Chicago Cubs Reliever Back After Short Hiatus

The Chicago Cubs got some good news heading into their series against the Miami Marlins. Left-handed pitcher Caleb Thielbar will be available for Craig Counsell after being on paternity leave for the weekend series against the New York Mets. Thielbar and his family welcomed a baby girl into their family over the weekend, and now the Chicago Cubs are getting back one of their only reliable southpaws in the bullpen.

Gavin Hollowell had been sitting in for Caleb Thielbar in his roster spot for this past weekend’s series against the Mets. With Thielbar making his return, Hollowell will return to AAA Iowa. After adding Drew Pomeranz and Tom Cosgrove through early-season trades, there were still some left-handed options for Craig Counsell to go to in Thielbar’s absence, but they are undoubtedly glad to have the veteran southpaw back for their series against the Miami Marlins.

Caleb Thielbar Rejoins Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs received some reinforcements ahead of their series against the Miami Marlins this week. Left-hander Caleb Thielbar will be back with the ball club after taking a brief hiatus from the team over the weekend to go on paternity leave. Thielbar and his family welcomed a new baby girl to the world, as Craig Counsell announced Monday when he announced the roster move. Thielbar is back from paternity leave, and Gavin Hollowell is heading back to AAA after a brief stint in MLB.

Thielbar doesn’t come back as the only left-handed help for Craig Counsell and the Chicago Cubs bullpen, but he immediately reassumes his role as the top southpaw in the pen. So far in 2025, his first season with Chicago, Thielbar is 1-1 with a 3.29 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, three holds, and one save across 13.2 innings in 16 appearances. Thielbar, 38, is in the first season of his career outside of Minnesota and has quickly acclimated to baseball on the Windy City’s north side.

For his career, Thielbar is 24-13 with a 3.37 ERA and 1.18 WHIP, five saves, and 67 holds across 333.2 innings in 363 appearances throughout a ten-year career. As one of the best high-leverage arms for the Cubs, Thielbar will be welcomed back to this bullpen with open arms ahead of the team’s next series against the Miami Marlins. Thielbar is replacing Gavin Hollowell, who is being returned to AAA Iowa. Hollowell gave up just one run in 6.2 innings across five appearances with the Chicago Cubs in 2025, his second season in the organization. After having success for the major league club, Hollowell will likely make a return later in 2025.