Cubs roster move: P.J. Higgins called up from Iowa, Tony Wolters designated for assignment

The Cubs have struggled this year to find a good backup catcher for Willson Contreras.

Austin Romine, signed to take the position, has been injured and played in just six games with nine at-bats.

Tony Wolters, signed as a free agent when the Pirates let him go at the end of spring training, has played solid defense but can’t really hit at all: .125/.276/.125 (3-for-24) with 12 strikeouts.

So, the Cubs have decided to, at last, give a chance to a guy who’s been in their system since 2015. P.J. Higgins was the Cubs’ 12th-round pick out of Old Dominion that year and today the team announced his contract had been selected from Triple-A Iowa and that Wolters had been designated for assignment.

In 11 games at Iowa this year Higgins was hitting .333/.458/.513 (13-for-39) with one home run. Lifetime in the Cubs system he’s hit .273/.359/.370 with 21 home runs in 2,014 plate appearances. Higgins has also played a bit of third base in the Cubs system.

Higgins turned 28 last week and he’ll wear uniform No. 20 and be available for tonight’s game against the Nationals.