The Cubs announced they’ve selected corner outfielder Nick Martini to the big league roster. Fellow outfielder Michael Hermosillo is landing on the 10-day injured list with a left forearm strain. Chicago already had a vacancy on the 40-man roster after designating Andrew Romine for assignment earlier in the week.
Martini is back for his second stint with the Cubs this year. The Illinois native signed a minor league deal with Chicago over the offseason and was selected to the major league roster in early May. He only appeared in twelve games over the next few weeks before being designated for assignment and passed through outright waivers. Martini has spent most of the year with the Cubs’ top affiliate in Iowa, where he’s hit .267/.387/.444 with eleven home runs over 323 plate appearances.
That’s in line with Martini’s general production over the course of his career. He has long drawn walks at a very strong clip and posted gaudy minor league numbers, and he’s found some success against big league pitching as well. Over 303 MLB plate appearances, the left-handed hitting Martini owns a solid .261/.363/.366 line. He has yet to carve out a consistent regular role in the majors, though, with teams deterred by his lack of power and limited defensive value.
Hermosillo will not return this season, bench coach Andy Green told reporters (including Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune). The 26-year-old was called up a few weeks ago after a monster season at Iowa. He popped three home runs in just 38 MLB plate appearances, but Hermosillo also struck out twelve times and drew just one walk en route to a .194 batting average and a .237 on-base percentage.