Cubs put Wisdom on IL without reason in possible COVID move

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PITTSBURGH — The Cubs put infielder Patrick Wisdom on the injured list prior to Wednesday's game against the Pirates.

The club did not give an injury designation for the move, which usually means it's for COVID-19. The Cubs have disclosed the reason for every IL move this season before Wisdom's.

Cubs manager David Ross said the move is not related to the right wrist soreness that has sidelined Wisdom since Sunday, further suggesting it's COVID related.

Additionally, because it's not technically a "10-day IL" move, the Cubs were able to call up infielder Trent Giambrone from Triple-A Iowa without clearing a spot on the 40-man roster.

"He just went on the injured list. It's the end of his season," Ross said of Wisdom, whose 28 home runs broke Kris Bryant's franchise rookie record. "He's had a really great season."

Raising eyebrows Wednesday even before the Wisdom move was announced, Cubs players and coaches took the field for pregame work wearing masks, which has not been the norm for months.

"We're following all MLB protocols and trying to do what we can to make sure everybody's healthy and safe that steps foot on that field," Ross said. "We've been doing that every day.

"Things have popped up, even in my case, that are just out of your control to some points. All we can do is continue to follow major-league protocols and try to set everybody up to be as safe as possible and play major-league baseball.

The Cubs intended to put Nico Hoerner on the IL Wednesday and shut him down for the season, pivoting after the Wisdom issue arose.

Hoerner, who's been dealing with lingering soreness from previous injuries, isn't expected to play the rest of the season. 

Wisdom hit .231/.305/.518 in 106 games this season, with 153 strikeouts to go with his 28 homers.

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