About a half-hour before first pitch Wednesday, Iowa Cubs manager Marty Pevey had to shuffle his starting lineup. He had received word that Jared Young was needed elsewhere.
Later that evening, the Cubs announced that they had called up the outfielder/corner infielder from Triple-A and put Rafael Ortega (broken left ring finger) on the 60-day injured list before beating the Mets 6-3 in the last game of a three-game series in New York. The Cubs swept the series.
Young is lined up to be the 16th Cub to make his major-league debut this season.
The I-Cubs have been moving Young around on defense this season. Young primarily has played first base in his professional career, but he has played almost as many games at third base (40) as at first (42) in 2022. He also has made 24 appearances in the outfield.
With Ortega breaking his finger Tuesday while attempting a bunt, Young’s versatility will be an advantage.
Schwindel likely out for season
First baseman Frank Schwindel told the Sun-Times he’s “probably” out for the season. His nagging back injury flared up again, and the I-Cubs put him on the seven-day injured list last month, about 1œ weeks after the Cubs optioned him to Triple-A.
“It’s just been really frustrating,” he said, “especially [because] last year was unbelievable, and, obviously, you come back and try to do it all over again. But having a setback in spring, then just grinding the whole way, never really catching my stride, it was tough.
“I wouldn’t feel good more than a couple of days in a row before it would get me again. But it’s part of the game, and you build from that and come back even better.”
He’s ramping up toward hitting.
“But just running out of days,” he said.
Alzolay to join Cubs this weekend
Right-hander Adbert Alzolay is set to rejoin the Cubs this weekend when they take on the Rockies at Wrigley Field, manager David Ross told reporters Wednesday in New York.
Alzolay, who entered spring training with a right lat strain, has been on the injured list all season. But he told the Sun-Times that he has used that time to gain strength and clean up his mechanics.
“I feel that I can throw the ball harder now without trying to really throw the ball harder,” he said. “So it’s just those little things that, at the end of the day, make a big difference.”
