Cubs promote C Kyle Schwarber from Double-A to be DH

CHICAGO (AP) The Chicago Cubs promoted touted prospect Kyle Schwarber from Double-A Tennessee for what figures to be a brief stay in the majors.

Schwarber was available for Tuesday night's game against Cleveland and will serve as the designated hitter when the Cubs spend the next five days in American League ballparks.

''I'm just gonna stick with my approach and see what happens,'' he said. ''It's the same game that you've been playing for however many years, just at a different level. I wanna try to stick with my same approach when I'm up at the plate whenever I do get that opportunity. It's gonna be fun.''

The 22-year-old was selected by the Cubs with the fourth overall pick in last year's draft. The catcher hit .320 with 13 homers and 39 RBIs in 58 games with Tennessee.

The Cubs plan to send Schwarber to Triple-A Iowa for more seasoning after the run of games at Cleveland and Minnesota. He joins infielders Kris Bryant and Addison Russell as the latest prized prospects to debut this season for a rising team that is moving on after five consecutive losing seasons. The Cubs entered Tuesday's game third in the NL Central at 34-27.

''It's the perfect pit stop for him on the way to Triple-A,'' president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said.

Asked if he has ever promoted a player this way, Epstein said, ''Yes, I have jumped a player from Double-A to the majors.''

But on the way to Triple-A?

''It turned out to be on the way to Triple-A,'' Epstein said, laughing.

The Cubs want Schwarber to continue to develop behind the plate and don't plan to use him in the outfield, although Epstein said they might late in the season if he has ''caught enough'' for the season.

''You have to remember, he hasn't caught many games,'' he added.

Reliever Brian Schlitter was optioned to Iowa to make room on the roster. Schlitter is 1-2 with a 7.36 ERA in 10 appearances for the Cubs this year.