While the attention of essentially all Cubs fans on Wednesday was focused on the team’s fifth-ranked prospect, Jorge Soler, making his big league debut, several other roster moves were made, as well.
Watkins appeared in Wednesday’s contest, collecting a hit in a pinch-hitting appearance, later scoring a run on the two-run RBI double off the bat of Javier Baez. In five big league games this season, Watkins is hitting .364 with three RBIs. In 324 at-bats with Triple-A Iowa this season, the small infielder batted .256 with four long-balls and 38 RBIs to go along with his 23 stolen bases.
Justin Ruggiano has battled the injury bug ever since he tweaked his hamstring going after a fly ball down the right field line at Wrigley earlier this season. The 32-year-old former Marlins outfielder is headed back to the disabled list for an ankle issue, and is expected to see a specialist in the coming days. This season, Ruggiano has appeared in 81 games for Chicago, posting a respectable .281/.337/.429 batting line with six home runs and 28 RBIs.
Ryan Sweeney, a Cedar Rapids, Iowa native, is battling a hamstring issue of his own – thus prompting his trip to the 15-day DL. Working primarily in a platoon situation this season, the left-handed-swinging Sweeney is batting .251 with nine doubles for the Cubs.
In all likelihood, should their respective health situations improve over the next two weeks, both players could likely return to Chicago when rosters expand in September.