Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman returned to action against the Boston Red Sox on Friday, marking his first game appearance since sustaining multiple facial fractures from a foul ball in the on-deck circle last week.
Return to Fenway Park Following Freak Injury
The injury occurred last Sunday during the Chicago Cubs’ 9-1 victory at Cincinnati, when a foul ball off the bat of teammate Michael Busch struck Bregman. The three-time All-Star slotted into the Cubs’ lineup as the designated hitter for his return to Fenway Park. Bregman spent the 2025 Major League Baseball season playing for the Boston Red Sox before entering free agency and signing a $175 million, five-year contract with Chicago.
Manager Craig Counsell on Bregman’s Recovery and Toughness
"It shows his toughness, No. 1 and just his desire to play baseball,” Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. Team medical staff cleared Bregman after he recorded two strong days of preparation. “Yesterday he was ready to go and he was itching to get in the game. Has had good work days and ready to go,” Counsell added.
The return coincides with a significant milestone for the club, as the Chicago Cubs clinched an National League wild card berth on Thursday. Discussing the unusual nature of the mishap, Counsell noted that the team addressed potential concerns with the infielder before clearing him for game action.
“He feels up to going and the doctors said he can go,” Counsell said. “It’s a freak injury, an injury we don’t deal with very often… So you’re unaware of the risks and things like that. There are risks and we’ve talked to Alex about that. But I think we’ve done the best we can to minimize them and then move forward.”
