[With periodic, but sporadic, updates on Kyle Schwarber’s status possible throughout the late afternoon and early evening, Michael and I thought it would be useful to just have a centralized place to pop in the updates as they are available. This is that place.
The full update is below, but it’s bad news: torn ACL and LCL. Season over.]
After last night’s collision with Dexter Fowler, Kyle Schwarber was removed from the game and immediately received x-rays on his leg. Although no broken bones were detected at that time, he was diagnosed with an ankle sprain and scheduled to receive an MRI today on his ankle and his knee.
We touched on some of the potential roster fallout earlier today, and there is a little more trickling out:
Still waiting on Kyle Schwarber news but hearing we could have a Munenori Kawasaki appearance in Az this weekend.
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) April 8, 2016
No official word from #Cubs but Kawasaki may be player called up with Schwarber headed to DL
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) April 8, 2016
Kawasaki nowhere to be seen in the Iowa #Cubs locker room. No official word but the word is that he's been summoned by Chicago. #MiLB
— Tommy Birch (@TommyBirch) April 8, 2016
I’d add that, even if the news from Schwarber’s MRI is good, you should fully be expecting a DL stint. And if Kawasaki is going to be the guy replacing him on the 25-man roster, he’s already on his way to Arizona (or maybe even is already there). In other words, you should be expecting (1) Schwarber to be placed on the DL today, and (2) Kawasaki to be called up to replace him.
Once Javier Baez is ready to return, hopefully by some time next week, that could change things on the roster. For now, though, the Cubs will rely on Jorge Soler, Matt Szczur, and Kris Bryant in left field, and Kawasaki will provide additional infield help.
UPDATE: It’s the worst of the possible outcomes. A torn ACL and LCL, a severe ankle sprain, and Kyle Schwarber’s season is over, per multiple reports. He’ll have surgery, and hopefully a healthy recovery in time. Schwarber also has a severe ankle sprain. In the end, the actual injury was every bit as bad as it looked last night.
What a crushing blow for Schwarber, and it’s going to sting for the Cubs, too. Can the Cubs weather this injury and still be very good? Yes. Does that make me less sad for Schwarber right now, and less sad for fans who won’t get to see him doing his thing this year? Nope.
We’ll unpack this more later. For now, I’m just gonna go be sad a bit.
Michael Cerami Contributed to this post.