Frank

Schwindel

Schwindel will attempt to revive his career after two seasons that were as up and down as your favorite ride at the amusement park. He burst onto the fantasy season in 2021, where he slashed .342/.389/.613 with 12 round-trippers across 56 games. 2022 wasn’t as magical and hit just .229/.277/.358 before being designated for assignment by the Cubs in September.

Schwindel is now a free agent after he was waived and released by the Cubs. The 30-year-old could have a chance to join another club after hitting .229/.277/.358 with eight homers over 292 plate appearances.

Schwindel burst onto the fantasy scene late last year with a .342 batting average and 13 homers in 56 games for the Cubs, but simply hasn’t hit at all this season, slashing .229/.277/.358 with eight round-trippers in 292 plate appearances over 75 games. The 30-year-old slugger has been jettisoned from Chicago’s 40-man roster to give some younger players an opportunity.

Schwindel just hasn’t been able to recapture the magic from his 2021 season, as he’s posted just a .635 OPS in 2022. Patrick Wisdom has been seeing more time at first base lately and could become the regular there while Christopher Morel and Zach McKinstry play third.

There’s a good argument that the Cubs should have jettisoned Schwindel rather than David Bote today, though they could always switch back in a couple of weeks. Schwindel is 8-for-35 with four GIDPs and just one extra-base hit since coming off the IL last month. He’s hitting .233/.280/.365 for the season.

The Giants are rolling out left-hander Carlos Rodon, but instead of using Schwindel at first base, manager David Ross will turn to P.J. Higgins to start at the cold corner and bat ninth for the Cubs. Schwindel has started just eight games since the All-Star break. On the season, the 30-year-old is slashing .236/.283/.371 with eight homers and 36 RBI in 279 plate appearances.

It looks to be just a routine day of rest for the 30-year-old slugger. Schwindel has hit .237/.281/.380 with eight homers and 34 RBI on the season. Alfonso Rivas will start in his place at first base and bat seventh against Zack Wheeler and the Phillies.

Schwindel plated Nico Hoerner with single off of Taijuan Walker in the fourth inning to even the score at 1-1. That would wind up being the Cubs lone run in the ballgame. He also drew a walk in the game, reaching base safely three times in four plate appearances. On the season, he’s now slashing .242/.289/.390 with eight homers and 34 RBI.

Schwindel will return as the Cubs’ primary first baseman, which should result in fewer at-bats for Alfonso Rivas and P.J. Higgins. Schwindel was hitting .237/.282/.386 before getting hurt, though he was doing better than that recently.

Schwindel will likely need some extra time to ramp back up since he’s been out for nearly a month due to a lower back strain. He figures to rejoin the Cubs’ infield mix at some point in mid-July.