The Cubs received good news Friday on lefty Zac Rosscup. An MRI on his left shoulder revealed no structural damage but indicated Rosscup has some inflammation in his shoulder. Rosscup told Carrie Muskat the MRI revealed “a little bit of fluid” in his shoulder as well. Rosscup said he should “be down a week or so” then he will “start cranking it up again.”
OF Justin Ruggiano is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment on Monday with Triple-A Iowa according to a report from Carrie Muskat. Ruggiano has been on the DL since April 24 with a left hamstring strain. Ruggiano suffered the injury during the meltdown in the ninth inning on the 10oth Anniversary of Wrigley Field trying to make a catch close to the right field bullpen. Ruggiano had to be helped off the field and the MRI revealed he tore his left hamstring. He was expected to be sidelined three to four weeks when he went on the 15-day DL.
The Cubs said at the time Ruggiano was placed on the DL they would stick with a 13-man pitching staff until he was ready to return.
The update on OF Ryan Sweeny does not look good. According to a report from Carrie Muskat, Ryan Sweeney has suffered a setback in his recovery from a right hamstring strain. Sweeney has been rehabbing at the Cubs’ facility in Mesa and Rick Renteria said “he’s taken a step back” in his rehab. Sweeney is “not close to starting a rehab assignment.” Sweeney tore his hamstring making a running catch on a ball hit into left center on May 2. Sweeney was placed on the 15-day DL the following day. Sweeney, like Ruggiano, was expected to miss three to four weeks at the time he went on the 15-day disabled list.
There are three outfielders on the 40-man roster, plus Logan Watkins, that could help out the big league club if there are any additional injuries. Josh Vitters has been hitting better of late (.273/.294/.576 with one double and three home runs in last 10 games) and Brett Jackson, who continues to swing and miss a lot (.157/.213/.300 with two doubles, one triple, two home runs, five walks, 31 strikeouts in 23 games) are two options. And Matt Szczur would be the third. Szczur would be a risky call-up, at best, as he has struggled with Triple-A pitching (.241/.311/.324 with four doubles, one triple and one home run in 31 games) and is not making the adjustments he needs to (.182/.250/.273 in last 10 games).
The front office might have to make decisions on certain players before they wanted to in order to clear spots on the 40-man roster. And that could lead to players that were once considered top prospects in the system being outrighted off the 40-man roster and assigned to a minor league affiliate.