JONATHAN VILLAR NEWS

Returns from injured list Villar (mouth) was activated from the 10-day injured list Friday, Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Impact Villar has been sidelined the past couple weeks after requiring significant dental work, and he'll rejoin the 26-man roster without the need for a minor-league rehab assignment. The veteran infielder should return to an infield utility role now that he's healthy.

JUNE 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Cubs come into matchup against the Yankees on losing streak

The Chicago Cubs enter the matchup with the New York Yankees after losing three in a row

JUNE 10, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cubs-Orioles postponed by rain; makeup set for Aug. 18

The interleague game between the Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles was postponed by a relentless rain shower that started shortly before the scheduled start and never let up

JUNE 9, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Swinging bat again Villar (mouth) took batting practice on the field Tuesday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact Since Villar was placed on the 10-day injured list last week after requiring dental work rather than due to any sort of injury, he likely won't need much ramp-up time. Whenever the Cubs deem Villar ready to return from the IL, he'll likely have to settle for a utility role.

JUNE 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Cubs doubleheader vs. Brewers filled with MLB debuts, Jonathan Villar to IL The Cubs called up Matt Swarmer, Nelson Velázquez and Anderson Espinoza for the double-header Monday.

MAY 30, 2022 • SUNTIMES.COM

Placed on IL Villar (mouth) was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday, Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Impact Villar suffered a mouth injury while working out this week, forcing him to be in need of significant dental work. The move to the injured list is retroactive to Friday, allowing him to return in about a week. Nelson Velazquez was called up to provide another bat for the Cubs before their doubleheader against the Brewers on Monday.

MAY 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Remains on bench Villar isn't starting Wednesday against the Reds.

Impact Villar has gone 5-for-18 with a homer, two doubles, two runs, two RBI and a stolen base over his last four games, but he'll be out of the lineup for a second straight matchup. Christopher Morel will start at the keystone and lead off.

MAY 25, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Gets Tuesday off Villar is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Reds.

Impact He'll give way at second base to rookie Christopher Morel, who has been one of the Cubs' hotter bats since getting a promotion from Double-A Tennessee last week. For his part, Villar has been starting to heat up after a brutal start to the season, as he's slashing .320/.346/.640 with three stolen bases over his last six games. Morel doesn't look like an imminent threat to usurping Villar on the depth chart, but the looming returns of Nick Madrigal (back) and Nico Hoerner (ankle) from the injured list could wind up pushing the veteran back into a utility role.

MAY 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Doubles, drives in one Saturday Villar went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI in Saturday's loss to the Diamondbacks.

Impact Villar recorded two hits and a double for the second consecutive contest, as he continues to be locked in lately. The super utility player is slashing .389/.450/.833 over his past five games with two home runs, two doubles and four RBI. As long as Villar keeps picking up starts across the diamond, he should maintain plenty of fantasy value if he swings the bat like this.

MAY 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Doubles, homers in loss Villar went 2-for-4 with a double, a solo home run and two runs scored in Friday's loss to the Diamondbacks.

Impact Villar's home run, his second of the season, was one of four solo home runs for Chicago. The utility player hasn't provided a ton of power so far this year, though he did blast 18 long balls in 142 games last season, so he may start to trend upward in that category as long as he continues to see regular playing time. He reached double figures in home runs in five of the last six seasons, with the shortened 2020 campaign the only exception.

MAY 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Out of Thursday's lineup Villar is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Impact Villar started the past eight games at the keystone and will take a seat for Sunday's contest. Christopher Morel will man second base in his place Thursday.

MAY 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Homers, swipes bag Villar went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk, an additional RBI and a stolen base in a 7-0 win against the Pirates on Tuesday.

Impact Making his seventh straight start with Nick Madrigal shelved, Villar opened the scoring with a solo home run in the third inning, singled home a run during a five-run fourth and walked and swiped second in the sixth. The infielder is only 6-for-34 in May though Tuesday's offensive display demonstrates the 31-year-old's ability to contribute both power and speed, as Villar's 138 power-speed number ranks 14th among all active players.

MAY 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Filling in for injured Madrigal Villar will start at second base and bat ninth in Wednesday's game in San Diego.

Impact With Nick Madrigal (back) landing on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Villar looks set to step in as the Cubs' everyday second baseman, at least in the short term. However, Andrelton Simmons (shoulder) is in the midst of a rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa and could be activated from the IL within the next few days, at which he and Nico Hoerner -- who starts at shortstop Wednesday -- could serve as the Cubs' primary middle infielders.

MAY 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Gets third straight start Villar will start at third base and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Dodgers, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Impact Villar will pick up his third consecutive start, after he was included in the lineup for both halves of Saturday's doubleheader. He went hitless with three strikeouts in six at-bats between those games, during which the Dodgers started a pair of lefty pitchers (Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler). The Dodgers are bringing right-hander Walker Buehler to the hill for the series finale, but Villar will stick in the lineup at third baseman while Patrick Wisdom sits with an ankle injury. Wisdom is available off the bench Sunday and could rejoin the lineup as soon as Monday's series opener in San Diego, but Villar would still have a path to steady work at third base if the Cubs elect to deploy Wisdom at designated hitter after the struggling Frank Schwindel was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Sunday.

MAY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Takes seat Wednesday Villar isn't starting Wednesday against Atlanta.

Impact Villar has hit .240 with four runs, four RBI and a stolen base in his last seven appearances, but he'll be out of the lineup for a second straight game. Patrick Wisdom is starting at third base and batting sixth.

APRIL 27, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting Tuesday Villar is not in Tuesday's lineup against Atlanta.

Impact He is hitting .341/.380/.386 with zero home runs and one steal in 12 games. Patrick Wisdom gets the start at third base while Nick Madrigal and Nico Hoerner handle second base and shortstop, respectively.

APRIL 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Starting at short Sunday Villar is starting at shortstop and batting sixth in Sunday's game against the Pirates.

Impact Villar started at second base Saturday and collected two hits, his first stolen base of the season, three runs and three RBI in a 21-0 Chicago win. The utility man has been stellar with a .350 batting average and .791 OPS, and he'll likely run more moving forward after racking up 14 stolen bases last year and 16 during the condensed 2020 season.

APRIL 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Collects three runs, stolen base Villar went 2-for-5 with a walk, three runs scored and three RBI in Saturday's win over the Pirates. He also notched his first steal.

Impact Making the start at second base, Villar played a key role in the Cubs' big 21-0 win. The 30-year-old has filled a valuable utility role so far, picking up starts at second, third and shortstop, and he has a stellar .350 batting average. Villar should continue to see regular playing time and will be a nice fantasy asset the rest of the season if he keeps hitting like this.

APRIL 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Starts over Wisdom again Villar will start at third base and bat third in Wednesday's game against the Rays.

Impact Villar has now picked up starts at third base over Patrick Wisdom in consecutive games. After going 1-for-5 in Tuesday's 6-5 loss while the Rays deployed a lefty primary pitcher (Josh Fleming), Villar gets the nod over Wisdom on Wednesday with a right-hander (Drew Rasmussen) on the bump for the opposition. It's unclear if Villar will permanently remain ahead of Wisdom in the pecking order, but he looks to be manager David Ross' favored option for the time being.

APRIL 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Back on bench Sunday Villar is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.

Impact Villar doesn't have an everyday home at any position, but his ability to play three infield spots allowed him to draw four consecutive starts before he moved to the bench Sunday. The 30-year-old went 9-for-16 with two doubles, a walk, four RBI and three runs during that four-game stretch, so manager David Ross will likely look to find at least semi-regular playing time for Villar while he's wielding a hot bat.

APRIL 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Villar leads Cubs against the Rockies after 4-hit performance

The Chicago Cubs play the Colorado Rockies after Jonathan Villar's four-hit game on Saturday

APRIL 17, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Stays hot at the plate Villar went 4-for-5 with three RBI in Saturday's loss to the Rockies.

Impact All four hits were singles, and Villar was unable to come around to score once, but it was still another excellent performance. In three games at Coors Field, the infielder has gone 8-for-12, pushing his season batting average up to .474. He started at second base in this one, but he's also recently seen time at third and shortstop. Villar should continue to move around the diamond for the Cubs, and he'll have plenty of fantasy value if he keeps hitting like this.

APRIL 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Effective again Friday Villar went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, two runs scored and an RBI in Friday's loss to the Rockies.

Impact Villar has started in the Cubs' last three contests, including the first two games at Coors Field, and he's performed well, going 5-for-11 in that stretch with an RBI and three runs scored. Meanwhile, regular third baseman Patrick Wisdom has struggled with a .130/.160/.217 line through seven games. Villar has picked up starts at third, second and shortstop the last three games, so Wisdom may be able to hold onto a regular spot as long as Villar keeps moving around the diamond. Either way, Villar is carving out a valuable role in Chicago and should play frequently moving forward.

APRIL 16, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Cubs' Ross on Villar's first-base dive: 'We prefer to run through the bag' Chicago Cubs notes on: Whether or not Jonathan Villar should have run through first base in the seventh inning of Milwaukee's 5-4 win at Wri...

APRIL 10, 2022 • DAILYHERALD.COM

Out of Saturday's lineup Villar is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Brewers.

Impact Nick Madrigal, Patrick Wisdom and Nico Hoerner will have started the team's first two games at second, third and shortstop, respectively. Villar is expected to serve a super-utility role and figures to pick up starts at any of those positions moving forward. The playing time hasn't been there yet, but it's still early and Villar should see his role expand soon. He'll of course have increased fantasy value if any of those other players struggles or goes down with an injury, which could pave the way for Villar having a more regular job.

APRIL 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE