Cubs activate Hoerner, Thompson DFA longtime Cub Maples originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
MILWAUKEE — A series of pregame moves Sunday in Milwaukee put rookie Keegan Thompson on the mound as the starter against the Brewers in the teams’ season-series finale and jettisoned command-challenged reliever Dillon Maples from the organization after a decade with the Cubs.
Thompson (shoulder inflammation) missed 16 days on the injured list. He takes fill-in Adrian Sampson’s place in the rotation with Sunday’s activation.
Maples, a 14th-round pick in 2011 who signed for an over-slot bonus of $2.5 million, was designated for assignment despite a 2.59 ERA in 28 games this season — because of a propensity for walks (7.2 per nine innings), hit batters (eight) and occasional hard contact (1.277 WHIP).
If nobody claims him, Maples, 29, could return to the Cubs as a non-roster minor-leaguer.
In other moves Sunday, the Cubs activated Nico Hoerner (oblique) from the injured lIst and put him in the lineup at shortstop.
Outfielder Nick Martini was optioned to Triple-A Iowa to make room.
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