Over the weekend the Chicago Cubs designated utility infielder Blake DeWitt for assignment in order to make room for Travis Wood, who needed to start for the Cubs on Sunday because planned starter Matt Garza was ill. It seemed as if the Cubs would just flip that move after Wood's start, but Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer have decided to keep DeWitt— who has hit a ghastly .138/.133/.172 so far this season— in the minors. Instead, they've called up infielder Adrian Cardenas to make his debut in the majors.
Cardenas, 24, was a first round pick of the Philadelphia Phillies in 2006, but has spent the past six seasons in the minor leagues. He was traded in 2008 from the Phillies to the Oakland Athletics in the deal that netted Philly pitcher Joe Blanton, but in 2012 he was removed from Oakland's 40-man roster and put on waivers in order to make room for outfielder Jonny Gomes.
Cardenas, who was plucked off waivers by the Cubs in February, has a career hitting line in the minors of .303/.368/.417. In 127 games in Triple-A Sacramento last season he hit .314/.374/.418 with 37 extra base hits and 13 stolen bases. In 26 games so far this season in Triple-A Iowa, he's hit .319/.376/.521 with 12 extra base hits.
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Cardenas, 24, was a first round pick of the Philadelphia Phillies in 2006, but has spent the past six seasons in the minor leagues. He was traded in 2008 from the Phillies to the Oakland Athletics in the deal that netted Philly pitcher Joe Blanton, but in 2012 he was removed from Oakland's 40-man roster and put on waivers in order to make room for outfielder Jonny Gomes.
Cardenas, who was plucked off waivers by the Cubs in February, has a career hitting line in the minors of .303/.368/.417. In 127 games in Triple-A Sacramento last season he hit .314/.374/.418 with 37 extra base hits and 13 stolen bases. In 26 games so far this season in Triple-A Iowa, he's hit .319/.376/.521 with 12 extra base hits.
For more on Chicago sports, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Cubs, head over to Bleed Cubbie Blue.