Cubs place INF Luis Valbuena on 15-Day D.L., Recall INF Logan Watkins from Triple-A Iowa

The Chicago Cubs today placed infielder Luis Valbuena on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to August 3) with a right oblique strain and recalled infielder Logan Watkins from Triple-A Iowa.

Watkins, who joins the first major league roster of his professional career, will wear uniform number 22 and make the start at second base for the Cubs this afternoon against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field.

Watkins, 23, was the 2012 Cubs Minor League Player of the Year after batting .281 (137-for-488) with 93 runs scored, 20 doubles, 11 triples, nine home runs and 52 RBI in 133 games for Tennessee, his first season at the Double-A level. The left-handed batter and right-handed thrower turned in a .383 on-base percentage and a .422 slugging percentage, good for an .805 OPS. Watkins was added to the 40-man roster last November and was a participant at major league spring training this season for the first time in his career.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Watkins has spent the entire 2013 campaign with Iowa, batting .243 (100-for-412) with 18 doubles, seven triples, eight home runs and 26 RBI in 107 games in Triple-A. This season he has seen action at second base (90 games), shortstop (13 games) and center field (three games).

Watkins was originally selected by the Cubs in the 21st round of the 2008 Draft out of Goddard High School in Kansas. The Wichita native was a 2010 Midwest League All-Star and led the Florida State League with 12 triples in 2011. In six minor league seasons, Watkins is a career .277 hitter (593-for-2,140) with 85 doubles, 40 triples, 23 home runs and 196 RBI in 582 games.

Valbuena, 27, is batting .225 (64-for-285) with 13 doubles, nine home runs and 31 RBI in 89 games for the Cubs this season.