MIAMI _ In an effort to kick-start his miserable 2017 season, the Chicago Cubs have optioned struggling slugger Kyle Schwarber to Triple-A Iowa.
The move, along with the placement of outfielder Jason Heyward on the 10-day disabled list.
Schwarber, who started the season as the Cubs leadoff batter, is batting .171 with 75 strikeouts in 222 at-bats. After missing nearly all of last season due to two torn ligaments in his left knee, Schwarber rebounded but couldn't sustain any semblance of consistency.
"None of us saw this coming," Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said Thursday on WSCR-AM 670. "He was looking more like a slugger than a hitter. ... We want him to come back as a hitter.
"We have zero doubt that this will be good for him."
Heyward scraped his left throwing hand while trying to make a sliding catch Sunday at Pittsburgh, and the hand has been slow to heal. Heyward is likely to be placed on the DL, retroactive to Monday. Heyward, who is third among outfielders in the National League All-Star voting, is batting .258 with 29 RBIs in 55 games.
The Cubs will promote outfielder Mark Zagunis and reliever Dylan Floro from Iowa. This marks the first major league promotion for Zagunis, who is batting .249 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs. He is scheduled to start in right field Thursday.
Floro has a 3.48 ERA in 18 appearances with Iowa and has pitched in two games for the Cubs.
David Kaplan of CSN first reported Schwarber's demotion.
