Chicago Cubs infielder Nick Madrigal has struggled to get his legs beneath him given that he was acquired by the group in a 2022 trade, but manager David Ross says that he totally expects him to be back with the group at some point in the future.
Madrigal, who is batting .247 in 93 at-bats with the Cubs this season, was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday following Kyle Hendricks was activated from the injured list.
Through his pregame press availability, Ross says that the group had a numbers crunch in the infield, and Madrigal was the odd man out.
“We’ve got a lot of guys competing for playing time at third base, and there just is not a lot of space for that skillset appropriate now,” he stated. “(We’re) just attempting to get him back to locating his timing and placing fantastic swings on the baseball.”
Madrigal located himself moved to the third base function following the Cubs signed Dansby Swanson, pushing Nico Hoerner to second base.
Madrigal has but to hit a house run this season and has nine RBI’s, with two stolen bases and a .286 on-base percentage.
All round, his numbers are down considerably from his time with the White Sox, with noticeable dips in his batting typical and on-base percentage.
Ross says that Madrigal will continue to operate at each second and third base in the minor leagues, and praised him for his willingness to take on a new position, which necessary him to not only operate on his arm strength but also his footwork and awareness.
“The issue I’m most proud of for him is the way he took third base. He’s been clean more than there,” he stated. “That’s tough to do, and that is gone unnoticed publicly. I preserve marveling at the potential of him to make so several sorts of plays, and the arm strength he’s constructed.”
With Edwin Rios and Miles Mastrobuoni remaining on the roster, and with Patrick Wisdom and Christopher Morel taking most of the begins at third base, the infield is crowded for the Cubs, but Ross says he hasn’t noticed the final of Madrigal.
“I’m positive he’ll be back seriously quickly to assist us,” he stated.
He’ll nonetheless bounce about, play second and third. The issue I’m most proud of for him is the way he took third base. He’s been clean more than there. That is tough to do, that is gone unnoticed publicly. I preserve marveling at the potential of him to make so several sorts of plays, and the arm strength he’s constructed.
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