Hoffpauir Odd Man Out as Cubs Activate Soto

DENVER - The Chicago Cubs today activated catcher Geovany Soto from the 15-day disabled list. To make room for Soto on the roster, the Cubs optioned infielder/outfielder Micah Hoffpauir to Triple-A Iowa.

Soto is batting .230 (50-for-217) with 10 doubles, eight home runs, 27 RBI and a .336 on-base percentage in 69 games with the Cubs this season. He was batting .281 (18-for-64) with six doubles, five home runs, 12 RBI and a 1.009 OPS (.368 on-base percentage, .641 slugging) in his last 20 games starting June 14 before landing on the disabled list on July 11 with a left oblique strain.

The 26-year-old Soto batted .333 (4-for-12) with one double, two home runs and six RBI in four rehab games with the Rookie-level Arizona Cubs (one game) and Double-A Tennessee (three games). He hit a home run in each of his last two contests Tuesday and Wednesday vs. Carolina.

The reigning National League Rookie of the Year, Soto is a career .274 hitter (217-for-791) with 34 home runs and 123 RBI in 240 major league games. He batted .285 (141-for-494) with 35 doubles, 23 home runs and 86 RBI en route to earning top rookie honors last season.

Hoffpauir is batting .233 (42-for-180) with eight home runs and 25 RBI in 81 games with the Cubs this season.