The Cubs had everything moving in the right direction Sunday in Cincinnati until a foul ball changed the tone in an instant.
Alex Bregman was standing in the on-deck circle during the Cubs’ series finale against the Reds when he took a foul ball off the face and was immediately taken into the visitor’s clubhouse. He was later transported to a hospital in Cincinnati for testing.
The ball struck Bregman on his left cheek bone, leaving him with a cut and a bloody nose. Counsell said Bregman’s cheek is pretty swollen and that the Cubs are hoping for the best.
Busch was at the plate with two outs in the top of the fourth and Chicago already ahead 5-0 when he fouled a ball toward Bregman. It hit the Cubs’ third baseman in the face, and Matt Shaw came in to replace him.
Bregman has been one of the Cubs’ most important players in the second half, trailing only Pete Crow-Armstrong in that regard, and his absence would be a major blow with the playoffs just over a week away. That’s the immediate concern for Chicago: whether this turns into a short-term scare or something far more damaging for a lineup that has leaned on him heavily.
Before the injury, Bregman had already gotten Chicago’s scoring going by driving in his 89th run of the season. His second half has been a clear turnaround after a rough first half, and he has settled in as a central piece of Craig Counsell’s offense.
The Cubs have dealt with injuries all year, especially on the pitching side, and while they’ve mostly avoided major damage among position players, they haven’t escaped unscathed. They also just got Dansby Swanson back from a month-long IL stint, giving the infield a boost at the perfect time. Now the team is waiting for word on Bregman and hoping the news is better than the scene Sunday suggested.
In Other News...
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Chicagos camp group is now down to 47 players, and theres likely more movement ahead as the preseason schedule continues to tighten the competition. Another round of cuts could come after Mondays preseason game against Minnesota, which should give the Blackhawks another chance to separate the hopefuls from the players who are starting to look ready for the next step. [Read more 🡒]
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For Del Mastro, the path forward is tied to the details that can separate an NHL regular from a depth option. He has been working on his skating and defensive mobility to make himself harder to play against, and those improvements could be what keeps him in the conversation as camp tightens. The Blackhawks like the potential enough to keep testing him, but with the numbers game already crowding the defense, every practice and exhibition game is adding pressure to prove he belongs. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Cut Leaves Veteran Defenseman In Roster Limbo
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For now, the next stop appears to be Rockford, where Pouliot is expected to play a major defensive role for the IceHogs in the 2026-27 season. It is a familiar kind of pivot for a player at this stage of his career, one who can still help an organization depth-wise even as the path back to Chicago becomes less certain. [Read more 🡒]