CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today selected right-handed pitcher Matt Swarmer from Triple-A Iowa and transferred right-handed pitcher Ethan Roberts to the 60-day injured list. Additionally, the team has recalled outfielder Nelson Velázquez from Iowa and placed infielder Jonathan Villar on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to May 27) with a mouth injury. Right-handed pitcher Anderson Espinoza has been recalled from Iowa as the club’s “27th man” for today’s doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Swarmer (uniform No. 67), Velázquez (No. 4) and Espinoza (No. 51) look to make their major league debuts when the Cubs play the Milwaukee Brewers in a split doubleheader at Wrigley Field today at 12:05 p.m. and 6:40 p.m. CT. Swarmer is scheduled to start game one for Chicago.
Swarmer, 28, is 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA (9 ER/39.0 IP) in nine games (five starts) for Triple-A Iowa this season. The right-handed pitcher tossed 13.2-straight scoreless innings to begin the 2022 season, before surrendering his first run in his fourth outing of the season. All told, Swarmer has made five starts this season going 2-1 with a 3.20 ERA (9 ER/25.1 IP) and four relief appearances, posting a 1-0 record with a 0.00 ERA (0 ER/13.2 IP).
The six-foot, five-inch Swarmer owns a 32-34 record with a 4.40 ERA (270 ER/551.2 IP) in 116 career minor league games (91 starts). He was named the 2018 Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Year by the organization after he combined to go 9-8 with a 3.22 ERA (46 ER/128.2 IP) in 24 starts between Single-A Myrtle Beach and Double-A Tennessee. Swarmer was selected by the Cubs in the 19th round of the 2016 Draft out of Kutztown University (Pa.).
Velázquez, 23, has batted .253 (38-for-150) with nine doubles, one triple, 12 homers, 25 RBI and a .914 OPS in 41 games for Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa this season. He began the season with Tennessee before being promoted to Iowa, May 6. The 12 home runs are tied with Robel García for the most among all Cubs minor leaguers this season.
The right-handed hitting outfielder, named the 2021 Arizona Fall League MVP, owns a career .258 average (336-for-1,302) with 73 doubles, 11 triples, 57 home runs, 194 RBI and 51 stolen bases in 357 minor league games. The six-foot Velázquez was added to the Cubs 40-man roster this past offseason. He has spent parts of five minor league seasons in the Cubs organization since being drafted by the club in the fifth round of the 2017 draft out of the PJ Education School in Carolina, P.R.
Espinoza, 24, has made eight starts with Double-A Tennessee this season, going 0-4 with a 7.31 ERA (23 ER/28.1 IP). The right-handed pitcher has recorded 36 strikeouts in 28.1 IP, good for an 11.4 SO/9.0 IP ratio. The six-foot Espinoza has posted a career 3.98 ERA (112 ER/253.0 IP) in 68 minor league games (67 starts) in the Red Sox (2015-16), Padres (2016-21) and Cubs (2021-22) organizations. He was acquired from the Padres, July 30, 2021 for OF Jake Marisnick.
Roberts, 24, was placed on the 10-day injured list May 2 with right shoulder inflammation.
Villar, 31, has hit .239 (27-for-113) with five doubles, two home runs and 12 RBI in 32 games for Chicago.
