Chicago Cubs fans are often accused of being overly optimistic when it comes to their team, but once again that positive attitude has been rewarded as Kyle Schwarber will make his return to the lineup on Tuesday night against the Cleveland Indians in Game 1 of the World Series.
Schwarber, who tore his left ACL in the Cubs’ third game of the regular season, was originally thought to be lost for the year, but thanks to his strenuous rehab and his dedication to getting back on the field, he will be in the lineup when the team plays in its first Fall Classic since 1945.
“When we hit that line a lot of emotions will come pouring out,” Schwarber said of his 2016 postseason debut, which will come as he bats fifth and serves as the designated hitter for the Cubs against the Indians. “I’ll probably cry at some point today. It’s been a long road.”
That road has seen Schwarber recover remarkably quickly from not only the ACL tear but also a severely sprained ankle that he suffered in a collision with Dexter Fowler in a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
Part of that recovery had to come on the diamond as well, as Schwarber not only worked his way through strenuous running drills but also spent a large amount of time in the batting cages during his recovery as he says he saw over 1300 pitches during those sessions.
“I just had to train my eyes all over again,” he told media before Game 1 at Progressive Field in Cleveland.
The final step of his recovery was accelerated considerably over the last week, as Schwarber was cleared last week to hit by the same doctors that performed his surgery. After a few days spent in the cages and against simulated pitching in Arizona, Schwarber was assigned to the Cubs’ Arizona Fall League affiliate, where he played two games and collected a double for his troubles.
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Now, Schwarber will be in for a stern test, going from the relatively anonymous confines of Sloan Park and Arizona Fall League baseball to Game 1 of the World Series against one of the toughest pitchers the Cubs are going to face in this year’s postseason.
As improbable as his return to the field has been, Schwarber knew all along that doing so was a possibility, and he made it very clear why he made it such a point to try to get back onto the diamond this season.
“It would have killed me not to try,” he said.
