Cubs Recall James Norwood, Send Alec Mills Back to Iowa

Alec Mills, who pitched 6 innings in relief of Cole Hamels on Wednesday, has been sent to Iowa for the hard-throwing James Norwood.

James Norwood called up from Iowa, Alec Mills sent down after six innings last night. Kintzler is eligible (and expected) to be back tomorrow

— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) August 15, 2019

Norwood owns a 4.71 ERA and 4.89 FIP in 49.2 innings with the Iowa Cubs this season. He has struck out 12.5 batters per nine innings but has also walked 4.89 batters per nine innings.

The 25-year-old Norwood spent 11 innings with the Cubs last year and showcased an impressive repertoire that included a fourseam (71.4%), slider (15.4%), and changeup (13.2%). His best attribute is a fastball that sits between 97-98mph and touches 101mph.

Norwood’s delivery is unorthodox. He comes out of the stretch on the far right edge of the rubber, and his right foot is even further towards the third base side. As a result, his body falls from the third-base side to the first-base side upon releasing the pitch. 

All of a sudden, the Cubs now have five relievers who throw 95+ mph (Chatwood, Wick, Underwood, Strop, and Norwood).