Cubs activate catcher Miguel Montero from D.L., option outfielder Matt Szczur to Triple-A Iowa

CHICAGO - The Chicago Cubs today activated catcher Miguel Montero from the 15-day disabled list and optioned outfielder Matt Szczur to Triple-A Iowa.

Montero will be available for the Cubs this afternoon against the San Francisco Giants at Wrigley Field.

The 32-year-old Montero has been on the disabled list recovering from a left thumb sprain suffered on July 11. He batted .188 (3-for-16) during a four-game rehab assignment with Double-A Tennessee, including hitting a grand slam last night vs. Birmingham.

Montero joined the Cubs this past offseason in a trade with Arizona and is batting .230 (50-for-217) with 10 home runs and 32 RBI in 73 games with Chicago this season. He has a .337 on-base percentage, 107 points higher than his batting average, and a .392 slugging percentage, good for a .729 OPS.

Szczur, 26, is batting .217 (13-for-60) with four doubles, one homer and eight RBI in 35 games with the Cubs this season. He has batted .295 (66-for-224) with 10 doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 26 RBI in 58 games with Iowa this year.