Cubs' Jason Kipnis: Carlos Carrasco ‘looks Great' After Returning From Cancer

Jason Kipnis thought he deserved a "friendship fastball," when he faced Carlos Carrasco on Wednesday.

Kipnis, now a Cubs second baseman, and Indians pitcher Carrasco were Cleveland teammates for nine seasons.

"The funny part is I think (the first-pitch fastball) is going behind my head," Kipnis said on Tuesday. "… He wants me to charge so he can give me a hug."

Unfortunately, that hug wouldn't be allowed in the midst of a pandemic. In the Cubs' 7-2 win at Cleveland on Wednesday, Kipnis didn't get his "friendship fastball." Instead, Carrasco walked Kipnis in four pitches in his first at-bat. But seeing his friend healthy and on the mound seemed to be satisfying enough for Kipnis.

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Carrasco was diagnosed with cancer last year, specifically chronic myeloid leukemia. He sat out for three months, during which Kipnis talked or texted with Carrasco most days. When he returned in September it was as a reliever.

"I got to witness the sh**ty part of it, the sh**ty days," Kipnis said, "and there's no other word to describe it really, where you see just an awful disease taking over someone's body. He's getting skinny, his energy was down, and … if Cookie's energy is down, there's something wrong. This guy's a high energy guy, and a clown to go with it."

Carrasco made his return at Tampa Bay last year, taking the mound for the seventh inning.

"When he came on the field, I just told him how proud I was of him," Kipnis said.

They shared an emotional moment in the dugout after his outing.

"He knows there's a lot more steps to go," Kipnis recounted, "But this was the first box that he could check that would put a smile on his face. So, it definitely put a smile on mine."

The two have remained in touch since Kipnis left for Chicago. He said he keeps tabs on Carrasco's health and energy.

"Are you taking you meds?" Kipnis said, recounting their conversations. "Don't forget to take your damn meds."

Carrasco hit another milestone in late July: his first start since his diagnosis. Entering Wednesday's game against the Cubs, Carrasco had a 2.50 ERA through three starts. All three were six-inning quality outings.

"He looks great, by the way," Kipnis said on Tuesday.

The next day, Carrasco walked Kipnis in his first at-bat. It was one of five walks he allowed. That would eventually catch up to him, as his pitch count climbed. Carrasco would leave the mound in the fifth inning, after giving up back-to-back singles and striking out Willson Contreras. Both base runners would score after reliever Oliver Perez took the mound.

Between those runs, and a solo homer from Anthony Rizzo, Carrasco allowed three runs in 4 1/3 high-intensity innings.

Kipnis' second trip to the batter's box was a perfect example of how Carrasco generates so many swing-and-misses.

Carrasco started Kipnis off with two changeups. Kipnis fouled off both and was already behind in the count. He watched a ball inside. But then, Carrasco threw his slider – the same pitch he struck out Victor Caratini with the batter before.

The slider dropped out of the zone, and Kipnis chased the ball in the dirt. Strike three.

Kipnis was wrong about the first-pitch fastball, but it remains to be seen if Kipnis' other prediction comes true.

"He strikes me out," Kipnis said with a smile, "he's going to pay for it, some way or another."

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Cubs' Jason Kipnis: Carlos Carrasco 'looks great' after returning from cancer originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

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