Cubs could turn to Ryan Kalish if an outfielder is called up from Triple-A
Updated 10:57am CDT – Ryan Kalish’s agent tweeted Tuesday morning that the Cubs have called him up.
According to a report from the Des Moines Register, Ryan Kalish would be called up if the Cubs need an outfielder with both Jason Heyward and Matt Szczur dealing with injuries.
Jason Heyward is not expected to miss significant time with a sore right wrist. The Cubs are supposed to hold Heyward out of the starting lineup for Tuesday’s game to give him another day’s worth of treatment. The Cubs are targeting Wednesday for Heyward to return to the starting lineup.
Matt Szczur is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Tuesday morning to determine the severity of the hamstring injury he suffered Monday night. Szczur left the game in the fifth inning with a tight right hamstring. Szczur said he did not think the injury was bad enough for him to be placed on the 15-day DL.
The Cubs roster currently consists of four outfielders: Dexter Fowler, Jason Heyward, Jorge Soler and Matt Szczur. Kris Bryant, Ben Zobrist and Javier Baez can play outfield as Joe Maddon deems necessary. But the Cubs do not have another true outfielder on the 40-man roster.
The Cubs would have to add an outfielder to the 40-man in order to give Maddon another option on his bench. And that player could be Ryan Kalish.
The Cubs signed Ryan Kalish to a minor league contract during Spring Training (March 3). Kalish signed on with a team in Independent ball and was preparing for the season when the Cubs called.
Kalish is healthy and has gotten off to a tremendous start to the season with Triple-A Iowa. Kalish is batting .368/.471/.509 in 20 games with four doubles and two triples for a .980 OPS. Kalish has walked 10 times with nine strikeouts in 57 at bats.
Ryan Kalish played with the Cubs during the 2014 season. Kalish batted .248/.295/.347 with four doubles and four triples for a .642 OPS in 57 games.
A move to clear a spot for Kalish or any player not on the 40-man roster would have to be made. The Cubs’ 40-man roster currently sits at 40 players.
Multiple reports following Monday’s game indicated the Cubs could recall INF Munenori Kawasaki if a player is needed for Tuesday and the remainder of the series in Pittsburgh.
Stay Tuned …