43 Tony Barnette RP

Barnette (shoulder) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Friday because he is still experiencing tightness in his shoulder, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Barnette began a minor-league rehab assignment April 21 but the assignment has since been halted given the persistence of the shoulder issue. The 35-year-old's return timeline following the setback remains unclear, though he'll be eligible to be activated towards the end of May.

Barnette (shoulder) began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, retiring two of the four batters he faced while giving up one run on a walk and one hit. He also hit a batter during the 20-pitch outing.

Shut down most of the spring with a sprained right shoulder, Barnette received clearance for minor-league work after experiencing no issues during his recent live batting practice sessions. He looked rusty in his initial game action and will likely require at least a few more appearances at Triple-A before the Cubs are comfortable bringing him back from the 10-day injured list. Barnette will likely fill a lower-leverage role out of the bullpen once activated.

Barnette (shoulder) has been throwing live batting practice at the Cubs' spring training facility, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

A shoulder strain ended Barnette's 2018 campaign in early July, and the issue carried through the offseason to delay his spring preparation. He's working his way back and facing live hitters but has yet to get any game action on a rehab assignment.

President of baseball operations Theo Epstein said Monday that Barnette (shoulder) is close to beginning a rehab assignment, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Barnette had already resumed mound work at the conclusion of spring training, so he's presumably advanced to facing hitters in live batting practice at this stage of his recovery. The Cubs should map out of a rehab assignment for the reliever in the coming days, with Barnette likely to require at least two appearances in the minors before returning from the 10-day injured list.

Barnette (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day IL, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

He recently threw 20 pitches off a mound, but will need at least a couple more weeks before he is ready to join the big-league bullpen.