Watching Alex Bregman get hit with a foul ball Sunday — and seeing the photos he posted of the damage done to his face — it seemed like the Cubs might be in for a nightmare scenario:
Being without their second best hitter as they attempt a deep playoff run.
But by Tuesday, the news on Bregman was relatively good.
The Cubs aren’t going to put their star third baseman, who suffered multiple facial fractures and is dealing with significant swelling in his face, on the injured list. It’s possible he could be back in action before the end of the regular season later this week.
“All things considered, we feel like he’s really lucky,” manager Craig Counsell said before Tuesday’s game. “He’s got multiple fractures in his left cheek area. None of them are to the point where the doctors deem surgery necessary or needed. And so he really is at a point where he can progress as tolerated.”
Bregman’s not dealing with nothing, as anyone who gets a look at him can tell.
But the guess was that things were going to be much, much worse for the Cubs.
Instead, they seem prepared to have Bregman at their disposal for the playoffs, which is why they inked him to a $175 million free-agent deal last offseason, bringing in one of the most accomplished players in postseason history to help them win a championship.
“Clearly, when everything was going down on Sunday afternoon, we all thought the worst-case [scenario] might be a possibility,” team president Jed Hoyer said, “and all the news since then has been really good.
“We have to take it one step at a time. We have to see how he’s doing when he’s moving around and active. But he’s in great spirits. … We just have to let him go through the steps a little bit here, but it’s been great news so far.”
What are those steps?
Bregman will continue to increase his workload from where it was Tuesday, when he did a light workout in the weight room and tracked pitches. Cubs brass pointed to the need for Bregman to start moving, taking ground balls and running – and do it all comfortably enough to get back in action.
But this is Bregman, lauded for his “relentless” work ethic. The Cubs expect nothing less than full dedication to make it back with critical games remaining.
“He doesn’t look great, that’s for sure,” Hoyer joked. “No one loves to play more than him. I can say that with no equivocation. I’ve never had a player that loves baseball as much as he does. He just wants to play all the time.
“Right away, when we first heard from him afterwards, [he said] he’s going to try to find a way to do it.”
The Cubs started the regular season’s final week tied atop the NL wild-card standings with the Padres and a game ahead of the Phillies, so there’s still a lot to play for in their last few games. They could land anywhere in those three wild-card spots, with four possible destinations for an opening-round, best-of-three series: Chicago, Philadelphia, San Diego and Atlanta.
Their preference is to play hosts at Wrigley Field, and Bregman would be helpful in attempting to secure that outcome. After MVP favorite Pete Crow-Armstrong, Bregman has been the team’s next best hitter, with an OPS north of 1.000 and nearly 20 homers in his last 61 games, while also playing Gold Glove caliber defense at third base.
The Cubs have faith in the fill-in ability of reserve infielder Pedro Ramirez – who started at third Tuesday – and utility man Matt Shaw, but a lineup without Bregman is one missing a key element.
But the vibe Tuesday was that any worries the Cubs would be operating at that deficit against playoff competition were unwarranted, with Bregman seemingly in the team’s October plans.
“I think Alex is going to be fine, I really do,” Counsell said. “The guy, he’s driving home from Cincinnati and he wants to play. He’s planning on playing.
“As long as symptoms don’t increase or happen as he increases activity, I think you’re going to see him play.”
