Justin Grimm joins Iowa Cubs on big league rehab assignment

Right-handed reliever Justin Grimm joined the Chicago Cubs’ Triple-A affiliate, the Iowa Cubs, on their current road-trip on Monday as he’s set to begin his rehabilitation assignment as he works his way back from injury.

In his first game on the I-Cubs’ roster, he struck out two in an inning of work against Nashville – a promising sign given how the year began for him.

The hard-throwing 26-year-old hasn’t appeared in a big league game this season after being placed on the 15-day disabled list on April 10, retroactive to April 2 with what was labeled as “right forearm tightness.”

This spring, Grimm appeared in half-a-dozen Cactus League games for Chicago, but struggled, allowing five earned runs in just 5 2/3 innings of work, while walking three and striking out five.

Last season, the righty appeared in a career-high 73 games, finishing 19 en route to a 5-2 record and 3.78 ERA. He also averaged more than nine punchouts per nine for the first time in his career in 2014.

Grimm was acquired from the Texas Rangers back in July 2013 as part of the now seemingly-lopsided trade that sent Matt Garza to the Lone Star State in exchange for Grimm, Mike Olt, C.J. Edwards and Neil Ramirez – a deal that has already begun to pay dividends for Chicago.

In a corresponding move, Iowa left-hander Joe Ortiz was designated for assignment. The southpaw is 0-1 with a 3.38 earned run average across eight relief appearances this season for the Cubs.

Grimm will likely shore up the big league bullpen at some point early this season, but, for now joins fellow rehabbers Tsuyoshi Wada and Dallas Braden with the Triple-A club.

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