Report: Cubs Calling Up Jorge Soler
(CBS) Another one of the Cubs' elite prospects is on his way to the major leagues.
Outfielder Jorge Soler is getting called up from Triple-A Iowa to the Cubs, CSN Chicago's David Kaplan reported on air Monday night. While everyone anxiously awaited the timing, the call-up comes as little surprise, as Soler is already on Chicago's 40-man roster and has been swinging a hot bat at Iowa.
In 31 games at that level entering Monday, Soler was hitting .278 with seven homers, 26 RBIs and a .969 OPS. Soler was pulled from Iowa's game in Tacoma on Monday after not long after he'd hit a homer. In time at three minor league levels this season, Soler is hitting a combined .338 with 15 homers and 54 RBIs. He battled injuries in the first half of this season and much of 2013 as well.
Soler is expected to join the Cubs on Wednesday night in Cincinnati, the Chicago Tribune reported.
The Cubs had given serious consideration to calling up Soler earlier this month, but he had a mini-slump and the organization chose to let him fight through it before his promotion, Kaplan reported. He will likely receive playing time at one of the corner outfield spots.
Soler joins Javier Baez and Arismendy Alcantara as highly regarded Cubs prospects to make their major league debuts this season. Kris Bryant, their top-rated prospect who is having what most consider is the best minor league season of anyone in America, is still unlikely to be called up this season because of the desire for him to gain more experience (the front office's public explanation) and the likely desire to delay his free agency clock (an equally logical explanation).
Bryant currently plays third base at Iowa but could project as a corner outfielder in the big leagues.
"I still don't foresee Kris getting called up this year," Cubs president Theo Epstein said in early August. "It is his first full professional season."