The Cubs announced three roster moves Tuesday afternoon.
OF Matt Szczur was placed on 15-day DL with mild right hamstring. The Cubs selected the contract of OF Ryan Kalish from Triple-A Iowa and added him to the 40-man and active 25-man roster. To make room on the 40-man roster, INF Christian Villanueva was transferred from the 15-day to 60-day DL.
Ryan Kalish is in Pittsburgh and available for Tuesday night’s game at PNC Park.
With Tuesday’s roster moves, the Cubs 40-man roster stands at 40 players.
Matt Szczur had to leave Monday’s game in the fifth inning with a tight right hamstring. Szczur was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Tuesday morning. The Cubs have not discussed the results or given an indication on how long Szczur will be sidelined.
Szczur was batting .367/.441/.600 with a double and two home runs for a 1.041 OPS in 21 games, 30 at bats.
Ryan Kalish, 28, played 57 games for the Cubs in 2014. Kalish batted .248/.295/.347 with four doubles, four triples and a .642 OPS. In 146 games over three years in the big leagues with the Red Sox and Cubs, Kalish owns a .245/.293/.350 line with 18 doubles, five triples and four home runs for a .643 OPS.
After missing last season due to injuries, Kalish signed back with the Cubs in Spring Training on a minor league deal. Kalish has been rather impressive at the plate for Iowa this season. In 20 games, Kalish hit .368/.471/.509 with a .980 OPS. Kalish is 21-for-57 with four doubles, two triples, 10 walks and nine strikeouts.
Kalish has played left and right this season and has experience at all three outfield spots in the majors.
Christian Villanueva broke his right leg in Spring Training. Participating in fielding practice, Villanueva landed awkwardly after fielding a high bouncer and suffered the injury. Villanueva was placed on the 15-day DL on April 3, retroactive to March 25. The Cubs have not provided an update on Villanueva after he had surgery to repair the broken bone.