Chicago Cubs infielder Nick Madrigal has struggled to get his legs below him since he was acquired by the crew in a 2022 commerce, however supervisor David Ross says that he absolutely expects him to be again with the crew sooner or later sooner or later.

Madrigal, who’s batting .247 in 93 at-bats with the Cubs this season, was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday after Kyle Hendricks was activated from the injured listing.

Throughout his pregame press availability, Ross says that the crew had a numbers crunch within the infield, and Madrigal was the odd man out.

“We’ve received lots of guys competing for taking part in time at third base, and there simply isn’t lots of room for that skillset proper now,” he mentioned. “(We’re) simply making an attempt to get him again to discovering his timing and placing good swings on the baseball.”

Madrigal discovered himself moved to the third base function after the Cubs signed Dansby Swanson, pushing Nico Hoerner to second base.

Madrigal has but to hit a house run this season and has 9 RBI’s, with two stolen bases and a .286 on-base proportion.

General, his numbers are down considerably from his time with the White Sox, with noticeable dips in his batting common and on-base proportion.

Ross says that Madrigal will proceed to work at each second and third base within the minor leagues, and praised him for his willingness to tackle a brand new place, which required him to not solely work on his arm power but additionally his footwork and consciousness.

“The factor I’m most pleased with for him is the best way he took third base. He’s been clear over there,” he mentioned. “That’s exhausting to do, and that’s gone unnoticed publicly. I maintain marveling on the skill of him to make so many varieties of performs, and the arm power he’s constructed.”

With Edwin Rios and Miles Mastrobuoni remaining on the roster, and with Patrick Knowledge and Christopher Morel taking a lot of the begins at third base, the infield is crowded for the Cubs, however Ross says he hasn’t seen the final of Madrigal.

“I’m positive he’ll be again actually quickly to assist us,” he mentioned.

He’ll nonetheless bounce round, play second and third. The factor I’m most pleased with for him is the best way he took third base. He’s been clear over there. That’s exhausting to do, that’s gone unnoticed publicly. I maintain marveling on the skill of him to make so many varieties of performs, and the arm power he’s constructed.

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