The Chicago Cubs reportedly are sending struggling Kyle Schwarber to Triple-A in hopes that he will rediscover the stroke that made him one of the majors most promising young sluggers just a couple of months earlier.
Schwarber, 24, began the season as the Cubs leadoff hitter but then was moved down in the order and became a platoon player in left field after his slow start reached the two-month mark.
In 261 plate appearances this season, he is hitting .171/.295/.378 with 12 homers, 28 RBI and 75 strikeouts.
Schwarber burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2015, hitting 16 homers with an .842 OPS in 69 regular-season games and then clubbing five homers that postseason. His 2016 regular season ended after only two games because of a torn ACL, but he returned unexpectedly for the World Series serving as a DH/pinch hitter, he went 7-for-20 with a double and two RBI.
Also on Thursday, the Cubs are expected to place right fielder Jason Heyward on the DL with a hand injury.
gallery:Each NL contender's biggest need ahead of the MLB trade deadline
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.