The Cubs announced Friday RHP Neil Ramirez was placed on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation retroactive to April 16. The Cubs activated OF Chris Denorfia from the 15-day DL to take his spot on the active roster.
With Ramirez on the DL, the Cubs have 12 pitchers on the active roster and a seven man bullpen.
RHP Neil Ramirez left Wednesday’s outing after making three pitches to Joey Votto. Ramirez underwent an MRI on his right shoulder Thursday and the test revealed inflammation in the shoulder but no structural damage.
Ramirez appeared in five of the Cubs first eight games of the season. Ramirez gave up one run on one hit and three walks with four strikeouts in three innings.
The Cubs were depending on a similar performance from Ramirez they received a year ago. Ramirez was 3-3 in 50 appearances with a 1.44 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 2.61 FIP. Ramirez struck out 53 batters with 17 walks and 29 hits allowed in 43 2/3 innings.
Chris Denorfia inked a one-year deal with the Cubs in the off-season. Denorfia was expected to begin the season as a platoon partner for Chris Coghlan in left field. Denorfia dealt with a hamstring injury in the spring and was unable to break camp with the team.
Denorfia, 34, began the season on the 15-day disabled list due to a mild left hamstring strain. The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder split the 2014 campaign between San Diego and Seattle and combined to bat .230 (76-for-330) with 12 doubles and three homers in 121 games. Due to weather postponements, Chris Denorfia played in two rehab games for High-A Myrtle Beach. Denorfia went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk in five plate appearances.
Overall, Denorfia is a career .272 hitter (530-for-1,950) in 705 games covering all or part of nine seasons with Cincinnati (2005-06), Oakland (2008-09), San Diego (2010-14) and Seattle (2014). He has averaged 21 doubles, four triples, nine homers and 13 stolen bases per 162 games played while turning in a career .331 on-base percentage and a .394 slugging mark. Denorfia has played 352 big league games in right field, 248 games in left field and 164 games in center field.