Hope can be a dangerous drug in baseball, especially when a player takes a hard hit to the face. The Chicago Cubs are betting the farm that Alex Bregman recovers from a nasty foul ball injury just in time for the playoffs. It’s a high-wire act that could define their entire season, and frankly, the margin for error is razor-thin.
The Good News on Bregman’s Recovery
Manager Craig Counsell says Bregman is moving around and even worked out on Tuesday, which is a massive relief after he suffered multiple cheek fractures on Sunday. Counsell told reporters that the player is “completely himself” and can’t sit still. “All things considered, he’s really lucky,” Counsell said. The team believes he could return for the series in Boston this weekend, though the timeline is tight.
Bregman was standing in the grass when teammate Michael Busch hit a foul ball off his face in the fourth inning. He went to the hospital but returned to Chicago that same night. The swelling under his left eye has already gone down by Tuesday, a good sign that the initial trauma isn’t worsening. It’s the kind of update that makes a front office breathe a little easier.
Why The Cubs Cannot Afford to Wait
Bregman has been a critical part of the offense since the All-Star break, ranking fourth in OPS among qualified players during that stretch. Without him, the Cubs lose a Gold Glove-caliber defender and a key hitter who finishes the regular season with 26 home runs and 89 RBIs. Rookie Pedro Ramirez and Matt Shaw have filled in at third base, but neither matches Bregman’s impact. President Jed Hoyer noted that “Most of the significant bad things have been avoided,” according to ESPN.
Now the team must focus on healing and tolerance. They need to protect his face while getting him ready to run bases and field ground balls. “We’d like to protect it as much as we can,” Counsell added. The window to get him back is narrow, and the roster depth simply doesn’t offer a long-term solution if he can’t go.
The High Stakes of a Weekend Return
Time is running out for the Cubs to get their star back before the regular season ends, and Bregman needs to take batting practice to prove he can handle the pressure. If he returns this weekend against the Red Sox, it gives the team a fighting chance; if he sits out, the Cubs face a difficult path in the postseason. Jesse Rogers of ESPN reported that the team is confident he will be ready.
The alternative is watching a talented team fall short because of one bad bounce. The Cubs have no room for error with the playoffs looming. They need Bregman at 100 percent to compete for a title. “Now it’s a matter of tolerance and healing,” Hoyer said. The next few days will decide if the Cubs are contenders or also-rans.
