Jed Hoyer provides injury updates on Willson Contreras, Cubs relievers |
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs' bullpen has been depleted by injuries as of late, but, according to Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer, the injury situation for Cubs relief pitching is on the verge of clearing up. Hoyer appeared on 670 The Score's McNeil & Parkins Show on Thursday and addressed Cub relievers Steve Cishek, Craig Kimbrel and Brandon Kintzler, who are all currently on the injured list.
According to Hoyer, Kintzler is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list on Friday, which will mark the first day that he is eligible to be activated. Hoyer admitted that Kintzler could have likely returned from his minor pectoral injury earlier in the week but stated that he did not regret placing Kintzler on the injured list because of bullpen depth issues. "We're glad we put him on the DL," Hoyer said of Kintzler. "He probably would've missed roughly half the DL stint, and we would've had to pitch short-handed. But he recovered pretty quickly from that pectoral strain, and he feels good." As far as Cishek and Kimbrel, Hoyer expressed confidence that they would be able to return to action early on in the Cubs' upcoming 6-game homestead, which is set to begin next Tuesday. Cishek is currently battling a hip issue, and Kimbrel has been working through knee soreness. Hoyer said during his radio spot that both relievers took part in a bullpen session on Thursday and are "progressing well." Additionally, Hoyer was asked about Cubs catcher Willson Contreras, whose hamstring injury is much more severe than the ailments suffered by the aforementioned Cubs relievers. Contreras is currently on the injured list and is not expected to be able to resume playing until early September. For the time being, Contreras is gradually working through rehab and, in Hoyer's opinion, on the right track in his recuperation. "We want to make sure he doesn't reinjure it, but the progress is good," Hoyer said while speaking on Contreras. "The rehab has been good. That's the one that's still probably a few weeks away." Also of note, Hoyer provided an update on Cubs reliever Brandon Morrow, who has not pitched since last summer because of a recurring elbow injury that has required multiple procedures. Morrow has been rehabbing at the Cubs' facility in Arizona, and there is a slight chance that he could take the mound again late in the season. Hoyer said that Morrow fared well when throwing live batting practice on Wednesday and "is working as hard as he can to get back."
