Chicago Cubs News: Keegan Thompson recalled Triple-A

The Chicago Cubs are adding reinforcements to their bullpen and it is coming in the form of a reliever that was viewed as the most important pitcher out of their bullpen at the start of the season.

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Keegan Thompson is with the team in Pittsburgh and will be available out of the bullpen tonight when the team starts a four-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

At the start of the season, Thompson was perhaps the most important weapon that the Cubs had in their bullpen with the idea being that he would serve as the bullpen ace.

Thompson struggled at the start of the season and posted a 4.22 ERA in 15 appearances at the start of the season. Thompson was not missing bats as his strikeout percentage dipped to 17.6 percent this season and it was one of the main reasons why he was demoted to Triple-A Iowa after the first month of the season.

Thompson has had a rocky season with the Iowa Cubs. An injury has limited Thompson to 16 appearances with the I-Cubs and he has pitched to the tune of a 9.36 ERA.

Thompson, however, has shown some improvement over the course of his last four appearances with Iowa. Thompson has pitched at least 2 innings in each of those appearances while only allowing 2 earned runs and striking out 8.

To be clear, there is nothing to suggest that Thompson has regained his 2022 form. Thompson posted a 1.47 ERA as a reliever out of the Cubs' bullpen last season.

It also remains unclear if Thompson's promotion to the Major League level will be for the remainder of the season. It likely will depend on what version of Thompson. If Thompson has made adjustments and is back to the version of himself that is capable of being the team's bullpen ace, that would be a major development for the remainder of the season for the Cubs.

More Chicago Cubs News