Cubs put David Ross on 7-day DL with concussion

BY SETH GRUEN

For the Sun-Times

Having dealt with concussions before, catcher David Ross didn’t want to risk aggravating mild symptoms. So on Saturday, the Cubs put him on the seven-day disabled list with a mild concussion retroactive to Thursday.

In a corresponding move, they called up catcher Taylor Teagarden from Class AAA Iowa.

Ross was hit by a foul ball in the mask Wednesday against the New York Mets and experienced a “three-day headache.”

He said he has had two concussions in his career, including one in 2013, when he tried to rush back and ultimately was out for about two months.

“I definitely don’t want to go through that again,” Ross said. “And now going through that, I recognize the symptoms that come up — the irritability, the headaches, the fatigue.

“I felt a little bit of those symptoms coming in. So I talked to the doc yesterday. Did pretty good on all my tests, but I think the seven-day DL gives me a chance to take a step back and make sure everything is all right.’’

Ross is the personal catcher for ace Jon Lester, whose next start is Monday against the St.  Louis Cardinals. Miguel Montero figures to catch.

“I know that Miggy and Jon have been talking,” manager Joe Maddon said. “I know David is going to be very helpful in talking to Miggy about the moment. I don’t feel badly or negatively about it. It’s going to be fine. And it could be something . . . just in case something else were to happen [to Ross].

“Or when you get to the playoffs, you might want to do something differently.”

Timely trade

Left-hander Clayton Richard, whom the Cubs acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday for cash considerations, might be the kind of guy who thrives in last-minute situations, such as the one he found himself in Saturday.

Richard, who has great control, went 61⁄3 innings and gave up two runs and eight hits.

This and that

To make room for Richard and Teagarden on the 40-man roster, the Cubs put infielder Tommy La Stella on the 60-day disabled list and designated Gonzalez Germen for assignment.

– Injured right fielder Jorge Soler, who went on the 15-day disabled list June 3 with a sprained left ankle, is expected to rejoin the Cubs on Sunday.

– Richard was the 2,000th player to appear in a game for the Cubs.