:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49483455/GettyImages-527173750.0.jpg)
Matt Szczur left Monday's game against the Pirates with what was described as a mild hamstring injury.
The injury is apparently serious enough to warrant a 15-day rest:
Word out of Pittsburgh is #Cubs Szczur to DL (mild hamstring strain) and Ryan Kalish called up. Villanueva to 60 day DL
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) May 3, 2016
It's really a shame, as Szczur was playing extremely well in the early 2016 season action. In a small-sample-size 30 at-bats he's hitting .367/.441/.600 with a double, two home runs, 10 RBI, nine runs scored and four walks.
Kalish was with the Cubs briefly in 2014, hitting .248/.295/.347 in 121 at-bats. He did not play in organized baseball at all in 2015, rehabbing some injuries, and got a late invitation to Cubs spring training this year. After spring camp he was assigned to Triple-A Iowa, where he was hitting .368/.471/.509 in 70 plate appearances. Kalish, a former Red Sox draft pick under Theo (ninth round, 2006) was a top-100 prospect in Baseball Prospectus' list in 2008 and 2010. He's 28 and has talent but has never been able to stick in the big leagues, primarily due to injuries. If he can hit a little, he can be a useful bench player while Szczur recovers.
Christian Villanueva, who is out of options, was injured during spring-training workouts, a freak knee injury that was said was going to keep him out till midseason anyway, so he was a logical choice to send to the 60-day DL to make room for Kalish on the 40-man roster.
Also, if you were wondering why Matt Murton didn't play in the Iowa game yesterday after having been in the lineup, here's why:
Word from Iowa Cubs is that Murton suffered strained oblique warming up before Monday's game. No roster move yet. #Cubs
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) May 3, 2016
Tough break for Murton. Bad break for Szczur, too, who hopefully won't be out more than the 15 days and who can return and continue to hit the way he has so far this year.