WASHINGTON D.C. – The Chicago Cubs today recalled right-handed pitcher Javier Assad from Triple-A Iowa and placed catcher Yan Gomes on the 7-day concussion injured list (retroactive to May 2).
Assad, 25, this season broke camp with the major league club for the first time in his career and has since made three appearances (one start) for Chicago, pitching to a 9.82 ERA (8 ER/7.1 IP) in two stints with the Cubs. In three games with the I-Cubs this season, all starts, he has posted a 3.38 ERA (4 ER/10.2 IP) with a 1.13 WHIP and .195 opponent average. He last pitched with Iowa, April 30 vs. Louisville, throwing 4.2 scoreless innings, giving up three hits while striking out six batters in the start.
The six-foot one-inch Assad tossed 5.2 shutout innings in two relief appearances for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. In three Spring Training outings for Chicago he pitched to a 2.57 ERA (2 ER/7.0 IP).
Signed by Chicago as a non-drafted free agent in July of 2015 out of Tijuana, Mexico, Assad made his major league debut last season, going 2-2 with a 3.11 ERA (13 ER/37.2 IP), 20 walks, 30 strikeouts and a 1.46 WHIP in nine games (eight starts). He finished the season with 11.1 scoreless innings spanning his final three starts, including 5.0 shutout innings at Philadelphia on September 29 and 5.1 shutout frames October 4 in Cincinnati.
In all or part of seven minor league seasons, Assad is 25-37 with one save and a 3.95 ERA (236 ER/538.1 IP) in 115 games, all but eight as a starting pitcher. He has walked 177 and struck out 489 batters to go along with a 1.37 WHIP.
Gomes, 35, is batting .294 (20-for-68) with one double, five home runs, 13 RBI and a .529 slugging percentage in 19 games with the Cubs. Chicago pitchers have a 2.98 ERA with him behind the dish.
