Cubs send struggling Kyle Schwarber to the minors
The Chicago Cubs are sending struggling Kyle Schwarber to Triple-A Iowa in hopes that he will rediscover the stroke that made him one of the majors’ most promising young sluggers just a couple of months earlier.
In return, the team announced they have recalled right-hander Dylan Floro and called up outfielder Mark Zagunis from Triple-A Iowa, both of whom will be available for the Cubs' series against the Miami Marlins, which begins Thursday night.
Schwarber, 24, began the season as the Cubs’ leadoff hitter but then was moved down in the order and became a platoon player in left field after his slow start reached the two-month mark.
In 261 plate appearances this season, he is hitting .171/.295/.378 with 12 homers, 28 RBI and 75 strikeouts.
Schwarber burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2015, hitting 16 homers with an .842 OPS in 69 regular-season games and then clubbing five homers that postseason. His 2016 regular season ended after only two games because of a torn ACL, but he returned unexpectedly for the World Series – serving as a DH/pinch hitter, he went 7-for-20 with a double and two RBI.
Also on Thursday, the Cubs are expected to place right fielder Jason Heyward on the 10-day DL with a hand injury.
