Wieck (elbow) struck out one and walked one over a scoreless inning of relief Wednesday in the Cubs' 6-1 win over the Brewers in Cactus League play.
The appearance marked Wieck's spring debut and his first outing at any level since the 2021 season. The 32-year-old lefty reliever's 2021 campaign was cut short due to surgery to address an irregular heartbeat, but after getting a clean bill of health for spring training in 2022, he quickly developed an elbow strain that required Tommy John surgery months later. Wieck has made a full recovery from the procedure and will enter the 2024 campaign on the second season of the two-year minor-league deal he inked in January 2023. Though he holds a 3.77 ERA over 65 career relief appearances in the majors with the Padres and Cubs from 2018 through 2021, Wieck will likely need to string together several quality appearances at Triple-A Iowa to begin the 2024 campaign before he gets a look in the Chicago bullpen.
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Cubs' Brad Wieck: Rejoins North Siders
Rotowire
Wieck (elbow) agreed Wednesday with the Cubs on a two-year, minor-league contract, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Wieck will rejoin the Cubs after he missed the entire 2022 season due to a left elbow strain, an injury for which he later underwent Tommy John surgery in late July. Given the timeline associated with Tommy John procedures, Wieck is unlikely to be ready to begin a minor-league rehab assignment until late in the 2023 campaign, if at all, so the Cubs were keen on bringing him aboard on a two-year deal in order to get at least one fully healthy season out of him. The 31-year-old lefty was previously a weapon out of the big-league bullpen in 2021, when he allowed no runs over 17 innings and struck out 28 across 15 relief appearances for Chicago.
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Brad Wieck: Becomes free agent
Rotowire
Wieck (elbow) became a minor-league free agent Friday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Wieck is still recovering from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in July and is set to miss the vast majority of the 2023 season. He might have to near the end of his recovery process before teams come knocking on his door.
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Cubs' Brad Wieck: Sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
Wieck (elbow) was activated from the 60-day injured list, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Wieck missed the full 2022 campaign and underwent Tommy John surgery in July. The left-hander is set to sit out most, if not all, of 2023, so the Cubs won't carry him on the 40-man roster into the offseason.
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Cubs' Brad Wieck: Undergoes Tommy John surgery
Rotowire
Wieck (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Wieck has been on the injured list since mid-March due to a left elbow strain and will ultimately be sidelined for the rest of this season and most or all of the 2023 campaign. The procedure marks the second time he's undergone Tommy John surgery, as he also needed the surgery in 2011, per Montemurro. It's certainly a discouraging development for the left-hander, who turns 31 in October.
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Cubs' Brad Wieck: Cleared for all activity
Rotowire
Wieck (chest) was cleared for all baseball activity and is expected to be ready for spring training, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Wieck underwent surgery in late August to address his irregular heartbeat. He's made a full recovery and is currently working through a throwing program in Arizona to build back his arm strength. Prior to the surgery, Wieck had not allowed an earned run across 17 innings while striking out 28 in a relief role.
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Cubs' Brad Wieck: Surgery set for late August
Rotowire
Wieck will undergo surgery to address his irregular heartbeat Aug. 31.
Wieck underwent a similar procedure prior to the start of the 2020 season. While his recovery timeline is unclear, undergoing the procedure at the end of August doesn't leave him with much of a window to return this season.
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Cubs' Brad Wieck: Shifts to 60-day IL
Rotowire
Wieck (chest) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Friday.
It was announced earlier in the day Wieck will undergo an ablation procedure to address his irregular heartbeat, so it's not a major surprise to see him move to the long-term IL. The left-hander landed on the shelf July 9 and will be eligible to be activated during the second week of September, though it's unclear if he's expected to be available by that point.
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Cubs' Brad Wieck: Scheduled for procedure
Rotowire
Wieck will undergo an ablation procedure in the near future to address his irregular heartbeat, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Wieck underwent a similar procedure prior to last season. The Cubs have yet to provide a timeline for his return.
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Cubs' Brad Wieck: Lands on injured list
Rotowire
Wieck was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday due to an irregular heartbeat, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.
The Cubs will monitor Wieck's symptoms over the next couple weeks, so it's fair to say he won't be back after the minimum 10 days. The left-hander has dealt with similar issues in the past, and it's unclear how long he'll be sidelined.
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Cubs' Brad Wieck: Recalled by Cubs
Rotowire
Wieck was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, Russell Dorsey of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Wieck spent just under two weeks with the minor-league club and allowed six runs (four earned) on four hits and five walks while striking out five in 3.1 innings. He should serve mainly as a low-leverage reliever for the Cubs after right-hander Robert Stock was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.
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Cubs' Brad Wieck: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Wieck was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
Wieck has bounced on and off the edge of the Cubs' roster throughout the season, spending three separate stints in the big-league bullpen. He's yet to allow a run in eight innings of work, striking out nine while walking three. Cory Abbott was called up in a corresponding move.
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Cubs' Brad Wieck: Earns first hold
Rotowire
Wieck recorded two outs and earned a hold in Wednesday's win over the Padres.
The hold is the first of the season for Wieck, who has bounced between Triple-A and the majors. The lefty dealt with an irregular heartbeat and then a hamstring strain in 2020, which limited him to just a single inning at the MLB level. He does have good swing-and-miss stuff, so the southpaw could be a bullpen weapon for the Cubs if they keep him around.
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Cubs' Brad Wieck: Back in big leagues
Rotowire
Wieck was recalled by the Cubs on Friday, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
Wieck has spent a pair of brief stints in the big leagues this season, throwing two scoreless innings. Justin Steele (hamstring) landed on the injured list in a corresponding move.
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Cubs' Brad Wieck: Sent to minors
Rotowire
Wieck was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Russell Dorsey of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Wieck's latest stay on the active roster lasted just three days. He struck out a batter in a scoreless inning in his lone appearance. Dan Winkler (triceps) returned from the injured list in a corresponding move.
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Cubs' Brad Wieck: Called up by Cubs
Rotowire
Wieck was recalled by the Cubs on Tuesday.
Wieck spent a brief period on the active roster in mid-April but made just a single appearance. He owns a career 5.15 ERA in 43.2 major-league innings, so he'll likely be used in lower-leverage spots during his time with the team. Jake Marisnick (hamstring) landed on the injured list in a corresponding move.
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Cubs' Brad Wieck: Contributes to team no-hitter
Rotowire
Wieck pitched two scoreless, hitless innings Sunday for Triple-A Iowa in what ended up being a combined no-hitter. He struck out five.
Shelby Miller opened the game with three clean innings and five strikeouts of his own, and Wieck worked the seventh and eighth innings. The lefty has appeared in one game at the MLB level so far this season, though he could factor into the Cubs' bullpen plans later in the year. Wieck was limited by injuries in 2020 but logged 34.2 innings for Chicago in 2019 with 49 strikeouts.
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Cubs' Brad Wieck: Joins big-league bullpen
Rotowire
Wieck was recalled by the Cubs on Monday.
The Cubs are set for quite a bit of turnover in their bullpen Monday. Three pitchers landed on the COVID-19 injured list, with Wieck, Justin Steele and Pedro Strop set to replace them. Wieck owns an unimpressive 5.27 ERA in 42.2 major-league innings, so the Cubs would likely prefer to keep him out of high-leverage spots.
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Cubs' Brad Wieck: Sent to minors
Rotowire
Wieck was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Wieck was competing with Rex Brothers to be the second lefty reliever in the Chicago bullpen, but the former will at least start the season in the minors. It was a lost 2020 for Wieck, who tossed only one inning in the majors as he dealt with an irregular heartbeat diagnosis in camp and then a hamstring strain during the season. He'll look to use the time in the minors to prove he's healthy, and he could push for an MLB roster spot later in the year.
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Cubs' Brad Wieck: In mix for bullpen spot
Rotowire
Wieck could make the Cubs' Opening Day roster as a second left-handed reliever, Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
Wieck only logged one inning in 2020 as he dealt with an irregular heartbeat diagnosis in camp and then a hamstring strain during the season. He's reportedly healthy this spring and could give the Cubs a second left-handed option in the bullpen outside of Andrew Chafin. Rex Brothers is also in the mix as another lefty reliever. Wieck has only tossed three innings this spring, but he's done well with no runs allowed and five strikeouts.
