Johnson Latest to Land on DL

CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today placed outfielder Reed Johnson on the 15-day disabled list with a left foot fracture. To replace Johnson on the roster, the Cubs recalled right-handed pitcher Jeff Stevens from Triple-A Iowa.

Stevens is available for this afternoon’s game against the Houston Astros at Wrigley Field.

Johnson suffered the injury yesterday when he fouled a ball off his foot in the first inning. He is batting .252 (37-for-147) with four home runs and 20 RBI in 59 games with the Cubs this season. This is Johnson’s second stint on the disabled list this season; he was on the disabled list from June 25 (retro to June 21) until July 6 with lower back spasms.

The 25-year-old Stevens has no record and a 2.84 ERA (2 ER/6.1 IP) in five relief appearances for the Cubs this season. He is limiting opponents to a .095 batting average against (2-for-21), as left-handed batters have gone hitless in nine at-bats and right-handed hitters are just 2-for-12 (.167). He did not allow a run in his first 5.2 innings pitched before being charged with a pair of runs Tuesday night against the Astros. He was originally recalled from Triple-A Iowa on July 10 before being optioned back to Triple-A yesterday.

Stevens is 0-3 with two saves and a 2.18 ERA (10 ER/41.1 IP) in 30 relief appearances for Iowa this season. He has limited opponents to a .171 batting average, including a .157 mark by right-handed hitters and a .205 mark by left-handed hitters. Stevens has struck out 43 batters in 41.1 innings, an average of 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings. He has allowed only one home run in 41.1 innings.

Acquired from Cleveland with two additional pitching prospects for Mark DeRosa last December 31, Stevens is 24-21 with 11 saves and a 3.36 ERA (132 ER/353.1 IP) in 158 minor league appearances (29 starts). Since pitching exclusively in relief starting in 2007, Stevens has posted a 2.80 ERA (57 ER/183.0 IP) in 115 minor league appearances. He has struck out 226 batters in 183.0 innings, an average of 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings.