Updated 1:38pm CST – The Cubs posted on the official transactions page OF Ryan Kalish signed a minor league contract on March 3.
Updated 8:46am CST – The Sun-Times confirmed the Cubs signed Ryan Kalish to a minor league contract.
It appears outfielder Ryan Kalish is back in the Cubs’ organization.
Jake Kalish, Ryan’s brother, announced Saturday on Twitter that Kalish signed a contract with the Cubs. The terms of the contract are unknown, but at this point in his career, the Cubs likely signed Kalish to a minor league contract without an invite to big league camp.
Ryan Kalish turns 28 on March 28 and did not play last season. Kalish recently signed a contract to play in Independent baseball.
The Cubs’ front office has a long history with Kalish. Theo Epstein, Jed Hoyer and Jason McLeod selected Kalish in the ninth round of the 2006 draft when they were calling the shots for the Red Sox. Kalish made his big league debut on July 31, 2010 with Boston.
The Cubs signed Kalish to a minor league contract in December 2013 after the Red Sox non-tendered him.
Ryan Kalish actually beat out Chris Coghlan for a spot on the Cubs Opening Day roster two years ago. Kalish struggled mightily at the plate for Rick Renteria and was sent down to Iowa after 39 games. Kalish batted .242/.303/.330 with two doubles and three triples for a .633 OPS.
Kalish spent the next three months with the Iowa Cubs. Kalish did not hit but was called up for the last month due to the lack of available outfielders for the big league team. Kalish played in 87 games for Iowa in 2014 and ended up with a .251/.322/.404 line. Kalish hit 14 doubles, three triples and eight home runs for a .726 OPS.
Over his last 18 games in the majors, Kalish batted .267/.267/.400 for a .667 OPS.
For the Cubs in 2014, Kalish hit .248/.295/.347 with four doubles, four triples and a .642 OPS.
Kalish signed with the Blue Jays in December 2014 but had his contract voided. Kalish did not play last season.
Kalish spent time in Winter Ball and reportedly signed a contract to play for the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball last month.
Over three seasons in the big leagues, Kalish has a career line of .245/.293/.350 with 18 doubles, five triples and four home runs for a .643 OPS in 146 games with the Red Sox and Cubs.
The Cubs have not posted or announced the team has re-signed Ryan Kalish.
• Ryan Kalish’s Page on Baseball-Reference