CHICAGO, Ill. – The Chicago Cubs today placed right-handed pitcher Kyle Hendricks (low back strain) and left-handed pitcher Drew Smyly (right hip impingement) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to April 22) and designated infielder Garrett Cooper for assignment. In corresponding moves, the club recalled right-handed pitcher Hayden Wesneski, left-handed pitcher Luke Little and infielder Matt Mervis from Triple-A Iowa. The 40-man roster currently stands at 39 players.
Little, 23, has made eight appearances (one start) for the Cubs in 2024, posting a 2.35 ERA (2 ER/7.2 IP). The lefthander made his first career Opening Day roster this season and was optioned to Triple-A Iowa April 17, before being recalled on April 20 as the “27th Man” for the Cubs doubleheader that day and returned to Iowa April 21 — he has yet to make an appearance this season with the I-Cubs.
Little made his major league debut Sept. 6, 2023 against San Francisco, throwing 1.0 scoreless inning with one hit and two strikeouts. He recorded 11-straight scoreless appearances (10.2 IP) to begin his career.
The six-foot eight-inch Little was selected by the Cubs in the fourth round of the 2020 draft out of San Jacinto College (Tex). Little is a Charlotte, N.C. native and graduated from East Mecklenburg High School.
Mervis, 26, is hitting .288 (19-for-66) in 18 games with Triple-A Iowa this season. His five home runs lead the I-Cubs and his 13 RBI are tied for the team lead. In his last seven games, Mervis has four home runs, eight RBI, a .375 OBP and 1.106 OPS. He entered the 2024 season as the Cubs No. 15 prospect according to MLB Pipeline.
Last season, with Triple-A Iowa, he batted .282 (102-for-362) with 23 doubles, one triple, 22 home runs and 78 RBI in 100 games. He made his major league debut on May 5, 2023 and hit .167 (15-for-90) with two doubles and three home runs in 27 games with the Cubs. He was named the 2022 Cubs Minor League Player of the Year and signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Cubs on June 6, 2020.
Wesneski, 26, was recalled April 17 by the Cubs and earned the win in Arizona, tossing 4.0 scoreless innings in relief with two strikeouts in his only Cubs appearance this season. He was returned to Iowa April 18 and has made three appearances (two starts) this season for the I-Cubs, posting a 1-0 record with 2.53 ERA (3 ER/10.2 IP) and 10 strikeouts. In his last appearance—April 12 at St. Paul—he tossed 4.1 scoreless innings of relief, allowing three hits and striking out four.
In 2023, he spent most of the year with Chicago, making 34 appearances (11 starts) and going 3-5 with a 4.63 ERA (46 ER/89.1 IP). In two stints with Iowa last year, he made five starts, going 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA (3 ER/20.0 IP) with 28 strikeouts. Overall, in parts of two major league seasons with the Cubs, he is 6-7 with a 3.97 ERA (54 ER/122.1 IP) in 40 games (15 starts).
Wesneski made his major league debut Sept. 6, 2022 vs. Cincinnati (5.0 IP, 0 R, 2 H, BB, 8 SO) and picked up his first career win in the process. A native of Houston, Texas, the righthander was selected by the Yankees in the sixth round of the 2019 draft out of Sam Houston State University and was acquired by the Cubs from the New York on August 1, 2022 for right-handed pitcher Scott Efross.
Hendricks, 34, is 0-3 with a 12.00 ERA (28 ER/21.0 IP) in five starts for Chicago this season.
Smyly, 34, has made nine relief appearances for the Cubs this season, going 2-2 with a 4.97 ERA (7 ER/12.2 IP).
Cooper, 33, signed with the Cubs as a minor league free agent with an invite to major league Spring Training April 2. The infielder made Chicago’s Opening Day roster and batted .270 (10-for-37) with one double, one triple, one home run and six RBI in 12 games.
The Cubs play the Houston Astros at Wrigley Field today at 6:40 p.m. CT in a game that can be seen on Marquee Sports Network and TBS and heard on 670 The Score and 1200 WRTO.
