Kyle Schwarber not medically cleared to play the field, will not start in Games 3-5 of World Series

Share

Kyle Schwarber has not been cleared by doctors to play the field and will not start for the Cubs in Games 3-5 of the World Series at Wrigley Field, Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said Thursday.

Schwarber was seen with a glove in left field during the batting practice portion of the Cubs' workout Thursday at Wrigley Field, but Epstein said Cubs' doctors and Dr. Daniel Cooper, the Dallas Cowboys surgon who performed the surgery on Schwarber's torn ACL and LCL in April, were "Convinced there’s too much risk in playing the outfield.” The risk of having Schwarber move quickly and start, stop and cut suddenly in the outfield was too great and Epstein said the Cubs didn't want to "throw caution to the wind" to get Schwarber in the lineup over the weekend.

"It's not disappointing at all," Schwarber said. "It was a long shot at the most." 

Added Schwarber: "There's no being sad about it, there's no nothing. I know my role now and I'm going to embrace it." 

Schwarber doubled and walked in Game 1 of the World Series and collected a pair of RBI singles and walked in Game 2 in Cleveland. He started and hit fifth as a designated hitter in both games and will be available as a high-leverage pinch hitter Games 3-5. 

Contact Us