Cubs place OF Jason Heyward on 7-day concussion disabled list … RHP Cory Mazzoni optioned to Triple-A Iowa … RHP Jen-Ho Tseng, LHP Rob Zastryzny and INF David Bote recalled from Triple-A Iowa
The Cubs made a long list of roster moves prior to Tuesday’s game against the Marlins.
OF Jason Heyward was placed on the 7-day concussion disabled list, retroactive to May 7. Heyward injured himself attempting to keep Dexter Fowler’s ball from leaving the park Sunday night in St. Louis. Heyward is in concussion protocol. The team has not given a timeframe for his return.
In Heyward’s absence, Kris Bryant could see time in right field.
Heyward, 28, is batting .227 (22-for-97) with a .315 OBP and a .656 OPS. Heyward has hit three doubles and two homers while driving in 14 runs in 29 games this year.
As expected, RHP Jen-Ho Tseng was recalled from Triple-A Iowa to make the start Tuesday night against the Marlins. Tseng will take the rotation spot of Yu Darvish as he recovers from flu-like symptoms.
Tseng, 23, made his Major League debut with the Cubs last season, going 1-0 with a 7.50 ERA (five earned runs in six innings) and a 1.16 WHIP in two appearances, one as a starter. Tseng has pitched exclusively with Triple-A Iowa this year, posting an 0-4 record with an 8.04 ERA (28 earned runs in 31 1/3 innings) and a 1.85 WHIP while striking out 32 and walking 13 in six games.
In 2017, Tseng was named Chicago’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year after going 13-4 with a 2.54 ERA (41 earned runs in 145 1/3 innings) and 1.13 WHIP in 24 starts between Double-A Tennessee and Iowa. In 15 starts with Tennessee, Tseng went 7-3 with a 2.99 ERA (30 earned run in 90 1/3 innings), fanning 83 batters and walking 24. He was promoted to Triple-A for the first time following his first-career 10-strikeout game, July 3 versus Jacksonville. The right-hander excelled in Iowa, posting a 6-1 record to go along with a 1.80 ERA (11 earned runs in 55 innings) in nine starts.
Tseng was signed as a non-drafted free agent by Chicago in July of 2013. He holds a career 32-24 record with a 3.47 ERA (198 earned runs in 514 innings) and a 1.22 WHIP in 93 games (91 starts) across five seasons in the Cubs system. Tseng was also named Chicago’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2014.
David Bote, 25, returns for his second stint with the Cubs this season. He made his big league debut with the club last month, hitting .111 (1-for-9) with a double in three games. With Iowa this year, Bote is batting .333 (27-for-81) with five doubles, one triple and five home runs in 20 games, posting a .998 OPS. He is batting .517 (15-for-29) in seven games in May, including his first-career five-hit game last Sunday at Round Rock.
The right-handed batter and thrower enjoyed a breakout season last year with Double-A Tennessee, batting .272 (128-for-470) with 30 doubles, three triples, 14 homers and 59 RBI in 127 games while turning in a .792 OPS to earn mid- and post-season Southern League All-Star honors. Bote continued his strong 2017 by hitting .333 (23-for-69) with four homers, 14 RBI and a .931 OPS in 19 games in the Arizona Fall League to earn All-Star honors.
Rob Zastryzny, 26, joins the Cubs for the first time this year after spending parts of the last two seasons in the big leagues with the club, combining to go 1-0 with a 4.34 ERA (14 earned runs in 29 innings) and a 1.48 WHIP in 12 appearances, all but one in relief. With Iowa this year, Zastryzny has gone 2-0 with a 2.35 ERA (four earned runs in 15 1/3 innings) and a 1.23 WHIP in eight relief outings.
The southpaw was originally selected by the Cubs in the second round of the 2013 Draft out of the University of Missouri. Zastryzny is 21-20 with one save, a 4.60 ERA (207 earned runs in 405 1/3 innings) and a 1.37 WHIP in 98 minor league appearances, including 78 starts, in six minor league campaigns.
Cory Mazzoni, 28, has gone 0-2 with a 2.31 ERA (three earned runs in 11 2/3 innings) in eight relief appearances for Iowa this season. He pitched a scoreless ninth inning on Monday night to close out the Cubs 14-2 win against Miami.
