Iowa
Chicago Cubs option reliever José Cuas and recall Keegan Thompson from Triple-A Iowa ahead of Seattle Mariners series
SEATTLE — Chicago Cubs reliever José Cuas hadn’t been fooling many hitters this season.
Since tossing 1 1/3 shutout innings with two strikeouts March 30 in Arlington, Texas, Cuas wasn’t effective. He surrendered at least one run in each of his last four appearances, giving up eight runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings. Cuas also allowed both inherited runners to score and hit three batters.
The Cubs optioned Cuas to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday’s off day and recalled Keegan Thompson from Iowa before Friday’s series opener against the Seattle Mariners. Manager Craig Counsell cited Cuas’ predictability as a focal point he will need to work on in Triple A. It comes down to being more confident in the pitch he throws.
“He worked really hard to add the slider and then what happens is you get into the heat of the battle and you kind of go back to what’s comfortable and the hitters kind of made him pay for that essentially as outings kept stacking up a little bit,” Counsell said Friday. “These hitters are really good. They need to have doubt in their head and José needs to create that doubt. When he does he gets people out.”
Thompson, 29, had pitched well in his last three appearances for Iowa after getting roughed up in his season debut. He has given up only one hit in five shutout innings since then with two walks and six strikeouts.
“Clearly he has experience here in the big leagues, so it’s doing what he does well,” Counsell said.
Following Monday’s ugly outing he when was tagged for four hits and four runs in one-third of an inning en route to the Cubs blowing an eight-run lead to the San Diego Padres, Cuas said he has been attacking the strike zone and feels his slider is there.
“My four-seam (fastball) is up in the zone as opposed to middle, my sinker I’m locating it on the corners instead of middle, things like that — I just have to get back to watching some film, seeing where I’m missing and making those adjustments,” Cuas said Monday.
The Cubs acquired Cuas, 29, at the trade deadline last year from the Kansas City Royals for outfielder Nelson Velázquez. Cuas was valuable in a worn-down bullpen the last two months, posting a 3.04 ERA in 27 games.
Cubs vs Diamondbacks John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune
Cubs reliever Keegan Thompson delivers against the Diamondbacks on Sept. 7, 2023, at Wrigley Field. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Their bullpen depth is being tested with right-hander Julian Merryweather sidelined on the injured list and right-handers Javier Assad and Ben Brown shifting into the rotation because of injuries to Justin Steele (left hamstring strain) and Jameson Taillon (back strain). Taillon threw 3 2/3 shutout innings Friday night in his second rehab start and first with Iowa. He gave up three walks, one walk and struck out four batters on 68 pitches (46 strikes).
As for whether Taillon could come off the IL if his start went well, Counsell replied, “I’d like to solve the ‘if.’”
“I think (Saturday) is a good time for that question,” he said. “Let’s see how everything goes (Friday) with our team and Jameson’s start.”
Steele threw off a mound in San Diego and will repeat that during the Cubs’ series next week in Arizona as he keeps ramping up the intensity.
“We’re moving forward,” Counsell said. “We’re a little over 15 days or 16 days into this, so we’ve got a ways to go here still, but we’re making progress.”
An Iowa women’s basketball transfer portal visitor committed to one of the Hawkeyes’ conference foes instead. Former Iowa State guard Kenzie Hare took a visit to Iowa during her transfer portal recruitment, but the 5-foot-9 guard committed to Indiana on Sunday night.
Hare had several visits throughout her transfer portal recruiting process, including trips to Michigan and Illinois State, but the Des Moines Register’s Chad Leistikow reported that Hare also visited Iowa.
On3’s Talia Goodman reported Hare’s commitment to the Hoosiers.
Hare has one year of eligibility remaining. This past season with the Cyclones, in 32 games played and 31 starts, Hare averaged 6.0 points and 2.5 rebounds per game on 40.5% field goal shooting and 40% from 3-point range. A hip injury limited Hare to just 10 games during her first year with the Cyclones in the 2024-25 season.
The soon-to-be redshirt senior transferred to Iowa State before the 2024-25 campaign after spending two seasons at Marquette from 2022-24. Hare averaged a career-best 14 points per game on 45.5% field goal shooting and 42.5% 3-point shooting during the 2023-24 season with the Golden Eagles.
Had Iowa been able to lure the Naperville, Ill., native to Iowa City, Hare would have been another valuable addition to the Hawkeyes’ backcourt depth. But, Iowa has landed other backcourt reinforcements throughout this transfer portal cycle.
The Hawkeyes inked both Dani Carnegie and Amari Whiting.
Carnegie was a first-team All-SEC selection this past season at Georgia, averaging 17.8 points per game on 42.7% field goal shooting, 35.4% from 3-point range and 83.3% from the free-throw line. Whiting averaged 9.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game on 42.5% field goal shooting, 32.1% 3-point accuracy, and 71.6% free-throw shooting.
As Hare joins a promising core of players in Bloomington, the Hawkeyes will once again face the former Cyclone at least once this upcoming season as part of their Big Ten regular-season slate.
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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Senator Chuck Grassley said he’s recovering from a gallstone removal procedure.
His media team shared that he is working in Iowa “in good spirits and looks forward to returning to Washington soon.”
“I’m gr8ful [sic] for the excellent care from local health care providers,” he shared on X.
Over the weekend in Iowa I had a procedure to remove gallstones I’m gr8ful for the excellent care from local health care providers Be back to capitol ASAP
— Chuck Grassley (@ChuckGrassley) April 20, 2026
Grassley, 92, is the oldest senator currently in office and the sixth-longest-serving senator in U.S. history.
The Senate is in session this week.
Copyright 2026 KCRG. All rights reserved.
Former Iowa State center Audi Crooks has committed to Oklahoma State via the NCAA Transfer Portal. She has one season of eligibility remaining.
Crooks made 99 appearances and 95 starts during her three seasons at Iowa State. She averaged 25.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game this past season, while shooting 64.9% from the field. Additionally, the 6-foot-3 star shot 1-11 from 3-point range.
Crooks played a leading role for the Cyclones from the moment she stepped on campus. She is a three-time All-Big 12 First-Team selection and two-time All-American. On April 2, Crooks announced her intention to enter the transfer portal.
“Cyclone Nation, thank you all for embracing me and showing up to Hilton every single game day. I’ve met so many of you out in the community, and I will cherish all of the genuine connections that I’ve built during my time at Iowa State,” Crooks wrote. “Words cannot fully express how grateful I feel to have called this place home.
“I want to thank my teammates for their friendship and all the great memories. … I still believe the grass is greener where you water it, and I’ve done that here.”
Now, Audi Crooks will aim to thrive in her new environment. Oklahoma finished the 2025-26 season with a 24-10 overall record.
The NCAA Transfer Portal officially opened on April 6 and closes on April 20. The new 15-day window was enacted following a recommendation by the women’s basketball oversight committee. Athletes don’t have to commit to a new school by the April 21 deadline.
To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.
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