As the Cubs kick off their post-All-Star break schedule Friday, a pair of sidelined infielders continue to progress in their recoveries.
David Bote is starting a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa this weekend, following Matt Duffy, who began his rehab assignment with Iowa earlier this week.
Bote and Duffy have been sidelined since late May. Bote hit the 10-day IL on May 30 with a dislocated left shoulder, five days after Duffy (low back strain). The Cubs later transferred Duffy to the 60-day IL at the end of June.
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Duffy went 1-for-4 in Iowa's game Thursday, playing six innings in the field. He got a pair of at-bats on Tuesday.
"We’re just trying to build him up the right way," Cubs manager David Ross said of Duffy. "All signs have been pointing to good feedback and he feels great."
Cubs activate Eric Sogard
As Bote and Duffy continue to build up, the Cubs activated fellow infielder Eric Sogard off the IL prior to Friday's game in Arizona.
MLB
Sogard, 35, spent the minimum time on the 10-day IL, which he landed on last Tuesday due to a bruised left thumb.
With Thursday's trade of Joc Pederson, the Cubs had an open spot on the active roster, so no corresponding move came with Sogard's return.
Contributing from Phoenix: Maddie Lee