Cubs call up prospects Morel, Hughes Tuesday vs. Pirates originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
As expected, fans at Wrigley Field will get their first look at a touted Cubs hitting prospect.
Not quite as expected, it will be Christopher Morel, a versatile outfielder who was signed originally as a shortstop, joining the roster Tuesday for an eventual major-league debut after getting called up from Double-A Tennessee.
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It's one of two promotions from the minors Tuesday for the Cubs, with left-hander Brandon Hughes joining the the team from Triple-A Iowa.
In corresponding moves, left-hander Conner Menez was optioned back to the minors, and Jason Heyward was put on the COVID-19-related injured list.
Morel, 22, is off to a .306 start this season at Tennessee with seven homers and a .945 OPS in 28 games, mostly in centerfield with six starts at shortstop and four at third base.
He has been considered one of the Cubs' more promising hitting prospects in recent seasons even as the organization's top prospect, Brennen Davis, has received most of the notoriety. Davis has struggled this year with a slow start at Triple-A Iowa and last week went on the injured list with a lower-back issue.
Hughes, 26, has made 10 relief appearances for Iowa without allowing a run, striking out 22 in 16 2/3 innings.
Hughes was drafted by the Cubs as an outfielder in the 16th round of the 2017 draft before converting to a pitcher after the 2018 season.
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