By LUKE MEREDITH

AP Sports Writer

DES MOINES — Shortly after his promotion to Triple-A, the Iowa Cubs pulled a fast one on pitcher Jeff Samardzija.

The I-Cubs hung a makeshift No. 83 jersey in Samardzija’s locker, hazing the new guy the only way they knew how. Though Samardzija had long traded in the navy and gold of Notre Dame football for blue pinstripes, even he had to laugh.

Samardzija knows that until he proves otherwise, he’ll always be that floppy-haired wide receiver who chose baseball over the NFL.

Samardzija, who signed a 5-year, $10-million contract with the Cubs in 2007 despite speculation that he could have been a first-round pick in the NFL Draft, made his debut for Iowa on June 24.

Samardzija is 1-1 with an ERA of 3.00 in two Triple-A starts.

‘‘They saw me playing every Saturday, but they didn’t see me playing every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in baseball.