Cubs recall LHP Zac Rosscup and RHP Neil Ramirez from Triple-A Iowa

CHICAGO - The Chicago Cubs today recalled left-handed pitcher Zac Rosscup and right-handed pitcher Neil Ramirez from Triple-A Iowa. Outfielder Justin Ruggiano has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain and right-handed pitcher Blake Parker has been optioned to Triple-A.

Both Rosscup and Ramirez, who will wear number 54 and joins the first major league roster of his career, are available this afternoon for the Cubs against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field.

Rosscup, 25, joins the Cubs roster for the second time this season, as he served as the 26th man in the second game of a doubleheader April 16 at Yankee Stadium and tossed 1.2 scoreless innings of relief. He made his major league debut as a September call-up last season, posting a 1.35 ERA (1 ER/6.2 IP) with no record in 10 relief appearances. Rosscup is 1-0 with a 4.26 ERA (3 ER/6.1 IP) in five appearances with Iowa this season.  

Last season between Double-A Tennessee and Iowa, Rosscup was 2-2 with three saves and a 2.12 ERA (12 ER/51.0 IP) in 46 relief appearances. He struck out 83 batters in 51.0 innings for an average of 14.6 strikeouts per 9.0 innings, and limited opponents to a .195 batting average (36-for-185).

Rosscup was originally selected by Tampa Bay in the 28th round of the 2009 Draft. The Clackamas, Ore., native was acquired by the Cubs as part of the eight-player trade that brought Matt Garza to Chicago on January 8, 2011.

Ramirez, 24, is 36-35 with a 4.40 ERA (287 ER/586.2 IP) in 140 minor league appearances (127 starts) covering the last seven seasons since originally being selected by the Texas Rangers in the supplemental round (44th overall) of the 2007 Draft. He was acquired by the Cubs as the player to be named later in the five-player trade that sent pitcher Matt Garza to the Rangers last summer.

The righthander has no record and a 7.71 ERA (6 ER/7.0 IP) in six relief appearances for Iowa this season. Ramirez spent nearly all of spring training in big league camp this year, tossing 7.2 scoreless innings with two saves across eight relief outings.

Ramirez combined to go 9-3 with a 3.68 ERA (44 ER/107.2 IP) in 22 starts last year between Double-A Frisco and Double-A Tennessee.

Ruggiano is batting .229 (8-for-35) with one home run and six RBI with the Cubs this season.

Parker has no record and a 16.20 ERA (3 ER/1.2 IP) in two relief outings with the Cubs this year.