In advance of Opening Day and a full roster release, the Chicago Cubs announced that Javier Assad will officially begin the year in the bullpen. The team also optioned both outfielder Mike Tauchman and pitcher Roenis Elías have been assigned to minor league camp.
With the moves, the Cubs roster currently sits at 37.
Assad, 25, split the spring between the Cubs and Team Mexico at the World Baseball Classic. With the former, he made three appearances, including one start, posting a 2.57 ERA and fanning six batters in 7.0 innings of work.
He was electric in international play, serving in a prominent relief role for Mexico. In two appearances, Assad struck out six and walked just one in 5.2 innings, catching the attention of his MLB manager.
“I'm sure that juices were flowing,” Cubs manager David Ross said earlier this month. “His offseason program obviously is paying off, and he’s in a really good spot early on. That was really impressive, watching him pitch and pitch for his country, that environment, against that lineup. I knew he's fearless, but you can see it in that environment.”
With Hayden Wesneski getting the final spot in the rotation, Assad gives the bullpen a long arm should one of the starting pitchers have a shortened outing. Being up with the Big League club also allows him to make a spot start in an emergency situation.
With Seiya Suzuki beginning the year on the injured list, Tauchman had a solid chance to make the Opening Day roster. He didn't show enough in spring, hitting just .225 with one home run and 4 RBI in 40 at-bats.
Elías felt like a long shot to make the roster. He didn't have a great spring, spinning a 6.48 ERA in three appearances with the Cubs. With Team Cuba in the World Baseball Classic, he allowed five earned runs in 9.0 innings but struck out four.
The full Opening Day roster should be formally announced shortly.
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