CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs prior to game two of today’s doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers placed outfielder Seiya Suzuki on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to May 27) with a left ring finger sprain and selected left-handed pitcher Brandon Hughes from Triple-A Iowa. To make room on the 40-man roster for Hughes, right-handed pitcher Robert Gsellman has been designated for assignment.
Hughes, 26, has no record, a 2.57 ERA (2 ER/7.0 IP) one walk and nine strikeouts in five relief appearances for the Cubs after he was selected as a replacement player from Iowa on May 17. He struck out five batters and walked one in 1.2 innings in his major league debut, May 17 vs. Pittsburgh, to become the fourth Cubs reliever since 1901 to record five-plus strikeouts in their big league debut. Hughes was returned to Iowa May 28.
Hughes is 1-0 with one save and a 0.00 ERA (0 ER/16.2 IP) in 10 relief appearances between Tennessee and Iowa this season. He has walked three and struck out 22 with a .091 opponent batting average (5-for-55) and a 0.48 WHIP. Six of his 10 outings have been at least 2.0 innings, having pitched a season-high 2.1 scoreless innings twice.
Hughes was selected by Chicago as an outfielder in the 16th round of the 2017 draft out of Michigan State University. He transitioned to the mound following the 2018 season and has gone 5-3 with four saves and a 1.96 ERA (20 ER/91.2 IP) in 58 minor league relief appearances with 31 walks and 124 strikeouts, good for an average of 12.17 strikeouts per 9.0 innings. He has a career .164 opponent batting average and has a 0.92 WHIP.
Suzuki, 27, is hitting .245 (34-for-139) with 12 doubles, one triple, four home runs and 21 RBI in 41 games for Chicago. The N.L. Rookie of the Month for April injured his finger sliding into second base last Sunday in Cincinnati against the Reds.
Gsellman, 28, is 0-2 with a 4.70 ERA (8 ER/15.1 IP) in eight relief appearances for Chicago, including three walks and nine strikeouts.
