Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Activated, optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Cubs reinstated Kilian (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Kilian had been on the shelf all season while recovering from a teres major strain of his right shoulder, but he's healthy again after completing an eight-appearance rehab assignment in the minors. The last five of those outings came at Iowa, with whom Kilian gave up seven runs (six earned) on eight hits and five walks while striking out three over eight innings. Though his results were generally poor, Kilian tossed three no-hit innings in his most recent appearance Sunday. Kilian had been working in relief during his rehab assignment, but since the Cubs didn't have a spot in the bullpen available for him upon his activation, he could get stretched back out for starting duty with Iowa.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Rehabbing as reliever
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Kilian (shoulder) made the fifth appearance of his rehab assignment Sunday for Triple-A Iowa, retiring the lone batter he faced on six pitches.
Prior to this season, Kilian had made all but three of his professional appearances as a starter, but the Cubs look to be preparing him for a relief role as he makes his way back from a teres major strain on his right shoulder, which has kept him on the shelf since spring training. He's worked out of the bullpen in all five of his rehab appearances to date, tossing no more than two innings and 32 pitches in any of those outings.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Hits two innings in third rehab start
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Kilian (shoulder) struck out two over two perfect innings in his rehab start Tuesday with High-A South Bend.
Kilian tossed 21 pitches in the outing while the Cubs continue to ease the right-hander along slowly as he makes his way back from a teres major strain in his right shoulder, an injury that has sidelined him since early March. The 27-year-old will likely require at least three more rehab starts to get fully stretched out for a traditional starter's workload, so he may not be activated until late July or early August. Once Kilian is reinstated, the Cubs could elect to option him to Triple-A Iowa, if the big club doesn't have an opening in its rotation.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Beginning rehab assignment
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Kilian (shoulder) is starting a rehab assignment Tuesday at High-A South Bend, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Kilian will start up a rehab assignment Tuesday, pitching in game conditions for the first time since straining his shoulder in spring training. The 27-year-old has been progressing well, getting up to 32 pitches in a bullpen session in mid-June before facing live hitters June 25. He could be cleared for activation before August.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Throws off mound
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Kilian (shoulder) threw a 32-pitch bullpen session Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
It would appear to be the first time he's thrown off a mound since being diagnosed in early March with a teres major strain in his right shoulder. Kilian, who is on the 60-day injured list, figures to need a lengthy rehab assignment once he's deemed ready. Further, it isn't a given that he will be added to the big-league roster once he's off the IL.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Diagnosed with teres major strain
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Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that Kilian will be sidelined until around the All-Star break after an MRI revealed a teres major strain in his right shoulder, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Counsell noted that it's the type of injury which can have varying timelines, but Kilian isn't expected to be pitching anytime soon. The loss of Kilian is a hit to the team's starting pitching depth, as he was likely slated to open the season in the Triple-A Iowa rotation.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Looks sharp in spring opener
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Kilian logged two scoreless innings with two strikeouts in Friday's Cactus League game against the White Sox.
Kilian was the third pitcher to appear in the contest for the Cubs and he looked sharp. The righty has appeared in six games (four starts) for Chicago over the past two years and could be in the running for a bullpen role this spring if he pitches well. Kilian doesn't seem like a realistic option for a rotation spot at this point, though he could be on the radar for spot starts when needed.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Optioned back to Iowa
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The Cubs optioned Kilian to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Kilian has surrendered 10 earned runs in just 5.1 innings of work this season at the major-league level. Michael Rucker will join Chicago's bullpen Tuesday in a corresponding roster move.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Promoted Sunday
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Kilian was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
The 26-year-old made a spot start for the Cubs in late April but was sent back to Triple-A after he surrendered seven runs across 3.1 innings. Kilian has continued to work as a starter at Iowa and has a 3.97 ERA over 88.1 innings, but he'll likely work out of the bullpen for Chicago.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Recalled for start at Miami
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Kilian was recalled from Triple-A Iowa and will start for the Cubs on Saturday against the Marlins, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
As planned, Kilian gets the call to fill in for Jameson Taillon (groin) at loanDepot park in Miami. The 25-year-old right-hander allowed 15 runs -- 13 earned -- over his first 11.1 major-league innings last season and was showing an ugly 7.15 ERA through 11.1 innings this year at Triple-A Iowa. He is not a recommended fantasy streamer.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Lined up for spot start
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Kilian threw a bullpen session Thursday and isn't listed among Triple-A Iowa probable starting pitchers this weekend, suggesting he could be called up to make a spot start for the Cubs on Saturday in Miami, Tommy Birch of The Des Moines Register reports.
The Cubs require a new fifth starter this week with Jameson Taillon (groin) recently moving to the injured list, and all signs point to Kilian getting the first chance to replace him. After being lit up for eight earned runs in his 2023 debut for Iowa on April 2, Kilian rebounded nicely over his most recent two outings, logging a 1.00 ERA and 1.11 WHIP across nine innings. In lieu of a start, Kilian threw a simulated game at Iowa a few days ago to stay sharp, so he should be able to provide the Cubs with a decent amount of length if he does in fact get the call to the big leagues Saturday.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Optioned to minors
Rotowire
Kilian was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
He allowed one run on two hits while striking out two over four innings in two appearances this spring. Kilian will work on putting the finishing touches on his development at Triple-A while he awaits another opportunity in the big-league rotation at some point this summer.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Mixed results back in Triple-A
Rotowire
Kilian has put up a 4.72 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 48:19 K:BB across 34.1 innings (eight starts) since returning to Triple-A.
That's not exactly the stat line you want to see from your most advanced pitching prospect after his first taste of the majors, but Kilian has never been a super-high-upside arm. The 25-year-old's season-long WHIP in Triple-A is a poor 1.40, and while Kilian has shown notable strikeout ability, he hasn't pitched deep into games very often and is walking far too many batters. The Cubs are still treating him as a potential starter in the long run, but there's relief risk here.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Returns to Triple-A
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Kilian was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The 25-year-old surrendered seven runs (five earned) over 2.1 innings Monday and will now make his way back to the minors. Kilian is Chicago's top pitching prospect, but he struggled across his first three starts in the majors with a 10.32 ERA, 2.03 WHIP and 9:12 K:BB in 11.1 innings.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Struggles with command Monday
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Kilian (0-2) allowed seven runs (five earned) on three hits across 2.1 innings to take the loss Monday against the Pirates. He walked five and struck out three.
Kilian couldn't find the plate Monday, as he walked five of the 15 batters he faced and also uncorked a wild pitch. Through 11.1 innings so far this season, the 25-year-old now has 11 walks. Kilian is considered the Cubs' top pitching prospect, though it seems like he still needs some refinement before taking off at the MLB level. For now, he's slated to start again Saturday against the Cardinals, but he may return to Triple-A Iowa at some point.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Remains in rotation
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Kilian is listed as the Cubs' starting pitcher for Monday's game in Pittsburgh.
Even though the rookie has been roughed up for eight earned runs while issuing seven walks in nine innings between his first two big-league starts, manager David Ross intimated after Kilian's most recent outing June 15 against the Padres that the right-hander would be part of the rotation moving forward. Whether Kilian sticks around as a starter once the likes of Marcus Stroman (shoulder), Wade Miley (shoulder) and Drew Smyly (oblique) return from the 15-day injured list is still undetermined, but the 25-year-old should get at least two more starts to prove he belongs in the big leagues.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Called up ahead of start
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Kilian's contract was selected from Triple-A Iowa ahead of his start in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cardinals, Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
Kilian is a top prospect in the organization and will make his major-league debut during Saturday's nightcap. The right-hander has been effective in Iowa early in 2022, posting a 2.06 ERA, 41:15 K:BB and 1.28 WHIP in 39.1 innings. Although the 25-year-old needed some time to establish his mid-90s fastball velocity this year, he'll now get a chance to prove himself with the big-league club. If he impresses during Saturday's start, it wouldn't be surprising to see him remain in the rotation.
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Cubs' Caleb Kilian: Opening at Triple-A
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Kilian, the Cubs' top pitching prospect, will open the year at Triple-A Iowa, Tommy Birch of the Des Moines Register reports.
The headliner in the return from San Francisco for Kris Bryant and the MVP of the Arizona Fall League championship game, Kilian hadn't pitched in big-league spring training, so it's good to hear that he's healthy and ready for the minor-league season. The Cubs' rotation lacks viable depth, so Kilian could get the call to the majors sometime this summer.
