfielder Seiya Suzuki missed his second game Sunday with a jammed left ring finger.
Hoerner working hard:
After Cubs shortstop Nico Hoerner went 5-for-9 at the plate after returning from a sprained left ankle, manager David Ross explained how it happened.
"I think the main thing about Nico is he can't sit still on his downtime," Ross said. "He was taking batting practice every day in the cage, hitting the field as soon as the (ankle) started feeling better. He's a workaholic.
"You don't feel somebody like that, who gets so much work in, has to go on a rehab assignment. He feels really good, timed up. He worked the machines, live BPs, did a lot of stuff in his downtime, that's why you're seeing results."
Told Ross called him a workaholic, Hoerner replied, "I'll take that, yeah."
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