Cubs Recall Lefty Charlie Barnes, Place Hunter Harvey on IL

The 30-year-old Barnes has MLB experience and spent the last four years pitching in the KBO.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 3:50pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball pitcher's throwing motion broken down into overlapping geometric shapes and planes, using the vibrant colors of the Chicago Cubs' uniform.The Cubs' bullpen continues to evolve as the team navigates early-season roster moves and injury concerns.Chicago Today

The Chicago Cubs have recalled left-handed pitcher Charlie Barnes from their Triple-A affiliate in Iowa and placed right-hander Hunter Harvey on the 15-day injured list with right triceps inflammation. Barnes, who signed a minor-league deal with the Cubs in January, has nine games of MLB experience with the Minnesota Twins in 2021 and spent the last four seasons pitching in the KBO league in South Korea.

Why it matters

The Cubs' bullpen has been an area of concern early in the season, so the addition of the veteran Barnes provides another left-handed option for manager David Ross. Harvey's injury is also notable, as he was expected to play a key role in the Cubs' relief corps this year.

The details

Barnes, 30, was assigned to the Cubs' Triple-A team in Iowa after making two scoreless appearances in Spring Training. In three games at Iowa this season, he has posted a 2.38 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 11.1 innings. The Cubs have added Barnes to their 40-man roster, filling the open spot created by the recent DFA of outfielder Dylan Carlson.

  • The Cubs recalled Barnes from Triple-A Iowa on April 12, 2026.
  • The Cubs placed Hunter Harvey on the 15-day injured list on April 12, 2026 with right triceps inflammation.

The players

Charlie Barnes

A 30-year-old left-handed pitcher who signed a minor-league deal with the Cubs in January 2026 after spending the last four seasons pitching in the KBO league in South Korea. He has nine games of MLB experience with the Minnesota Twins in 2021.

Hunter Harvey

A right-handed relief pitcher for the Chicago Cubs who was placed on the 15-day injured list on April 12, 2026 with right triceps inflammation.

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What they’re saying

“Barnes provides another left-handed option for the bullpen, which has been an area of concern early in the season.”

— David Ross, Cubs Manager

What’s next

The Cubs will monitor Hunter Harvey's recovery from his triceps injury and determine a timeline for his return to the active roster. In the meantime, Charlie Barnes will look to earn a more permanent role in the Cubs' bullpen.

The takeaway

The addition of Charlie Barnes and the injury to Hunter Harvey highlight the ongoing roster shuffling and depth challenges the Cubs face in building a reliable bullpen early in the 2026 season.