Cubs recall RHP Yoervis Medina, select RHP Ben Rowen from Triple-A Iowa

CHICAGO - The Chicago Cubs today placed right-handed pitcher Neil Ramirez on the 15-day disabled list with left abdominal soreness and optioned right-handed pitcher Dallas Beeler to Triple-A Iowa. The club recalled right-handed pitcher Yoervis Medina and selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Ben Rowen from Iowa. To make room for Rowen on the 40-man roster, infielder/outfielder Mike Baxter has been designated for assignment.

Both Medina and Rowen, who will wear uniform number 51, will be available for the Cubs this afternoon in their series finale against the Colorado Rockies at Wrigley Field.

Medina, 27, returns to the Cubs after being optioned to Iowa yesterday. He has no record and a 7.00 ERA (7 ER/9.0 IP) in five relief appearances with the Cubs this season and is 0-2 with one save and an 8.68 ERA (18 ER/18.2 IP) in 16 relief outings with Iowa this year. Medina has posted a 3.08 ERA (50 ER/146.0 IP) in 146 career relief appearances between the Mariners (2013-15) and Cubs (2015), turning in a 10-9 record with 43 holds and two saves.

The 6-foot-3, 245-pound righthander, who was acquired from the Seattle Mariners for catcher Welington Castillo on May 19, broke into the big leagues with the Mariners in 2013 and went 4-6 with one save and a 2.91 ERA (22 ER/68.0 IP) in 63 relief appearances while ranking second among all American League rookies with 19 holds. Last season, he went 5-3 with 21 holds and a 2.68 ERA (17 ER/57.0 IP) in 66 relief outings while ranking 12th in the league in holds.

Rowen, 26, joins the Cubs after combining to go 4-0 with one save and a 1.93 ERA (10 ER/46.2 IP) in 34 relief outings for three affiliates between the Baltimore Orioles and Cubs organizations. He went to spring training as a non-roster invitee with the Los Angeles Dodgers before being acquired by Baltimore as part of a four-player deal on April 9. He went 2-0 with one save and a 2.28 ERA (7 ER/27.2 IP) in 20 appearances for Double-A Bowie and posted no record and a 2.79 ERA (3 ER/9.2 IP) in six outings for Triple-A Norfolk before being released and signing a minor league deal with the Cubs on July 4. He has gone 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA (9.1 IP) in eight appearances with Iowa.

Rowen was originally selected by Texas in the 22nd round of the 2010 Draft and made his big league debut with the Rangers last season, posting no record and a 4.15 ERA (4 ER/8.2 IP) in eight relief outings. He spent the majority of the 2014 campaign with Triple-A Round Rock, going 3-0 with five saves and a 3.45 ERA (18 ER/47.0 IP).

Overall, Rowen has gone 25-5 with 41 saves and a 1.75 ERA (60 ER/308.2 IP) in 211 minor league relief appearances covering the last six seasons. Rowen was a Carolina League All-Star in 2012 and the Rangers organization's relief pitcher of the year after recording a league-leading 19 saves with Single-A Myrtle Beach and earned Texas League All-Star honors in 2013. He has allowed only seven homers and posted a 1.00 WHIP in 308.2 minor league innings.

Ramirez, 26, is 1-0 with a 3.12 ERA (3 ER/8.2 IP) in 13 appearances with the Cubs this season. This marks his second stint on the disabled list, as he was sidelined with right shoulder inflammation from April 17-June 28.

Beeler, 26, is 0-1 with a 9.72 ERA (9 ER/8.1 IP) in three starts with the Cubs this season.

Baxter, 30, has batted .246 (14-for-57) with one double and two RBI in 34 games with the Cubs this season.