Cubs Tab Cabrera As First September Call-Up

Nashville, TN - Major League rosters expand to 40 players today and the Chicago Cubs recalled RH Alberto Cabrera from Iowa to join the big league club. The Cubs also activated OF Ryan Sweeney and IF Luis Valbuena from the disabled list and designated RH Eduardo Sanchez for assignment.

Cabrera was 1-3 with a 7.08 ERA (16ER/20.1IP) in 15 relief appearances with Iowa since coming up from double-A Tennessee on July 18. Cabrera was 9-3 with a 3.20 ERA (40ER/112.2IP) in 18 starts with the Smokies to begin the season and was leading the Southern League with 107 strikeouts at the time of his promotion. He was named to the SL All-Star Team at mid-season and pitched a scoreless inning in the SL All-Star Game on July 17. Cabrera made his major league debut with Chicago last season and was 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA (15ER/21.2IP) in 25 games for the Cubs.

Sweeney was on the 60-day disabled list, so Sanchez was designated to open up a spot for Sweeney to return to the active roster. This is the third time that Sanchez has been designated this year. He began the season with triple-A Memphis before the St. Louis Cardinals designated him for assignment and the Cubs claimed him off waivers on May 21. The Cubs designated him on June 12, he cleared waivers, and was outrighted to Iowa on June 16. The Cubs purchased his contract and brought him back to the big leagues on July 27. He pitched in four games before getting optioned back to Iowa on August 15. Sanchez was 1-1 with a 3.26 ERA (11ER/30.1IP) and two saves in 24 games with Iowa and 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA (15ER/40.0IP) and three saves in 33 games combined between the Cubs and Memphis.

The Cubs play game three of a four-game series at Greer Stadium in Nashville tonight at 6:35. RH Justin Grimm (3-3, 4.50) will start for the Cubs against LH Zack Kroenke (5-16, 4.77) for the Sounds. The game will be broadcast live on AM 940, and streamed live on iowacubs.com, with the pre-game show starting at 6:15.