Cubs News: Jed Hoyer provides glimmer of hope concerning Brandon Morrow's injury |
CHICAGO — While addressing reporters in a press conference on Tuesday, Chicago Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer was predictably asked several questions about new closer Craig Kimbrel's timeline for joining the team. However, Hoyer was also asked about former closer
Brandon Morrow, who has not pitched since last July because of a lingering elbow ailment.
Morrow underwent offseason surgery to his throwing elbow, but, unfortunately, the right-hander has not yet fully recovered from the surgery. Morrow has been injury-plagued since last spring, making his solid start to his Cubs tenure early on in the 2018 season all but a distant memory at this point. Hoyer shared a hopeful outlook when asked about Morrow's potential return this season, though, as he revealed that the reliever is training at the Cubs' facility in Mesa, Ariz., and is regularly throwing from 135 feet in order to strengthen his throwing arm. "We've been down this road a few times, where he feels good, and, then, he has a setback," Hoyer said when asked about Morrow. "I don't want to be over-optimistic. I don't want to be pessimistic." Morrow's dealings with injuries since becoming a Cub have often come with setbacks and unpredictable timetables, so it was reasonable for Hoyer to clarify that, while somewhat confident that Morrow can return at some point this season, he is not overly optimistic about Morrow pitching out of the Cubs' bullpen this year. If able to resume pitching in 2019, Morrow could potentially serve as Kimbrel's setup man and bolster a Cubs relief unit that has been consistently improving since suffering its early-season woes. "We just want him to be healthy," Hoyer said while continuing to discuss Morrow. "I just feel awful for him. Nobody is more disappointed or more frustrated. Hopefully, this time through, it works for him."