Cubs Place Miguel Montero On 15-Day DL

(CBS) The Cubs have placed starting catcher Miguel Montero on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left thumb, they announced Friday afternoon.

Montero suffered the injury in a loss to the White Sox last Saturday, with the team initially calling it a jammed left thumb. Montero was scheduled to see a hand specialist Friday, and the injury is likely to keep him out for longer than the minimum DL stint, with some reports indicating he could be shelved for up to six weeks. In Montero's place, the Cubs called up 2014 first-round pick Kyle Schwarber from Triple-A Iowa, news that initially broke Thursday. He'll catch right-hander Kyle Hendricks and bat second Friday night when Chicago plays at Atlanta.

Chicago is keeping Taylor Teagarden and David Ross on the active roster, so it will carry three catchers on the roster for the time being, like it did earlier in the season. The 22-year-old Schwarber could possibly play a corner outfield spot, which he's done in the past, though not this season in the minors. In a six-game big league in June serving primarily as a designated hitter in interleague road games, Schwarber hit .364 with one homer and six RBIs.

In 17 games at Triple-A, Schwarber was hitting .333 with three homers and 10 RBIs. His catching skills are considered a work in progress and have some believing his long-term position in the majors is elsewhere.

At Double-A Tennessee earlier this season, Schwarber hit .320 with 13 homers, 39 RBIs and a 1.017 OPS in 58 games. On Sunday, he was named the MVP of the Futures Game in Cincinnati after hitting a two-run triple.

Montero was hitting .230 with 10 homers and 32 RBIs in 73 games this season.