Chicago Cubs' Schwarber not cleared to play defense

The legend of Kyle Schwarber already has grown to near-mythic proportions among Chicago Cubs fans.

Just think of what it may be if he steps to the plate over the next three days in the style of Roy Hobbs or Kirk Gibson and hits a mighty blast.

That's the silver lining Schwarber and the Cubs are looking at in light of Thursday's decision by doctors not to clear him to play the field in Games 3, 4 and 5 of the World Series at Wrigley Field this weekend.

Schwarber, who had major knee surgery in April, served as the designated hitter in Games 1 and 2 in Cleveland, going 3-for-7 with a double and 4 RBI as the teams split two games.

The fact that Schwarber has been able to play is somewhat of a medical marvel. It was just more than a week ago, at his six-month checkup, that his surgeon, Dr. Dan Cooper, cleared Schwarber for batting and baserunning.

The Cubs and the 23-year-old Schwarber had hoped to push it further this weekend, but word came down Thursday that it was too risky.

So Schwarber will be limited to pinch-hitting duties this weekend, when the DH is not in use at the National League park.

Cubs president Theo Epstein said Schwarber "pushed back at first," but in the end, the catcher-outfielder went with the program.

"Oh, it's not disappointing at all," Schwarber said. "It was a longshot at the most. You know, obviously, I want to be out there for my teammates and everything. It's just the competitor inside me.

"But facts are facts. I just can't physically do it. So I'm going to be ready at any time during the game to go out there and pinch hit."

Schwarber stretched and took batting practice with his teammates during Thursday's off-day workout at Wrigley Field. He carried his glove out to left field but did not shag any baseballs.

Still, he held out a glimmer of hope after performing so well at the plate in Cleveland after being away from major-league pitchers for sixth months.

"Deep down in my heart, I really wanted to," he said. "But there's obviously the doubts of the injury. You know, it was a huge injury, and that's the facts.

"Not many people get this opportunity that I'm in right now, so I'm embracing this opportunity that I've got, and I'm going to cheer my teammates and when my time comes I'm going to be ready for that opportunity."

Schwarber tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee on April 7 in a collision with center fielder Dexter Fowler at Chase Field in Arizona.

He got after the rehab hard and impressed the Cubs and his teammates all the way. Even with the hard work, playing the outfield presented too many risks, according to the medical people.

Epstein said: "Medically, the doctors were very convicted that there's just too much risk in playing the outfield because of the dynamic actions involved, the instantaneous reactions, the need to cut in the outfield, the dynamic, athletic movements that are unanticipated in the outfield, your instinct in reacting to balls that just aren't the case when you're running the bases."

Epstein admitted the Cubs were disappointed, but "that's why you have to consult the doctors and follow their professional judgment."

Schwarber has gained larger-than-life status, in part because of his postseason heroics last October, when he hit 5 home runs, including one against the St. Louis Cardinals that landed atop the videoboard in right field.

He was cheered loudly before Opening Night at Wrigley Field in April and again before the earlier playoff rounds. The fans have taken to Schwarber's determination to rehab his knee and also to his everyman persona.

"He's always had that type of personality," Epstein said. "If you go back and talk to people he played with in high school, that's the way he was in high school on the baseball field, on the football field, in the school choir, dance choir."

Manager Joe Maddon also weighed in.

"You how much I dig on that," he said of Schwarber's status. "Maybe, I don't know, five guys might have been able to to pull off what he's done. He's an incredible young man."

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