There’s still time for Nick Madrigal to make something of his first full Cubs season. And as 2022 winds down, monitoring his progress is one of the Cubs’ pressing tasks.
“One of the top priorities is [getting] to see him as much as possible and also keep him healthy,” Cubs manager David Ross said.
Acquired from the White Sox last year along with Codi Heuer for Craig Kimbrel, Madrigal was expected to provide a contact-first plate approach and form a double-play combination with Nico Hoerner. Yet Sunday was just Madrigal’s 35th game of the year, a season that saw him spend almost two months on the injured list with a left groin strain.
That absence, combined with the time he lost in 2021 after tearing up his hamstring with the Sox, has cost Madrigal valuable experience and development. Ross, however, thought Madrigal could take something from his time being injured.
“The adversity you go through when you get hurt also can be a learning experience and help you in the longevity of your career,” Ross said. “Ideally, you’re out there playing every single day and getting better. That wasn’t his path; sometimes in that environment of rehabbing you get stronger, you get more mobile, more flexible, whatever the detail is you want to attack in that process can be beneficial.”
Madrigal led off and played second base in place of Christopher Morel, who is day-to-day after suffering right hamstring tightness Saturday. Ross assumed Morel would be available off the bench in Sunday’s series finale.
Who’s the closer?
With David Robertson gone, the Cubs have a vacancy at closer. Ross said he’d mix and match in the ninth, but singled out the pitchers with the most trust as Rowan Wick, Brandon Hughes and Steven Brault.
“I don’t think it’s out of character to say [Wick] will be in the back end of things,” Ross said.
Wick’s season has been up and down. He began the year with an 0.77 ERA over his first 11 outings but compiled a 7.91 ERA over his next 20. But in his last 12, Wick has a 1.98 ERA.
After that tough stretch, Ross said Wick “simplified some things.”
“He’s done a nice job of getting back to what he does well,” Ross said. “Sometimes, I think we all can stray a little bit, whether it’s hitting or pitching or just staying true to ourselves. He’s done a nice job of getting back on track there and holding down some really strong innings for us.”
Briefly
Double-A Tennessee outfielder Alexander Canario was named the Cubs’ minor league player of the month for July. Single-A Myrtle Beach’s Luke Little was named the minor league pitcher of the month.
* Ross said Willson Contreras, who served as the designated hitter and has only caught once in August, is fine physically and will be behind the plate Monday against the Nationals.
* Designated for assignment Saturday, Andrelton Simmons was granted his unconditional release Sunday.
* Jon Scheyer, the Northbrook native who replaced Mike Krzyzewski as Duke men’s basketball coach, threw out a ceremonial first pitch and sang the seventh inning stretch. Duke graduate Marcus Stroman caught the pitch.
