The logjam in the double-A West Tenn rotation made by the acquisition of David Aardsma has been solved by the promotion of Rich Hill to triple-A Iowa. Hill has a 3.28 ERA in 57.2 innings this year and leads the Southern League with 90 strikeouts, while walking just 21.

In other minor league transaction news:

• As firedude notes, infielder Nate Frese has been promoted back to Iowa, apparently as a utility infielder. So much for Frese "need[ing] to play everyday," as Iowa manager Mike Quade had said when Frese was demoted to West Tenn at the beginning of May. Frese actually wasn't getting everyday playing time at West Tenn, as I had expected with Buck Coats playing shortstop there. In 14 games, Frese recorded 32 at-bats, and hit .375/.444/.625.

• Second baseman Richard Lewis, the 2004 Southern League MVP with West Tenn, is back at West Tenn after being briefly demoted all the way from Iowa to high-A Daytona. Lewis, playing everyday at Iowa, was hitting .188/.273/.234 in 128 at-bats before the demotion. The Cubs had certainly hoped that Lewis could challenge for the starting second baseman's job next year, so his struggles this year are a disappointment. Second base at West Tenn has been manned by Ryan Theriot, who is hitting .307/.388/.411, so it will be interesting what kind of playing time last year's league MVP gets.

• Iowa reliever Jermaine Van Buren was placed on the disabled list on May 27. Van Buren last pitched on May 24, earning the save after pitching a scoreless 9th. Van Buren has a 2.18 ERA in 20.2 innings this year, with a 28/11 K/BB ratio. He had a 1.87 ERA for West Tenn last year, in 53 innings. I have yet to see a report as to what necessitated his being placed on the disabled list.