Chicago Cubs infielder Nick Madrigal has struggled to get his legs beneath him considering the fact that he was acquired by the group in a 2022 trade, but manager David Ross says that he completely expects him to be back with the group at some point in the future.

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

For the duration of his pregame press availability, Ross says that the group had a numbers crunch in the infield, and Madrigal was the odd man out.

“We’ve got a lot of guys competing for playing time at third base, and there just is not a lot of space for that skillset ideal now,” he mentioned. “(We’re) just attempting to get him back to acquiring his timing and placing great swings on the baseball.”

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

Madrigal has but to hit a household run this season and has nine RBI’s, with two stolen bases and a .286 on-base percentage.

General, his numbers are down substantially from his time with the White Sox, with noticeable dips in his batting typical and on-base percentage.

Ross says that Madrigal will continue to function at each second and third base in the minor leagues, and praised him for his willingness to take on a new position, which needed him to not only function on his arm strength but also his footwork and awareness.

“The factor I’m most proud of for him is the way he took third base. He’s been clean more than there,” he mentioned. “That’s challenging to do, and that is gone unnoticed publicly. I preserve marveling at the capacity of him to make so several forms of plays, and the arm strength he’s constructed.”

With Edwin Rios and Miles Mastrobuoni remaining on the roster, and with Patrick Wisdom and Christopher Morel taking most of the begins at third base, the infield is crowded for the Cubs, but Ross says he hasn’t observed the final of Madrigal.

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

He’ll nonetheless bounce about, play second and third. The factor I’m most proud of for him is the way he took third base. He’s been clean more than there. That is challenging to do, that is gone unnoticed publicly. I preserve marveling at the capacity of him to make so several forms of plays, and the arm strength he’s constructed.

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