18 August 2023
Rest is both Marcus Stroman’s friend and enemy right now.
The schedule is working against Stroman and any hopes the Chicago Cubs right-hander will get back on the mound in the near future. Stroman on Friday spoke for the first time since the Cubs announced his right rib cartilage fracture diagnosis Tuesday. He has been prescribed rest and can’t be too active as he heals.
Stroman described barely being able to turn his body and struggling to breathe at some points. Even sleeping or sitting for long periods of time is difficult because of the fracture. But just as President Jed Hoyer expressed Wednesday uncertainty about what caused the injury, Stroman did not have any insight either Friday as to the source of the rib cartilage fracture.
“I mean, I don’t have an answer, man,” Stroman said during the Cubs’ 4-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals at Wrigley Field. “I don’t have any answers as far as how I got it.”
Stroman said he felt a little crampy feeling during his bullpen Sunday in Toronto. Afterward, he took ground balls as he often does pregame, joining in at second base alongside Christopher Morel and Patrick Wisdom, who were getting grounders at third and first base, respectively. Stroman threw a couple balls to Wisdom during the group’s infield work.
Once he cooled down Stroman said it felt hard to breathe in his diaphragm and rib-cage area, leading to the trainers checking him out. They thought he might be experiencing a problem with his appendix or gallbladder, according to Stroman, who added that he got the OK to fly home on the team charter from Toronto.
Stroman said he went straight to an emergency room once the flight landed in Chicago to rule out his gallbladder or an appendicitis. When he woke up Monday morning, he had an MRI, which revealed the rib cartilage fracture.
“It’s got to heal itself and it’s hopefully a few weeks, like, I can’t go anywhere,” Stroman said.
“I’m still trying to process it, honestly.”
As for whether he could return by the time the Cubs’ end the regular season Oct. 1, Stroman replied: “I‘m taking it day by day truly, not even looking past tomorrow.” He didn’t want to speculate on a best-case scenario.
Stroman indicated he won’t be with the Cubs on the road as he recovers.
“I don’t want to take away from everything we have going on right now so hopefully I can get it right and then come back, hopefully at some point and we’re in a playoff push and hopefully I can contribute,” Stroman said. “I’m just taking it day by day right now.
“I don’t want to take away from anything we have going on here because we’ve been playing incredibly well. Everyone’s in a great space so I want to I want to make sure everyone stays in a great space and continues to do their thing.”
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