Cubs activate C/OF Kyle Schwarber from 60-Day DL … LHP Giovanni Soto Designated for Assignment
The Cubs today activated catcher/outfielder Kyle Schwarber from the 60-day disabled list to allow him to join the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League. Schwarber is batting second and will be the designated hitter tonight for the club in its game against the Salt River Rafters at Sloan Park. Schwarber is wearing No. 66.
To make room for Schwarber on the 40-man roster, left-handed pitcher Giovanni Soto was designated for assignment.
With Saturday’s roster moves, the Cubs 40-man roster stands at 40 players.
Kyle Schwarber was placed on the disabled list on April 8 with torn ligaments in his left knee (ACL and MCL) and a severely sprained left ankle suffered in an outfield collision during the second inning the night before at the Arizona Diamondbacks. He underwent reconstructive knee surgery on April 19 in Dallas, performed by Dallas Cowboys head team physician Dr. Daniel Cooper. Schwarber was hitless in four big league at-bats this year prior to his injury.
The 23-year-old Kyle Schwarber made his Major League debut with the Cubs last season and batted .246/.355/.487 (57-for-232) with six doubles, a triple and 16 home runs for a .842 OPS in 69 games. He hit five post-season home runs to set the all-time franchise record.
Schwarber was Chicago’s first round pick of the 2014 Draft (fourth overall) out of Indiana University.
Giovanni Soto, 25, went 1-3 with a 5.14 ERA (28 earned runs in 49 innings) and a 1.67 WHIP in 33 relief appearances with Iowa this season. Soto was claimed off of waivers from Cleveland on April 11.