Cubs send Kyle Schwarber to play in Arizona Fall League
Cubs outfielder-slash-catcher Kyle Schwarber was added to the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League on Saturday, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Schwarber will be a taxi squad player, which makes him eligible to play only on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The Tribune reports he’s expected to play on Saturday night for the first time since tearing his ACL and LCL in an outfield collision on April 7.
This suggests Schwarber, 23, is estimably ahead of schedule in his recovery, and likely on track to return ahead of next season. The team had “explored the possibility” of him playing winter ball as the final step. The Cubs’ front office has established that Schwarber will not play this season.
With the team in position to advance to the World Series with a 3–2 series lead on the Dodgers, it is technically possible that Schwarber could come off the disabled list and return should the Cubs get there, conceivably as a designated hitter. Given Chicago’s public stance on the matter, the scenario remains unlikely.
Schwarber hit .246 with 16 home runs as a rookie and had a strong showing in the 2015 post-season, batting .333 with five home runs in nine games.