The game took a turn when Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson endured a ball to his face. Swanson struggled to adjust to an errant baseball that grazed a Minnesota Twins base runner. The ball, thrown by first baseman Michael Busch during an attempted double play, struck Swanson’s mouth at full velocity. Second baseman Nico Hoerner observed, “He’s not a dramatic person at all, so I know that when he’s going down there’s something going on. A baseball to the face never feels good. He’s a tough guy.”
Swanson remained on the field for several minutes during Friday night’s game at Wrigley Field before continuing to play. Cubs manager Craig Counsell indicated Swanson might need stitches but is expected to recover well. The missed double-play opportunity led to a four-run third inning for the Twins, resulting in a 5-2 victory against the Cubs after a four-day All-Star break.
The failed play turned a potential double play into a first-and-third situation with no outs. Twins left fielder Trevor Larnach drove in one run with a single, followed by catcher Ryan Jeffers, who hit a three-run homer to left-field bleachers. Cubs starter Colin Rea pitched six innings, allowing only the four-run third and earning three of those runs. Rea, who struck out six and walked one, wasn’t surprised Swanson remained in the game. He commented, “It just kind of shows the person that he is, the toughness that he has. He’s wanting to be out there competing and helping us. He’s not coming out of the game.”
After the game, Swanson was occupied with the training staff and unavailable for comment. Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong expressed frustration by throwing his batting helmet after a seventh-inning pop-out. “Just kind of a freak play,” Counsell remarked about Swanson’s injury. “He’s got a little gash on his face, but he should be OK.”
The Cubs trailed six games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central after Brewers’ 10-inning win over Miami Marlins. Despite this, the Cubs hold the top wild-card spot. Potential reinforcements are expected soon, including Jameson Taillon returning next week, alongside other pitcher additions. Cubs’ President of Baseball Operations, Jed Hoyer, noted potential acquisitions for pitching depth ahead of the August 3 trade deadline. The season’s first half included two 10-game win streaks and a 10-game losing streak, but opportunities remain. “It’s all about seizing opportunity,” Hoerner emphasized. “This group has put ourselves in a place where you control your own path forward, ahead of the trade deadline and toward the rest of the season.”