Cubs Select Mark Leiter Jr.

The Cubs have announced their Opening Day roster, per Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune. Outfielder Seiya Suzuki was placed on the 10-day injured list while right-hander Kyle Hendricks and left-hander Brandon Hughes have been placed on the 15-day injured list. Right-hander Mark Leiter Jr. was added to the 40-man roster, which had already an open spot so no corresponding move will be required.

Leiter, 32, was with the Cubs last year and had a nice season. He posted a 3.99 ERA in 67 2/3 innings over 35 appearances, striking out 25.9% of batters faced, walking 8.9% of them and getting grounders at a 48.9% clip. Despite that strong season, Leiter had exhausted his final option year in 2022 and got squeezed off the roster in January. He elected free agency but re-signed on a minor league deal, though with the ability to opt out if not added to the roster by Opening Day. It seems the Cubs didn’t want to let him return to the open market and have added him to their staff today.

As for the injured players, they have all been dealing with ailments during the spring and it isn’t shocking to see them land on the IL today. Suzuki is still working his way back from an oblique strain suffered in February. Hendricks suffered a torn capsule in his shoulder last season and has been gradually building up strength this year. Hughes, meanwhile, has been dealing with a left knee injury in the spring and was only able to make four appearances.