Trent Thornton Reaches Cubs Roster After Triple-A Return

trent thornton is back on a major-league roster. The Cubs selected his contract from Triple-A Iowa on Monday, adding the 32-year-old right-hander to their 26-man roster as they shuffled pitching depth around Matthew Boyd’s injury and a possible rotation adjustment.

Thornton’s route back was not a straight line. He underwent surgery in August to repair a torn left Achilles tendon, then was activated from Iowa’s 7-day injured list in late April before working his way into four Triple-A games.

Thornton’s Triple-A line

In those four games, Thornton allowed two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out five across 5.2 innings. That gave the Cubs enough recent work to make the move on Monday, and it came with Charlie Barnes designated for assignment.

The numbers point to a pitcher who had to show he could handle game action again after the Achilles repair, and he did that in a short run at Iowa. The stint was small, but it ended with a promotion instead of another stay on the Triple-A side.

Cubs shuffle the staff

Boyd was placed on the 15-day injured list and was slated to undergo surgery to repair a meniscus injury in his left knee. Thornton’s addition to the 26-man roster fits into that larger shuffle, with Ben Brown or Javier Assad potential candidates to move from the bullpen to the rotation until Jordan Hicks is activated from the 15-day injured list.

For the Cubs, Monday changed the mix on the pitching staff rather than just one roster spot. Thornton gives them a right-handed arm back in the middle of a moving picture, and the next decisions will determine whether Brown or Assad stays in relief while Hicks moves back into the group.