Caleb Thielbar’s – Caleb Thielbar made his first rehab appearance Saturday for the South Bend Cubs, working a scoreless eighth against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. The Cubs carried a 19-run lead into his inning, winning 24-4, and Craig Counsell said Thielbar was expected back
Caleb Thielbar’s first rehab appearance came Saturday afternoon in Appleton, Wis., where the Cubs’ High-Class A affiliate, the South Bend Cubs, took on the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, who are in the Milwaukee Brewers’ system.
Thielbar, a left-handed reliever recovering from a strained left hamstring, entered in the eighth with the Cubs already holding a 19-run lead. He delivered a scoreless inning, allowing a single and a walk while striking out two. South Bend finished with a 24-4 win.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Thielbar was expected to rejoin the team Sunday. He added—half-joking—that Thielbar might instead choose to spend the night in Appleton for the “complimentary breakfast at the Best Western.”
At 39, Thielbar has a long professional path through relief work.. Originally drafted by the Brewers in the 18th round in 2009. he spent the 2010 season with the Timber Rattlers as a 23-year-old.. Across 10 seasons in the big leagues—his first eight with the Twins and the last two with the Cubs—he has never made a start.. This season. he has been used heavily in the bullpen: in eight appearances for the Cubs. Thielbar posted two saves in the absence of the injured Daniel Palencia and was credited with two wins.
The roster situation also remains in view.. Thielbar signed a one-year deal for $4.5 million with the Cubs. and he “almost certainly will be activated” for the Brewers’ series that starts Monday.. If the Cubs decide to keep just two lefties in the pen. Ryan Rolison appears the most likely to be optioned.
The rehab outing landed in the middle of another baseball beat that has been moving under the surface for the Cubs: their recent power production.. They did not hit a home run Friday. and they have hit just two home runs in their last six games. with Alex Bregman and Ian Happ going deep in Atlanta.. The Cubs are 5-8 in games in which they do not homer, and 36-11 when they do.
Rate Field has produced big moments in fewer numbers: the most home runs the Cubs have hit in a game at their ballpark is five, achieved twice. The last time was Sept. 25, 2020, when Willson Contrera hit two, and Kyle Schwarber, Javier Baez and Vic Caratini each hit one.
On the other side, Cubs pitching has also had to deal with home-run bursts.. In Friday night’s game, opponents hit three homers—the sixth time this season it has happened.. White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery took Edwin Cabrera deep for his 12th home run in the second inning; Miguel Vargas took Rolison deep in the sixth for his 10th home run; and Jarred Kelenic hit his first of the season off Javier Assad in the ninth.. All three home runs came with the bases empty.
During Saturday’s conversation, Counsell also reached back to the clubhouse humor that often follows a long season. He told a story from when he was with Arizona about a cook famous for the chili served in a visiting clubhouse. Counsell said it was “good,” and “that’s what everybody ate, the chili.”
The players, though, suspected cleanliness wasn’t the cook’s top priority.. Before leaving town—knowing they would be back two weeks later—one player dropped a golf ball in the pot.. When the team returned, Counsell said, the golf ball was still there.. After that. the cook placed the golf ball on top of a chili bowl. and Counsell said it became known as “Golf Ball Chili.”
Caleb Thielbar Cubs rehab assignment South Bend Cubs Wisconsin Timber Rattlers strained left hamstring Craig Counsell Daniel Palencia Ryan Rolison Best Western breakfast home runs Rate Field