CLEVELAND — The Cubs placed right-hander Cade Horton on the 15-day injured list with a right forearm strain (retroactive to April 4).
Horton returned to Chicago Sunday afternoon to be further evaluated by doctors on Monday. In a corresponding move, the Cubs recalled left-hander Riley Martin from Triple-A Iowa. The Cubs didn’t make the formal announcement until Sunday morning because Saturday’s game was rained out.
Martin, who the Cubs drafted in the fifth round of the 2021 MLB Draft, had a long, circuitous route to the majors after being a Division II player at Quincy. As a fifth-year senior, Martin was expecting to be done playing baseball after his college season and was prepared for pharmacy school. The odds were against him, but he kept steadfast in his belief in his abilities.
Receiving the call-up was the culmination of Martin’s growth and development as a pitcher. When Triple-A Iowa manager Marty Pevey told him the news, he felt relief rush over him. Martin then immediately called his wife.
“It’s been long,” Martin said of his journey. “I didn’t have a ton of offers at high school. [Former baseball coach and current athletic director Josh Rabe] took a chance on me and gave me an opportunity, and the Cubs gave me an opportunity as a senior sign. So it’s pretty cool, just the journey that I’ve been on and just excited to keep going on.”
Martin jumped on the Cubs’ radar last season, posting a 2.69 ERA across 47 games. It’s his performance over that stretch that stood out to the Cubs more than his one start and 5 ⅓ spring-training innings.
“He was on the cusp a couple times of being the guy,” manager Craig Counsell said. “He had a very good season last year, and so, more than anything, nothing happened in six innings since then. But his last season made everybody take note for sure, got him on the roster, and that’s what makes him an option.”
Martin’s role is undefined; he said that Counsell told him to ‘just be ready.’ Given that Colin Rea is stretched out, it’s likely that he’ll get the first crack at replacing Horton’s turn in the rotation Wednesday in Tampa — though Counsell was reluctant to make that certain.
Adding Martin gives the Cubs a stretched-out lefty to pair with right-hander Ben Brown, who’s also in a long relief role. But defining roles can come later. For Martin, being recalled and being able to bask in the glow of his achievement was “something I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid.”
Suzuki update
Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki was the designated hitter at Double-A Knoxville on Saturday and slid into second base, an encouraging sign of his faith in his knee. The team wanted to see him play for three consecutive days before talking with him and assessing the next steps.
Suzuki has been on the IL since the start of the season because of a PCL sprain he suffered in the World Baseball Classic for Team Japan.
Roster move
• Right-hander Ethan Roberts was selected as the 27th man for Sunday’s doubleheader. He had a 2.70 ERA in two appearances at Triple-A Iowa.
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