CHICAGO – Standing at his locker Wednesday afternoon, his left eye bloodshot and his cheek still swollen, Alex Bregman ran through his plans for the day. The Cubs' third baseman said he was going to hit off the high-velocity Trajekt machine and have a mostly normal workout ahead of the game against the Marlins.
“I’m going to try to get in there tonight,” Bregman said.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell was told that Bregman wanted to get an at-bat in Wednesday’s game – only a few days removed from the foul ball that struck him in the face, resulting in multiple fractures in his cheek area. Asked if that was possible, Counsell paused for a few beats before replying, simply, “No.”
The fact that Bregman is already trying to get back into a game is a great sign for the Cubs, given the seriousness of the freak injury he sustained Sunday in Cincinnati. Since the setback, the swelling in Bregman’s face has reduced significantly and he has resumed light activity behind the scenes. Counsell said Tuesday that a trip to the injured list was not necessary.
And in Tuesday’s 12-inning loss to the Marlins, Bregman was getting a little stir crazy in the dugout, lobbying for a pinch-hit appearance.
“He got geared up late in the game, because he was so fired up,” Counsell said. “He was like, ‘I was unsure if you were going to yell at me or [tell me to] come over and talk.’ No, he’s doing well. But we’ve got to take some steps here.
“I’m excited how he feels and he’s excited, but he still needs to feel some things. He hasn’t run around yet, and I think he’s got to do that. He’s got to know what it feels like.”
Bregman was struck on the left side of the face by a foul ball off the bat of Michael Busch and was examined at a local hospital in Cincinnati. Over the past few days, he has seen multiple specialists and received as good of news as could be expected under the circumstances. No surgery was required and Bregman did not have any vision or concussion issues.
“It felt like I got hit by a baseball bat to the face, pretty much,” Bregman said. “The pain’s been fine, though. I guess I fractured something right by the nerve in my face, so the left side of my face has been a little bit numb. As soon as the swelling goes down, I’m sure I’ll feel the breaks a little bit more.”
Bregman said he felt a little more pain when he woke up Wednesday morning, but it has not stopped him from beginning to ramp up his activity. The third baseman got in a workout Tuesday and tracked pitches in the cage. He said he hopes to resume fielding ground balls in the next couple days. Playing in the upcoming series in Boston has not been ruled out.
More important for the Cubs is the fact that the 32-year-old Bregman could be cleared to be back in the lineup (possibly as a designated hitter initially) for a potential Wild Card Series next week. Following a slow start to the season, Bregman has been one of baseball’s top hitters since the All-Star break (.978 OPS in 59 games), while playing Gold Glove-caliber defense at third.
Overall, Bregman has hit .262 with 26 homers, 32 doubles, 89 RBIs and an .804 OPS in 153 games in his first season under the five-year, $175 million deal he signed with Chicago. While his teammate, center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, is the favorite to win the National League’s MVP award, Bregman should get plenty of down-ballot votes for his incredible in-season turnaround.
And now, Bregman is trying to make a different type of comeback as October looms.
“All in all,” Bregman said, “I’m super lucky that it hit where it hit, and just a lot of gratitude, because if it was about a few centimeters higher it could’ve been detrimental.”