The Cubs designated Jeff Stevens for assignment to create 40-man roster space for infielder D.J. LeMahieu, the team announced. To create 25-man roster space for LeMahieu, the Cubs placed Jeff Baker on the 15-day disabled list.
Stevens has a 9.64 ERA with a 6K/10BB ratio in 14 innings at Triple-A this year. The 27-year-old right-hander has a 6.27 ERA with 6.8 K/9 and 6.0 BB/9 in 37 1/3 innings out of the Cubs' pen over the course of three seasons. Despite his recent struggles, he has averaged more than one strikeout per inning and posted a 3.48 ERA against minor league hitters in his career.
LeMahieu, who has never appeared in the Major Leagues, is in uniform for today's game. The former second round pick is the first member of the Cubs' 2009 draft class to reach the big leagues and he arrives with a .325/.360/.408 line in 984 minor league plate appearances, none of them above Double-A.
Way to go Jeff!