Cubs recall left-handed pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada

The Chicago Cubs today recalled left-handed pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada from Triple-A Iowa.

Wada, who will wear uniform number 67, will serve as the club's 26th man today and make his major league debut as the starting pitcher in the second game of the team's doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.

The 33-year-old Wada is 9-5 with a 2.66 ERA (30 ER/101.2 IP) in 17 games (16 starts) with Iowa this season, his first in the Cubs organization. He has struck out 105, good for an average of 9.3 strikeouts per 9.0 innings, and walked just 26. Wada began the season 3-1 with a 0.68 ERA (2 ER/26.1 IP) in four April starts, and was named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week for April 3-13 as well as the Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Month by the organization.

Wada, who signed a minor league deal with the Cubs this past offseason, was added to the 40-man roster, June 22. His 105 strikeouts rank second in the Pacific Coast League while his nine wins rank tied for third and his 2.66 ERA ranks fifth.

Following a nine-year career with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in the Japan Pacific League, Wada signed a two-year major league deal with Baltimore in December of 2011. He suffered an elbow injury during Spring Training of 2012 that led to Tommy John ligament replacement surgery in May. He returned to action in June of 2013, and made 19 starts for Triple-A Norfolk last season, going 5-6 with a 4.03 ERA (46 ER/102.2 IP).

Wada went 107-61 with a 3.13 ERA (503 ER/1,444.2 IP) in 210 games, all but three as a starter, for Fukuoka from 2003-11, striking out 1,329 batters while walking just 395. He recorded 36 complete games, including eight shutouts, and was named the league's Most Valuable Player in 2010, a season in which he was 17-8 with a 3.14 ERA (59 ER/169.1 IP) in 26 starts.