Cubs make five roster moves: Leiter, Rivas, Abbott, Locke, Deichmann |
DENVER – The Chicago Cubs today selected right-handed pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. from Triple-A Iowa. In corresponding moves, infielder Alfonso Rivas was optioned to Iowa following last night’s game and right-handed pitcher Cory Abbott has been designated for assignment.
Additionally, left-handed pitcher Locke St. John has been selected to the 40-man roster and optioned to Iowa while outfielder Greg Deichmann has been designated for assignment. Leiter, who will wear uniform number 62, will make tonight’s start for the Cubs in their 6:10 p.m. MT game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Leiter, 31, has made one appearance for Iowa thus far, allowing one earned run in 4.0 innings with one walk and seven strikeouts April 8 at Buffalo. He entered the season having allowed one earned run in 9.2 innings spanning four Spring Training appearances after he signed a minor league contract with the Cubs in December of last year. The six-foot tall Leiter in 2021 signed a minor league contract with Detroit and combined to go 10-8 with a 3.77 ERA (48 ER/114.2 IP) in 25 games (19 starts) with Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo in his first action since 2018. He averaged 11.4 strikeouts per 9.0 innings thanks to 145 strikeouts in 114.2 innings against 31 walks which contributed to a 1.07 WHIP. Leiter was claimed off waivers by Toronto September 1, 2018, then underwent Tommy John surgery March 12, 2019, missing the 2019 campaign. He signed a minor league contract with Arizona for the 2020 season, which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Leiter is 3-7 with a 5.53 ERA (70 ER/114.0 IP), 43 walks and 106 strikeouts in 47 major league games (11 starts) with Philadelphia (2017-18) and Toronto (2018). Leiter made his major league debut with the Phillies in 2017, going 3-6 with a 4.96 ERA (50 ER/90.2 IP) in 27 games, including 11 starts. Selected by Philadelphia in the 22nd round of the 2013 Draft out of the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Leiter owns a 42-33 record with a 3.49 ERA (241 ER/622.1 IP) in 149 career minor league games, including 94 starts. St. John, 29, was assigned to minor league camp March 25 after receiving a non-roster invite to Spring Training with the Cubs. He has made three relief appearances with Iowa this season, registering a 6.23 ERA (3 ER/4.1 IP). St. John made his major league debut with Texas in 2019 with seven relief appearances. He last season appeared in 36 games (five starts) with Triple-A Toledo in Detroit’s system and posted a 4-0 record with a 2.58 ERA (17 ER/59.1 IP), allowing 53 hits, 25 walks, and striking out 75 batters. The six-foot three-inch St. John was selected by Detroit in the 32nd round of the 2014 Draft out of the University of South Alabama. In 194 minor league games (51 starts), he is 27-33 with 11 saves and a 3.47 ERA (188 ER/437.2 IP) with 179 walks and 468 strikeouts. Rivas, 25, made his first career Opening Day roster with Chicago and is 2-for-4 with a run and one RBI in two games this season. Abbott, 26, has pitched to a 4.50 ERA (3 ER/6.0 IP) in two starts with Triple-A Iowa this season. He made his major league debut last season and compiled a 6.75 ERA (13 ER/17.1 IP) in seven appearances (one start) for the Cubs. Deichmann, 26, has a .207 batting average (6-for-29) in eight games for the I-Cubs this year. He made his major league debut with the Cubs last season, compiling a .133 batting average (4-for-30) with one RBI in four games.
