Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber will begin play in the Arizona Fall League tonight, and The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma reports that there’s still a chance Schwarber could be activated in time to serve as a designated hitter should Chicago reach the World Series.
On April 7, in just his second game of the year, Schwarber tore both the ACL and LCL in his left knee after colliding with center fielder Dexter Fowler while chasing a fly ball. The injury was expected to sideline Schwarber until 2017, though he has been making good progress in his recovery, even taking part in an on-field workout at Dodger Stadium before Game 3 of the NLCS. Needless to say, it would be a shocking turn of events for Schwarber to return at all just 6.5 months removed from major knee surgery, let alone to make his return in the high-intensity environment of the Fall Classic.
Provided that the Cubs make the World Series in the first place, the team won’t have much time to evaluate Schwarber in the AFL given that Game One of the Series begins on Tuesday night in Cleveland. The plan would be to use Schwarber as a DH for the games in Cleveland and as a pinch-hitter for the games at Wrigley Field. ESPN Chicago’s Jesse Rogers reports (Twitter link) that Schwarber won’t be playing the field and “running [is] still an issue,” so it could be that Schwarber will be strictly a bat-only player. The Cubs have enough multi-position players that they could potentially get away with using a roster spot on a very limited Schwarber, so Joe Maddon will face a fascinating decision if things line up his team’s way come Tuesday.
The young slugger burst onto the scene in 2015 by hitting 16 homers over his first 273 plate appearances in the bigs, and he has already proven himself to be a big October performer. Schwarber hit .333/.419/.889 with five homers over 31 PA during Chicago’s 2015 playoff run, making him the leading home run hitter in Cubs’ postseason history.
I guess the real question is: do they think he can hit Andrew Miller?
He can
Ha
Right no one’s been able to hit Miller for three years but he can…..do you have a good team no need to get cocky
****You have a good team
If the options for DH are knowing what you’ll get from Heyward or Solar (essentially nothing) or maybe getting something from Schwarber, I’m rolling the dice with Schwarber of he’s healthy.
Agreed. Soler and Heyward are abysmal at the plate. At this point, I don’t think these guys could hit 16 inch softballs.
Can anyone?
Wow! If he’s ready that is incredible news. They better not rush him at risk of re-injury. I still think he will be the cubs’ best hitter when it’s all said and done.
If Schwarber comes back ready to play, that lineup would be unstoppable.
Not going to happen.
Is this move necessary or even intelligent? Why rush him? The Cubs are in good position regardless and activating a guy who hasn’t played in six months and is recovering from a serious injury isn’t the wisest thing to do.
Not going to have to worry about it they will choke and lose to Dodgers. Kershaw and Hill will take care of the Cubs
very funny, Cubs will be ready for Kershaw. no way the cubs blow this chance. they are the best team and I don’t see anybody stopping them
Nah Dodgers win tonight,
Na they are not, Kershaw will choke in this big game tonight like he did in 2013 and 2014 when it mattered most.
Would you like to revise your answer?
Choke for the win! Cubs win!!! Cubs win!! Hooooooly cow!!
Theo and Jed have done an amazing job so far. I won’t criticize the potential move unless it fails. Hindsight is 20/20
This is idiotic speculation by a reporter looking for headlines. He hasn’t seen MLB pitching is 7.5 months. They aren’t going to suddenly throw him onto the biggest stage in baseball.
They aren’t going to bring him back and take up a roster spot when he can’t play the field, and would’t anyway.
Schwarber was just activated onto their AFL team and the Cubs cleared a spot for him on their 40. If they make it, he’ll probably be on the roster.
Cubs release the Krackan!
Putting him on the 40 man roster means nothing. Kawasaki is on the 40 man. They had to either do that, or outright him to the minors.
Theo said last night on the field that his timing was off.
He’s not coming back this year.
This is real. May not happen, but the possibility is real. Dozens of reporters are saying the same thing, so back off on this one.
Agreed. This has been confirmed by every major sports media outlet, and the Cubs, as well.
Because major sports media outlets would never inflate a story to make headlines.
He’s not coming back this year.
Bringing him up specifically to face Andrew Miller
Wow….69 games and Schwarber is a legend in Chi town ready to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Let’s skip the playing and go right to the ceremony folks.
REALLY!!! Miller will eat this guy up.
Yes, my Kyle is already a legend. Miller may eat him up but not before he’s crapped out all the Cleveland starters.