07-19-2015, 11:20 AM
Update (sort of) on Baez. Still a few weeks away according to the Iowa manager.
Quote:
Is Javier Baez close to returning to the Iowa Cubs?
Tommy Birch, tbirch@dmreg.com | 4:14 p.m. CDT July 18, 2015
Fans have been waiting and waiting for Javier Baez's return to the Iowa Cubs.
Well, they'll probably have to wait a little longer.
Iowa manager Marty Pevey gave an estimate on when the hard-hitting infielder could return to action after landing on the disabled list with a non-displaced fracture in his left ring finger.
"Honestly, just guessing and it's just a guess, I would say probably…. I'm going to say two and a half, three weeks," Pevey said of Baez's possible return.
Baez hasn't played in a game since suffering the injury sliding into second base during Iowa's June 7 contest. The injury couldn't have come at a worse time for Baez, who was hitting .314 with seven doubles, eight homers and was rumored to be close to being called back up to Chicago.
After landing on the disabled list, Baez said he was told he could be out anywhere from four to eight weeks. Baez was placed on the disabled list on June 8. He will have been on it exactly six weeks come July 20.
Baez, a 22-year-old first-round pick by the Cubs in 2011, has rapidly risen through the minor leagues and made his major-league debut in 2014. The young slugger struggled in the promotion hitting just .169 with 95 strikeouts in 52 games. Those struggles continued into Spring Training, leading the Cubs to send Baez back to the minors.
It's been a tough season for Baez, who has been limited to just 37 games and missed the start of the season following the death of his sister, Noely. Baez said last month he hoped to return from his injury quickly.
"It depends how fast it heels," Baez said the day after suffering his injury. "Hopefully it goes fast, and I come back right away."