RHP Dillon Maples designated for assignment and OF Nick Martini optioned to Triple-A Iowa
MILWAUKEE – The Chicago Cubs today activated infielder Nico Hoerner and right-handed pitcher Keegan Thompson from the 10-day injured list, designated right-handed pitcher Dillion Maples for assignment and optioned outfielder Nick Martini to Triple-A Iowa.
Hoerner, 24, landed on the 10-day injured list, July 29, with a right oblique strain. He hit safely in three of four injury rehabilitation games he played with Iowa, Sept. 12-17, batting 3-for-12 (.250) with one double and one RBI.
This season with Chicago, Hoerner has batted .313 (42-for-134) with 10 doubles, 14 RBI and a .776 OPS in 39 games, making 30 starts at second base, seven starts at shortstop and one start in left field. Hoerner last season made his first Opening Day roster and hit .222 (24-for-108) with four doubles and 13 RBI in 48 contests with the Cubs.
Originally selected by Chicago in the first round (24th overall) of the 2018 draft out of Stanford University, Hoerner was the first member of the 2018 MLB Draft class to make his Major League debut when he was promoted from Double-A Tennessee, Sept. 9, 2019. In 20 games for Chicago in 2019, Hoerner hit .282 (22-for-78) with one double, one triple, three homers and 17 RBI.
Thompson, 26, was placed on the 10-day injured list, Sept. 4, with right shoulder inflammation. In two stints with Chicago this season Thompson is 3-3 with one save and a 3.54 ERA (19 ER/48.1 IP) in 30 games (four starts) in his debut Major League season. He has walked 28 and struck out 48 to go along with a 1.49 WHIP. Thompson started his big league career with 15.0 scoreless innings, the third-longest scoreless streak for a Cub to start his career behind Larry Cheney (28.0 IP) and Vern Olsen (15.1 IP).
Originally selected by the Cubs in the third round of the 2017 Draft out of Auburn University, Thompson is 10-10 with a 3.17 ERA (61 ER/173.1 IP) in 39 Minor League games (33 starts), with 44 walks, 167 strikeouts and a 1.06 WHIP.
Maples, 29, is 1-0 with a 2.59 ERA (9 ER/31.1 IP) in 28 relief appearances for Chicago this season, walking 25 and striking out 40. Originally selected by the Cubs in the 14th round of the 2011 Draft, Maples is 3-0 with a 5.10 ERA (31 ER/54.2 IP), 50 walks and 79 strikeouts in 59 relief appearances spanning all or part of five seasons with the Cubs, starting in 2017.
Martini, 31, is hitting .158 (3-for-19) with one double and two RBI in 17 games for the Cubs this season. The left-handed hitter has batted .267 (72-for-270) with nine doubles, three triples, a career-high 11 home runs and 40 RBI in 78 games with Iowa this year.
