The Cubs optioned Cowles to Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com reports.
The 25-year-old was added to Chicago's 40-man roster in November in order to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, but he was never a likely candidate to make the Opening Day roster. Cowles spent last season at the Double-A level with both the Cubs and Yankees organizations, and he had a .286/.372/.457 slash line with nine homers and 14 steals in 92 games.
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Cubs' Benjamin Cowles: Receives 40-man spot
Rotowire
The Cubs selected Cowles to their 40-man roster Tuesday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Cowles was acquired from the Yankees at the trade deadline as part of the Mark Leiter deal, though a wrist injury limited Cowles to playing just four games with Double-A Tennessee at the very end of the year. Prior to his injury, the 24-year-old infielder had slashed .292/.372/.471 with 52 RBI across 379 plate appearances. He'll likely be bumped up to Triple-A Iowa for the start of 2025.
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Cubs' Benjamin Cowles: Healthy heading into fall
Rotowire
Cowles (wrist) went 1-for-13 with two walks and two runs over four games for Double-A Tennessee after being reinstated from the 7-day injured list Sept. 9.
Acquired from the Yankees at the trade deadline July 30, Cowles wasn't expected to make his organizational debut with the Cubs until 2025 after he suffered a wrist injury when he was hit by a pitch in his final game for Double-A Somerset on July 25. Cowles ended up healing quicker than expected and got a few games under his belt with Tennessee, and he's now scheduled to pick up some more at-bats in the Arizona Fall League. Per Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times, Cowles was one of eight Cubs prospects assigned to the Mesa Solar Sox for the start of the Fall League, which begins Oct. 7.
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Cubs' Benjamin Cowles: Likely out for season
Rotowire
Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Wednesday that Cowles will likely miss the rest of the minor-league regular season as a result of being hit on the wrist by a pitch in his final game with Double-A Somerset on July 25, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Cowles was placed on Somerset's 7-day injured list this past Saturday before he was dealt to the Cubs three days later as part of a two-prospect package that sent reliever Mark Leiter to the Yankees. The Cubs were presumably aware of the nature and severity of Cowles' injury before the trade was agreed upon, and the wrist issue shouldn't dramatically affect the 24-year-old infielder's long-term outlook. He had been in the midst of a productive season with Somerset prior to getting hurt, slashing .292/.372/.471 with nine home runs and 14 steals over 88 games.
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Cubs' Benjamin Cowles: Headed to Chicago
Rotowire
The Cubs acquired Cowles (undisclosed) and right-hander Jack Neely from the Yankees on Tuesday in exchange for right-hander Mark Leiter, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Cowles, 24, slashed .295/.376/.472 with nine home runs and 14 stolen bases over 88 games this season with Double-A Somerset before he was placed on the 7-day injured list Saturday with an unspecified injury. The Cubs likely aren't too concerned about the injury, given his inclusion in the trade. He can play second base, third base and shortstop and profiles as a potential utility infielder at the major-league level.
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