Cubs: Nick Madrigal, other injured MLB players put in a tough spot

The centerpiece in last July’s Craig Kimbrel trade is yet to see in-game action as a member of the Cubs. Nick Madrigal is continuing to ramp up following a season-ending surgery to repair torn tendons in his hamstring, but the ongoing MLB lockout has certainly complicated things.

Remember – during this lockout, not only is the league pretending MLBPA members don’t exist by doing ridiculous things like scrubbing player images from team and league-owned websites, but players are barred from communicating with their respective organizations and vice versa.

That means that, while Madrigal continues to rehab ahead of the 2022 season, he can’t consult with the Cubs’ medical or training staffs. Instead, he’s going through the staff of a Phoenix-area training facility, who are communicating with the club on Madrigal’s behalf.

Ken Rosenthal’s latest piece over at The Athletic (subscription required) sheds a ton of light on rehabbing MLB players and Madrigal, specifically. Based on everything we know, it’s all systems go for the former first-rounder, who could bring a unique offensive approach to a team that’s been plagued by its three true outcome offense for years.

In his admittedly brief big league career, Madrigal is a .317/.358/.406 hitter who has showcased a tremendous ability to shorten up and put the ball in play when he’s behind in a count. It’s been some time since the Cubs lineup had a regular with that ability outside of Anthony Rizzo – and it’ll be a breath of fresh air for many who follow the team.

Cubs looking for answers from Nick Madrigal and Nico Hoerner in 2022

But looking back at Madrigal’s rehab process – it’s going to bring a certain air of uncertainty for the club until the lockout is lifted and he can get in the room with team physicians and training staff. Sure, seeing videos is nice – but it’s very different from getting to work hands-on with the infielder and assess his condition for yourself.

With the roster as it stands, Madrigal projects as the starting second baseman, which shifts former Gold Glove finalist Nico Hoerner off the position and over to shortstop. Hoerner comes with his own share of questions after battling injuries this year – and will be looking to establish himself alongside his new double play partner.

So while we might be frustrated with the apparent lack of progress toward rectifying this painful labor dispute, it’s worth stepping back and understanding that there’s pain all around – and Madrigal is a perfect example of why a new CBA needs to be hammered out sooner rather than later.