RHP Rafael Soriano promoted to Iowa

OF Anthony Giansanti placed on DL and LHP Jeffry Antigua reassigned to Double-A; Brockmeyer, Baxter, Edwards Jr. all rejoin Iowa on Thursday

July 16, 2015

DES MOINES, Iowa - The Chicago Cubs announced a series of roster moves which affect Iowa's active roster for tonight's game against Memphis at Principal Park. Right-handed pitcher Rafael Soriano has been promoted to Iowa from Double-A Tennessee, outfielder Anthony Giansanti has been placed on the 7-Day disabled list (hamstring) and left-handed pitcher Jeffry Antigua has been reassigned to Tennessee.

Additionally, catcher Cael Brockmeyer has rejoined Iowa from Tennessee, Carl Edwards Jr. has been activated from the Temporary Inactive List, and Iowa has activated infielder/outfielder Mike Baxter.

Soriano, 35, recorded five scoreless outings with Double-A Tennessee after being assigned to the Smokies on July 6. He allowed an unearned run on three hits and three walks with four strikeouts over 5.0 innings. These were the first five appearances of the season for the the Dominican Republic native.

Soriano was signed by the Cubs as a minor league free agent June 9, and over his 13-year Major League career has accumulated a 22-28 record with 207 saves and a 2.85 ERA (200ER/630.2IP) over 585 outings combined with the Seattle Mariners (2002-06), Atlanta Braves (2007-09), Tampa Bay Rays (2010), New York Yankees (2011-12) and Washington Nationals (2013-14).

The right-hander was named an American League All-Star in 2010 while with the Rays, a season in which Soriano compiled a 3-2 record and 1.73 ERA (12ER/62.1IP), adding 45 saves in 64 appearances. Soriano has recorded at least 27 saves in five of the previous six seasons, including three seasons of 42 or more. He has appeared in at least 40 games out of the bullpen in nine of his 13 major league seasons.

Giansanti, 26, is hitting .176 (3-for-17) with two RBI in five games for Iowa this season.

Antigua, 25, leaves Iowa for the third time. He is a combined 1-1 with a 3.45 ERA (12ER/31.1IP) and 15 strikeouts in eight games, including five starts, in three tours with Iowa this season.

Brockmeyer, 23, is hitting a combined .260 with six home runs and 40 RBI in 77 games across four levels this season. He appeared in 63 games for Single-A South Bend before a promotion to Advanced-A Myrtle Beach on June 29. After a four-game stint with the Pelicans, he was promoted again on July 4 to Tennessee where he's played in four games for the Smokies. He had a two-day stint with Iowa July 10-11 before going back to Tennessee for four days. This is Brockmeyer's third career stint with the I-Cubs. He went 1-for-6 with a walk in two games for Iowa in 2013.

Edwards Jr., 23, left the team July 11 to participate in the SiriusXM Futures Game in Cincinnati, Ohio. The right-hander recorded two outs and struck out one in the eighth inning to help the U.S. Team defeat the World Team 10-1. Edwards is 1-0 with a 3.06 ERA (6ER/17.2IP), one save and 23 strikeouts in 11 games for Iowa this season.

Baxter, 30, was optioned to Triple-A on Saturday and is batting .246 (14-for-57) with one double and two RBI in 34 games with Chicago this season. He has batted .290 (29-for-100) with four doubles, eight RBI and a .377 on-base percentage in 34 games with Iowa this year.

With these moves, Iowa's active roster is full at 25 players plus two players on the disabled list, one player on the inactive list and one player on a major league rehab assignment.