Cubs manager Joe Maddon told the media that outfielder Kyle Schwarber will undergo surgery on his left knee this week, per CSN Chicago’s Patrick Mooney.
Schwarber suffered a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee as a result of an outfield collision with teammate Dexter Fowler in Arizona on April 7. The initial thought was that Schwarber suffered an ankle injury, but it unfortunately turned out to be much more serious.
Schwarber, 23, was looking towards his first full season in the majors after debuting on June 16 last year. He quickly became one of the league’s most feared sluggers, blasting 16 home runs with an .842 OPS in 273 plate appearances. He played in the outfield, caught occasionally, and served as a DH during interleague games in American League ballparks.
Jorge Soler has seen most of the playing time in left field in Schwarber’s absence.