In a span of a week, reliever Dan Winkler’s standing in the Chicago Cubs bullpen torpedoed.
The Cubs opted to move on from Winkler after he surrendered 13 runs (12 earned) in 1? innings while retiring only five of 21 batters over three appearances during the last week. They designated Winkler for assignment Tuesday afternoon after another implosion Monday night.
The Cubs selected the contract of outfielder Michael Hermosillo from Triple-A Iowa to replace Winkler. They also announced left-handed reliever Kyle Ryan was outrighted and elected free agency.
Manager David Ross explained Winkler’s departure was partly to give somebody else an opportunity given the situation the Cubs are in.
“That’s a tough conversation,” Ross said Tuesday. “It’s unfortunate about this game — you have a guy that’s given me a lot ever since I’ve been the manager. He’s given me a lot, worked through a lot, some ups and downs. We’re at a spot to maybe give someone else a shot in a moment where he’s just struggling a little bit. I don’t think we have a lot of time to help him work through those moments right now.”
Winkler, 31, had 22 consecutive scoreless outings between April 4 and June 4, striking out 18 and walking 10 in 19 innings during that span.
He hadn’t been as effective since then, posting a 5.19 ERA with opponents producing a .337 on-base percentage in his next 21 appearances after his scoreless streak ended — and that doesn’t even include his struggles in the past week. Walks became more of an issue for Winkler, who was averaging one per inning since early June.
“The walks were always a little bit of what you kind of live with with him,” Ross said. “The velocity was down a little bit, those foul balls that you saw some in Miami and some last night, just not getting off the barrel. … But if we could pinpoint (the issue), we would have taken that to him and fixed it, so it’s just one of those things.”
Hermosillo — who went to high school in Ottawa, Ill., and signed to play football on scholarship at Illinois before the Los Angeles Angels drafted him in 2013 — earned a big-league promotion with his consistent production at Iowa. The 26-year-old right-handed hitter posted a .310/.448/.600 slash line with 10 homers, 10 doubles and 29 RBIs in 42 games.
His previous big-league experience consists of 56 games with the Angels from 2018-20. Hermosillo signed a minor-league deal with the Cubs in the offseason that included an invitation to big-league camp in spring training.
Ross said Hermosillo will get an opportunity to contribute. He envisions using Hermosillo in a center-field platoon with the left-handed-hitting Rafael Ortega.
Nico Hoerner continues to progress
In the latest step in his rehab, Nico Hoerner (right oblique strain) hit in the cage Tuesday and is slated to do it again Wednesday. Ross said Hoerner looked good and will get the day off Thursday with the Cubs not playing. Then Hoerner will likely hit on the field Friday at Wrigley Field.
Hoerner has been sidelined since July 29. When he returns to the lineup, Ross might look to use him in the outfield as a potential preview of next year. With second baseman Nick Madrigal in the fold for 2022, Hoerner’s defensive versatility allows both to be in the lineup. Hoerner could slot into center field next year, whether that becomes his regular position or he gets moved around the diamond.
Ross mentioned the possibility of playing Hoerner in the outfield after he’s activated, though the more likely scenario has him at shortstop, where he took pregame reps this week.
“He goes out there (in the outfield) every once in a while,” Ross said. “I watch him run around and he looks really good. … I think there’s a couple possibilities of where he can contribute when he comes back.”
Cubs reportedly will play in next year’s Field of Dreams game
After a successful spotlight on Major League Baseball during last week’s Field of Dreams game between the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees, MLB announced another game will be played at the famed site in Dyersville, Iowa, in 2022.
While MLB hasn’t officially announced the matchup, multiple reports say it will feature the Cubs and Cincinnati Reds on Aug. 11. That’s currently scheduled as a day off for both teams, but NBC Sports Chicago reported the schedule will be adjusted with the day off moved to Friday, Aug. 12, and the remainder of the three-game series played in Cincinnati.
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