Cubs activate RHP Neil Ramirez off 15-day d.l., recall RHP Yoervis Medina from Triple-A Iowa

The Chicago Cubs today activated right-handed pitcher Neil Ramirez off of the 15-day disabled list and recalled right-handed pitcher Yoervis Medina from Triple-A Iowa. Chicago's active roster now stands at 34 players.

Both Ramirez and Medina will be available for the Cubs tonight against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

Ramirez, 26, has gone 1-0 with one hold and a 3.12 ERA (3 ER/8.2IP) in 13 relief appearances for the Cubs this season but has twice been sidelined due to injury with right shoulder inflammation from April 17-June 28 and with left abdominal soreness since July 29.  

The righthander made his major league debut with the Cubs last season and went 3-3 with 17 holds, three saves and a 1.44 ERA (7 ER/43.2 IP) in 50 relief appearances. He struck out 53 batters in 43.2 innings and limited opponents to a .184 batting average against. He also held foes to a .271 on-base percentage and a .278 slugging percentage, good for only a .549 opponents OPS.

Ramirez joined the Cubs with righthander Justin Grimm, infielder Mike Olt and righthander Carl Edwards, Jr. in the deal that sent pitcher Matt Garza to the Texas Rangers on July 22, 2013.

Medina, 27, has combined to go 1-0 with one save and a 4.71 ERA (11 ER/21.0 IP) in 17 relief appearances between the Cubs and the Seattle Mariners, from whom he was acquired on May 19 for catcher Welington Castillo. In 146 big league relief appearances between Seattle (2013-15) and the Cubs (2015), Medina has gone 10-9 with 43 holds, two saves and a 3.08 ERA (50 ER/146.0 IP). He has struck out 147 batters in 146.0 major league innings while limiting opponents to a .222 batting average, including a .228 mark vs. right-handed hitters and a .215 mark vs. lefthanders.  

In Triple-A this year in the Mariners and Cubs organizations, Medina combined to go 1-2 with two saves and a 5.63 ERA (25 ER/40.0 IP) in 32 relief outings, fanning 39 batters in 40.0 innings pitched.

Medina 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 improved upon those numbers by going 5-3 with 21 holds and a 2.68 ERA (17 ER/57.0 IP) in 66 relief outings while leading the Mariners and ranking 12th in the league in holds.