ST. LOUIS – The Chicago Cubs today recalled right-handed pitcher Sean Gallagher from Triple-A Iowa and optioned left-handed pitcher Rich Hill to Triple-A.
Gallagher will wear uniform No. 36 and be available for this afternoon’s game in St. Louis.
The 22-year-old Gallagher is 2-2 with a 3.10 ERA (10 ER/29.0 IP) in five starts with Iowa this season. He has limited opponents to a .196 batting average, including a .162 average to lefthanders and a .214 mark to righthanders, and has struck out 30 and walked only nine batters in 29.0 innings pitched.
Gallagher is the reigning Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week after allowing one run on three hits and one walk with 12 strikeouts in 7.2 innings in a 5-1 win on April 22 vs. Oklahoma. He most recently pitched Monday at Fresno, and allowed five runs in 5.0 innings and endured an 11-3 setback.
The righthander made his major league debut with the Cubs last season and posted no record, one save and an 8.59 ERA (14 ER/14.2 IP) in three stints in the big leagues. In 89 career minor league appearances, all but one as a starter, Gallagher is 38-17 with a 2.77 ERA (148 ER/481.0 IP). He has 482 strikeouts in 481.0 innings pitched.
Hill is 1-0 with a 4.12 ERA (9 ER/19.2 IP) in five starts with the Cubs this season, walking 18 batters while fanning 15 in 19.2 innings. He returns to Triple-A for the first time since the 2006 campaign.
This move was a long time coming and I hope that Hill can work his issues out quickly because we need him. I read that Marshall will remain in the pen and Gallagher will be put into the starting rotation. Has Marshall also pissed off Lou? If so, what happens to Marshall when Eyre comes off the DL? Marshall has been an effective big league pticher and does not deserve to be sent down.
Along with this roster move, Jon Lieber was moved to the rotation. I’m glad they put Lieber in. I’d rather have a veteran in the roation than a first or second year big leaguer.
I think Hill deserves the spanking but hope that he’ll be back soon. I think it is a mental thing. BTW I hope you all caught Dempster’s Harry Caray lineup on FOX.
So, do we all still want to trade half of the AAA team for Brian Roberts? Having major league ready players a phone call away (Patterson, Murton, Marshall and now Gallagher) is one of the strengths of this team. I’d love to see the Cubs find a true leadoff hitter, but not at the expense of the luxury of having options down on the farm.
I have seen nothing to show me that Patterson is major league ready. The team hasn’t, nor should, give him a chance this season, unless they have several injuries to middle infielders.
I didn’t know that Gallagher was only 22! I am glad to see Lieber get the first shot at the rotation, but question calling up Gallagher to be a long reliever. Shouldn’t we be grooming him to be a starter and possible future No. 2 or 3 starter? Our bullpen is really struggling right now (other than Marmol) and I think we could use another middle reliever with experience in that role.