Cubs outfielder headed to the DL |
PITTSBURGH – The Chicago Cubs today placed outfielder Matt Szczur on the 15-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain and selected the contract of outfielder Ryan Kalish from Triple-A Iowa. To make room for Kalish on the 40-man roster, infielder Christian Villanueva was transferred to the 60-day disabled list.
Kalish, who will wear uniform number 51, will be available for the Cubs tonight as they continue their three-game series at the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 28-year-old Kalish returns to the Cubs after spending part of the 2014 campaign with the club, as he batted .248 (30-for-121) with four doubles and four triples in 57 games that year, his most recent big league action. He did not play during the 2015 season and signed a minor league contract with the Cubs in March. Kalish joins the Cubs after batting .368 (21-for-57) with four doubles and two triples in 20 games with Iowa. He posted a .471 on-base percentage and a .509 slugging percentage, good for a .980 OPS. The left-handed batter and thrower was originally selected by the Boston Red Sox in the ninth round of the 2006 Draft and made his big league debut in 2010. In 146 big league games with the Red Sox (2010, 2012) and Cubs (2014), Kalish is a career .245 hitter (93-for-380) with 18 doubles, five triples, four home runs and 34 RBI. Szczur, 26, is batting .367 (11-for-30) with nine runs scored, one double, two homers and 10 RBI in 21 games with the Cubs this season.
