The Chicago Cubs (you better knock on some wood) have had a relatively healthy Spring, particularly for their most important players. Starlin Castro’s bruised leg – which is not considered serious in any way – is the lone exception. Otherwise, the injuries have been to non-essential folks and guys trying to make the roster; and none of those injuries have been particularly serious, either.
As I correctly anticipated, Augie Ojeda has been out with back spasms, which is why we didn’t see him in any of the recent split-squad games. When asked, Mike Quade was unsure when Ojeda would be able to return to action. His prospects for out-dueling Darwin Barney are dwindling.
John Grabow is expected to return to game action on Thursday after missing more than two weeks with a sore left shoulder, and outfielder Brett Jackson should be good to go in a day or two after bruising his left shoulder on a diving catch attempt on Sunday.
Outfielder Brad Snyder hasn’t been able to practice in over a week due to an oblique strain. He was already a massive long-shot to win a bench spot, so the injury has effectively killed any tiny chance he had.