Chicago Cubs offer mega-positive update on Alex Bregman

On Tuesday, manager Craig Counsell and president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer offered some insight into the third baseman’s injury and his current state of mind.

“He’s completely himself,” Counsell told reporters. “He can’t sit still. He’s all over the room. Those are really good signs.”

“I think Alex is going to be fine, I really do,” Counsell added. “He’s planning on playing. He knew he had to get some good news from the doctors. He got that good news. So he’s going to do everything in his power. And as long as symptoms don’t increase, or happen as he increases activity, I think you’re going to see him play.”

Hoyer lauds Bregman’s gumption: “It’s impressive”

Hoyer, meanwhile, offered a similarly cheery update on the star’s state of mind and being.

“He doesn’t look great, that’s for sure,” Hoyer quipped. “But no one loves to play more than him. I can say that with no equivocation. I’ve never had a player that loves baseball as much as he does. He just wants to play all the time. Right away, when we first heard from him afterwards, [he said] he was going to find a way to do it.

“There were scenarios where there was no way it was going to happen—if he needed surgery or things like that. But he didn’t. Now he has the chance to get out there. And there’s nothing he wants to do more. It’s impressive.”

Since the All-Star break, Bregman has been, arguably, the second best position player in all of baseball—second to only teammate Pete Crow-Armstrong—with a WAR of 3.4, a .296 batting average, 17 home runs and 48 RBIs. In this first of five seasons with Chicago, he’s hitting .262 with 26 home runs and 89 RBIs.

With the Cubs all but set to start their Wild Card series next week, the two-time World Series-winning Bregman is expected to be a key veteran asset to an offensively potent, but pitching-hobbled team with big-time aspirations. As he wait to be cleared for a full return, young assets Matt Shaw and Pedro Ramirez will fill his spot.