Cubs News: Jorge Soler headed to the DL, Almora called up |
PHILADELPHIA – The Chicago Cubs today placed outfielder Jorge Soler on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain and selected the contract of Albert Almora Jr. from Triple-A Iowa.
Almora Jr., who will wear uniform number five, will be available for the Cubs tonight as they continue their three-game series in Philadelphia. The 22-year-old Almora Jr. was selected by the Cubs in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2012 Draft out of Mater Academy Charter High School in Hialeah Gardens, Florida. In five pro seasons with the Cubs, Almora Jr. has batted .292 (442-for-1,516) with 94 doubles, 16 triples, 23 home runs and 178 RBI in 379 minor league contests. Almora Jr. began the 2016 campaign by reaching the Triple-A level for the first time in his career and has batted .318 (68-for-214) with 12 doubles, three triples and three home runs in 54 games. His 10 stolen bases already represent the most he has recorded in a single season, while his .335 on-base percentage and .444 slugging percentage are his best marks since playing in low-A ball three years ago. The right-handed batter and thrower spent his first full season with Double-A Tennessee last year, batting .272 (110-for-405) with 26 doubles, four triples, six homers and 46 RBI in 106 games. He had completed the 2014 season with 36 games at the Double-A level. Soler, 24, is batting .223 (29-for-130) with five doubles, five home runs and 13 RBI in 50 games for the Cubs this season.
