CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today activated right-handed pitcher Tony Barnette off of the 60-day injured list. To make room for Barnette on the 25-man roster, right-handed pitcher Rowan Wick was optioned to Triple-A Iowa following yesterday’s game. Barnette will be available for the Cubs this afternoon when they conclude their four-game series against the New York Mets at Wrigley Field.

Barnette, 35, was placed on the injured list to begin the 2019 campaign with right shoulder inflammation. He made 13 relief outings in a pair of rehab assignments with Iowa as part of his return, going 1-0 with 2.31 ERA (3 ER/11.2 IP). He signed a one-year major league contract with the Cubs on January 31.

The righthander went 2-0 with a 2.39 ERA (7 ER/26.1 IP) in 22 relief appearances for the Texas Rangers last season. He struck out approximately one batter per inning (26 strikeouts in 26.1 innings pitched) while posting a 0.91 WHIP thanks in part to issuing only five walks in 26.1 innings. Barnette limited foes to a .196 (19-for-97) batting average, including a .167 (5-for-30) mark by lefties and a .209 (14-for-67) mark by righties. His season came to an end in early July due to a right shoulder strain.

Overall, Barnette is 11-4 with a 3.50 ERA (56 ER/144.0 IP) in 125 career major league relief appearances covering the last three seasons with Texas (2016-18).

Barnette was originally selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 10th round of the 2006 Draft out of Arizona State University. He pitched in Arizona’s minor league system for four seasons before joining the Yakult Swallows in 2010, for whom he pitched for six seasons. Barnette made 260 relief appearances during his time with the Swallows and tallied 41 saves and a 1.29 ERA in his final season in Japan in 2015, leading to signing a two-year contract with Texas prior to the 2016 campaign.

Born in Anchorage, Alaska, Barnette attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Auburn, Washington. No player born in the state of Alaska has ever appeared in a game for the Cubs.

Wick, 26, has posted no record and a 2.45 ERA (1 ER/3.2 IP) in three relief outings with the Cubs this season. He has posted no record with three saves and a 2.30 ERA (7 ER/27.1 IP) in 19 relief outings with Iowa this year.

Chicago’s 40-man roster stands at 40 players.