OAKLAND -- The Chicago Cubs activated outfielder Jorge Soler from the disabled list and designated relief pitcher Joe Nathan for assignment on Friday.
Soler, 24, batted sixth and played designated hitter in his first game since June 6, a 7-2 win over the Oakland Athletics.
In his first at-bat, he hit a three-run home run in the first inning. Soler also reached on a fielder's choice and scored on Javier Baez's double in the third.
Soler injured his hamstring two months ago, which continued his yearly trend of spending time on the disabled list because of leg problems. Soler split his rehab time between Double-A and Triple-A and hit .162, which led manager Joe Maddon to indicate that Soler needed to work on his timing before he was recalled.
The team changed course this weekend, knowing that it could install Soler in the DH role and admitting that an extended stay in the minors wasn't energizing him.
"I think you're going to see better," Maddon said Friday afternoon. "I've seen that with guys that have to go back to Triple-A for an extended period of time. ... I'm not saying it's right or wrong, it just happens."
Maddon said there are no "restrictions" on Soler, who will be watched carefully as he restarts his season. He had five home runs and a .223 batting average in 130 at-bats in the first part of this season.
"I want to see how he responds to all this," Maddon said.
Nathan, 41, returned this season after having his second major elbow surgery and was signed by the Cubs in May, well before they added lefties Mike Montgomery and Aroldis Chapman via trades. The Cubs didn't have time to bring Nathan along as they begin their pennant push.
"He needed more time," Maddon said. "We had so many other people to get involved. It just didn't work out immediately in a sense."
The Cubs want to bring second baseman Tommy La Stella back from the minors, though he was given "personal time" after being optioned last weekend.
"He's taking batting practice, staying active," Maddon said of La Stella. "We're trying to get him back up here. It's not clear-cut.
"We have so many tough decisions to make. ... I'm not bemoaning anything."
This is the first time in a long time that the Cubs have had a healthy roster.