Cubs release veteran closer, call up RHP |
CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today selected right-handed pitcher Jack Neely from Triple-A Iowa and designated right-handed pitcher Héctor Neris for assignment.
Neely will make his major league debut with his first appearance and wear #47 for the Cubs. Neely, 24, is 1-1 with nine saves, a 2.42 ERA (13 ER/48.1 IP), 76 strikeouts and a 1.12 WHIP across 37 relief appearances between Double-A Somerset, Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Triple-A Iowa this season. Since joining the I-Cubs, he has not allowed an earned run in six outings (6.2 IP) and has struck out 13 batters, compared to just one walk, contributing to a 0.75 WHIP. Since August 1 when he joined the Cubs organization, he is tied for third in strikeouts and tied for tenth in WHIP among Triple-A pitchers (min. 6 G). Across parts of four minor league seasons, the San Antonio, Texas, native is 11-7 with a 2.64 ERA (49 ER/167.0 IP), 23 saves and 268 strikeouts in 119 games, all in relief. Following the 2023 season, Neely was named a South Atlantic League Post-Season All-Star and MiLB.com Organizational All-Star. He was selected by the Yankees in the 11th round of the 2021 draft out of The Ohio State University and acquired by the Cubs on July 30 with infielder Ben Cowles for right-handed pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. He is currently rated by MLB Pipeline as the Cubs’ No. 18 prospect. Neris, 35, is 8-4 with 17 saves, three holds and a 3.89 ERA (19 ER/44.0 IP) in 46 appearances, all in relief, for the Cubs this season. The Cubs host the Detroit Tigers tonight at 7:05 p.m. at Wrigley Field in a game that can be seen on Marquee and heard on 670 The Score and, in Spanish, on WRTO 1200. Pic I took of our new pitcher Jack Neely @jackneely00 arriving at Wrigley Field today. @BleacherNation @crawlyscubs pic.twitter.com/JppSuKauAY
