Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber injured in collision with Dexter Fowler
As Kyle Schwarber lay face down on the warning track Thursday night, Chicago Cubs fans no doubt feared the worst. Schwarber and Cubs centerfielder Dexter Fowler were chasing a gapper off the bat of Jean Segura of the Arizona Diamondbacks when they collided.
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As Segura zoomed around the bases for an inside-the-park homer and Fowler chased the ball, Schwarber lay there in pain, kicking the ground. Play stopped and he was carted off the field.
But the news, initially at least, is good for the Cubs. Schwarber was being evaluated for a sprained ankle, according Carrie Muskat of MLB.com.
And while that could very well lead to time on the disabled list for Schwarber, it’s not nearly as bad as it looked, as early reactions had people fearing he’d broken his leg.
The 23-year-old Schwarber muscled his way into the Cubs lineup last season, most notably hitting a towering postseason homer that landed on the Wrigley Field scoreboard.
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His power potential is alluring, which is why the Cubs put him in the outfield, even though he played college ball as a catcher. He’s a prototypical designated hitter, but playing in the National League means he needs to play in the field.
The Cubs have outfield depth, with Jorge Soler able to move into a starting position full-time if Schwarber does indeed miss time.
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Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz
