The Chicago Cubs received a more encouraging medical update on Alex Bregman Tuesday. Despite multiple fractures near his left cheek, the third baseman will not require surgery and will not be placed on the injured list. Manager Craig Counsell said a return before the regular season ends remains possible. That is a possibility, not a clearance to play.
Bregman was struck in the face Sunday while waiting to bat against Cincinnati. Michael Busch checked his swing, and the foul ball bounced before hitting Bregman near his left eye. He left the game for hospital evaluation. The frightening scene raised immediate questions about whether Chicago would have its third baseman for the postseason.
The medical news and the next test
According to MLB's report from the Cubs clubhouse, specialists found Bregman's vision to be fine. He did not show concussion symptoms, and the fractures do not require an operation. Bregman worked out Tuesday and went into the batting cage to track high velocity pitches, an early step toward testing how he responds as activity increases.
The club will continue evaluating him as the swelling subsides and his workload rises. Counsell said Bregman is intent on playing, but the Cubs have not announced a game for his return. The final weekend of the regular season, when Chicago is scheduled to visit Boston, is a possible window if his recovery continues without new symptoms.
Keeping Bregman off the injured list preserves flexibility at a consequential moment. The postseason begins next week, and losing a central part of the lineup would change Chicago's options at third base and in the middle of the order. MLB reports that Bregman has hit .262 with 26 home runs and 89 RBIs in 153 games this season. His second half has been stronger still, with a .296 average and 17 homers in 59 games.
What Chicago does in the meantime
Pedro Ramírez started at third base Tuesday, and Matt Shaw is another option while Bregman is unavailable. Neither needs to be cast as a permanent replacement. For now the Cubs can cover the position while allowing Bregman to progress through the medical checks that matter more than an ambitious target date.
The distinction is important: avoiding surgery and the injured list is genuinely good news, but it does not eliminate the facial fractures or guarantee a weekend return. The next useful update will be whether Bregman can resume fuller baseball activity without worsening symptoms and be cleared for a game.
*Featured image: Alex Bregman playing for Houston in 2018, shown as a file photo, not an image of Sunday's injury. Photo by Udeezy via Wikimedia Commons, [CC BY SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). No changes made.*