NEWSLETTER
The news on Jason Heyward is in, and it’s as good as you could have realistically hoped: a side contusion (aka, a bruise), and he’ll sit three to five days (Mooney, Wittenmyer).
That means Heyward won’t even require a disabled list stint, which is downright crazy when you consider how things looked last night.
The Cubs are bringing Matt Szczur back from the disabled list to help cover during that period, which means they had to open up a roster spot – they did it by designating Neil Ramirez for assignment. We have a separate post to discuss that, because the tenor of this particular post needs to be happy.
Jason Heyward: not seriously injured. WHEW.
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Post from earlier is below:
The initial update here, with apologies, is not terribly robust on Jason Heyward post-MRI, following last night’s injury. But, since I know you’re probably like me and obsessing about it today, I figure I should toss you whatever there is as soon as it’s there:
Cubs still awaiting MRI results on Jason Heyward but say he's doing better today than last night. He won't be in… https://t.co/V9pSyf7eYZ
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) May 21, 2016
Cubs awaiting MRI results on Heyward
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) May 21, 2016
Awaiting lineup. But Heyward not in it.
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) May 21, 2016
If you want to be modestly encouraged, the fact that the Cubs say Heyward is feeling better today than last night is a good sign as far as catastrophic-type injuries go. But, then, I’m not sure that’s what we were realistically worried about as of last night (as opposed to a serious oblique or rib cage injury, which can still cost a player multiple months).
It’s no surprise, and not necessarily indicative of anything, that Heyward is not playing tonight. Even if he came to the park today feeling like a spring chicken, I suspect Joe Maddon still would have given him the night off. (Also, chickens are a huge liability at the plate and in the field (though they run the bases quite well if you remove their head).)
I’ll keep you posted as more comes out.
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