Cubs Place Robinson Chirinos on IL, Recall Greg Deichmann, Select Jason Adam as 29th Man

The Cubs have placed catcher Robinson Chirinos on the 10-day injured list retroactive to September 23 with a left oblique strain and recalled outfielder Greg Deichmann from Triple-A Iowa. Chirinos grimaced in pain during an at-bat in Wednesday’s loss and had to leave the game with a 3-1 count. He had been seeing a lion’s share of the backup reps, so Austin Romine is now the undisputed second-stringer.

In the feel-good story of the day, right-handed pitcher Jason Adam has been selected from Triple-A Iowa, optioned to Iowa, and recalled to serve as the 29th man for Friday’s doubleheader. The 30-year-old suffered an open dislocation of his left ankle back on May 23 and it’s amazing that he’s pitching at all, let alone at the highest level.

Since returning from the gruesome injury, he has posted a 1.80 ERA with one walk and seven strikeouts in five outings (5 IP) between the ACL Cubs and Iowa. The Cubs designated Adam for assignment following the injury, which felt kind of icky even if it was a necessary procedural move. Again, the fact that he’s back pitching for them this year at all is pretty incredible.

Deichmann made his MLB debut back on August 6 and went 4-for-23 with one RBI in seven games for Chicago. He has played in 34 games for Iowa, hitting .227 with eight doubles, two triples, three home runs, and 13 RBI. He was acquired by the Cubs on July 26 from the Athletics along with right-handed pitcher Daniel Palencia for Andrew Chafin.

Regardless of what Deichmann ends up doing in a Cubs uniform, the deal could end up a big winner for Jed Hoyer because of the 21-year-old Palencia. Originally viewed as something of a throw-in, the hard-throwing righty finished his 2021 campaign with 18 whiffs in a start for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.