Shelby Miller’s rehab appearances for the Iowa Cubs have been absolutely electric this past month, and he is about to force some seriously tough decisions on the pitching staff way sooner than anyone expected. This guy was supposed to miss all of 2026 after elbow surgery, but he’s defying all odds.
The Ayers Situation (Sort Of)
First, a quick update from the other side of the roster: last night, the question was if top catching prospect Owen Ayers should make his big league debut when rosters expand on September 1. Turns out, 74 percent of you said “no,” and it looks like the front office agrees. The Cubs just signed free agent catcher Austin Wynns today, who the Rangers designated for assignment last week. Wynns gives Iowa a second catcher, so they could still call up Ayers, or they could just bring up Wynns for a third catcher on the big league squad. But that’s child’s play compared to the pitching staff’s headaches.
The Bullpen’s Imminent Shake-Up
The Cubs bullpen right now is rolling with Aaron Civale, Daniel Palencia, Colin Rea, Ryan Rolison, Caleb Thielbar, Trent Thornton, Jacob Webb, and Ryan Zeferjahn. But buckle up, because lefty Hoby Milner is coming off his rehab assignment and *has* to be activated by this weekend. Everyone’s already buzzing about who Milner might replace, with Caleb Thielbar’s name popping up a lot. Here’s the kicker: Palencia, Rolison, and Zeferjahn still have minor league options. Sending one of them down means they can’t come back up for fifteen days unless there’s an injury, and let’s be real, you can always find an injury on a pitching staff.
So, assume Milner is activated on Friday. Someone’s getting released or sent down for that 15-day stint. But the real game-changer? Shelby Miller. We signed him last winter to a two-year deal after elbow surgery, fully expecting him to miss *all* of 2026 and only pitch for us in 2027. Yet, his rehab has been shockingly ahead of schedule. He’s made six rehab appearances,five for Iowa, one for Double-A Knoxville,and he’s been “terrific.”
So, who gets called up on Tuesday when rosters expand? Shelby Miller is suddenly a massive possibility. The front office has some wild juggling ahead, with Milner coming back and Miller forcing his way into the conversation. Get ready for some serious roster moves, because things are about to get interesting.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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