Cubs reliever Trent Thornton hoping to avoid IL after he was struck on
heel by comebacker
[July 22, 2026]
By TONY ANDRACKI
CHICAGO (AP) — Cubs reliever Trent Thornton is day to
day with a bruised left heel after he was struck by a comebacker.
Thornton had a CT scan on Tuesday that showed no fractures. He played
catch before the Cubs' 11-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers, and the
right-hander was optimistic about avoiding a stint on the injured list. |
Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Trent Thornton, center, is helped by a team
trainer after an injury during the 10th inning of a baseball game
against the Detroit Tigers in Chicago, Monday, July 20, 2026. (AP
Photo/Nam Y. Huh) |
|
“I got very lucky,” he said. “Definitely a lot of positive signs
today.”
Thornton came in to pitch the 10th inning in the Cubs' series
opener against the Tigers. But he was helped off the field after
he was hit by Riley Greene’s 108.9 mph liner.
The 32-year-old Thornton credited his Mizuno cleats with helping
him avoid serious injury. He was wearing a model with a hard
shell right at the heel, while his other cleats have a soft
outer shell for that area of the foot.
The Cubs used seven relievers during Monday night's 8-6 loss,
but they are off on Thursday.
Thornton got hurt on the same day that fellow reliever Phil
Maton went on the 15-day IL for the third time this season with
right knee tendinitis.
Manager Craig Counsell said Maton received a platelet-rich
plasma injection on Tuesday. He is expected to have no
significant activity for the next three weeks.
Utilityman Matt Shaw is traveling to the team's complex in
Arizona this weekend and may start swinging a bat soon. Shaw was
placed on the IL on June 29 with a sprained left hand.
“The good news was the additional imaging showed improved
healing,” Counsell said. “That makes Matt feel good, obviously,
so we just got to get through the last little bit.”
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