Vitters, Moscoso Active for I-Cubs

Des Moines, IA - The Chicago Cubs activated INF Josh Vitters from the disabled list and assigned RHP Guillermo Moscoso to the Iowa Cubs. RHP Barret Loux and OF Darnell McDonald have been placed on the disabled list.

Vitters has been limited to one pinch-hit appearance this season after his lower back locked up on him while traveling from spring training to Albuquerque for Iowa's opening series. Vitters has been on the disabled list since April 9 and spent the weekend at the Cubs' complex in Mesa, Arizona playing in extended spring training games on a rehab assignment. Vitters hit .304 with 17 home runs and 68 RBI in 110 games with Iowa last season before getting called up to Chicago for his major league debut in August. He batted .121 (12-for-99) with two homers and five RBI in 36 big league games.

Moscoso also comes to Iowa from extended spring training in Arizona and he will start this afternoon in place of Loux. Moscoso split last season between triple-A Colorado Springs and the Colorado Rockies before getting claimed off waivers by the Kansas City Royals in November. Moscoso went through the waiver process twice during spring training and was claimed first by the Toronto Blue Jays on March 16 and then the Cubs on March 27. Chicago outrighted him to Iowa on March 29 and Moscoso has been in Arizona building his pitch count. Moscoso is 11-12 with a 4.16 ERA (89ER/192.2IP) in 57 major league games (24 starts) with the Texas Rangers (2009-10), Oakland A's (2011), and Rockies (2012).

Loux is on the disabled list as of April 27 with a sprained right ankle. He suffered the injury doing conditioning work between starts. Loux is 2-1 with a 5.74 ERA in four starts this season.

McDonald is on the disabled list with a sprained left thumb. In 22 games this season, he is batting .182 (12-for-66) with two doubles, a homer, five RBI, six runs scored, and three stolen bases.

The Cubs play game two of a four-game series against the Round Rock Express this afternoon at 12:05 at Principal Park. The gates open at 10:35. The game will be broadcast live on AM 940, and streamed live at iowacubs.com, with the On-Deck Circle Pre-Game Show starting at 11:45 am.