Chicago Sports

Before a horrific war broke out in Ukraine earlier this year and seized the world’s attention and empathy, a visit by the once little-known Kyiv City Ballet might not have attracted much notice. But there is buzz aplenty as the company undertakes its first-ever American tour Sept. 16 through Oct. 24, with performances Sept. 24 and 25 at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells.

“We’re nervous and excited at the same time,” said Artistic Director Ivan Kozlov from Paris.

For its Chicago performances (auditoriumtheatre.org), the company will perform three works: “Thoughts,” created by company dancer Vladyslav Dobshynskyi; “Tribute to Peace,” by Kozlov and his wife, Ekaterina, and a trio of wedding pas de deux from such famed classical ballets as “La Bayad?re” and “Don Quixote.”

In 2012, Kozlov was asked to assemble a group of Ukrainian dancers for a European tour, and he decided to turn the temporary group into a permanent company, boldly basing its name on the famed New York City Ballet.

The bulk of the 40-member Kyiv City Ballet was on tour in Paris when the hostilities began in February, with the rest arriving later from elsewhere in Europe. The city has sheltered these unwitting dance refugees since, with the famed Th??tre du Ch?telet providing rehearsal space.

Despite the dark cloud hanging over them, the dancers have stayed true to their artistic vocation. “For us, it’s very important to be busy right now,” said Kozlov. “There is actually no place to go except to work. We’re trying to organize tour after tour, so we’ll have a place to work and to perform as much as possible.”

Although the dancers feel fortunate to maintain their jobs, they are still far from home and have to deal with the day-to-day uncertainty of what might happen to families and friends who are still in Ukraine. “As soon as it is safe, we are more than happy to go home,” Kozlov said. “Home is home.”

Sept. 8, “It Starts Now,” Alejandro Cerrudo + Artists, Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph (harristheaterchicago.org). Cerrudo makes his first return to the Harris stage since serving as resident choreographer with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago from 2008 through 2018. The Spanish choreographer was appointed artistic director of the Charlotte Ballet earlier this year, but he will be represented here with his first independently produced project, which debuted at New York’s Joyce Theater in 2020.

Sept. 23-24 and Sept. 30-Oct. 1, Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival, Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St. (hccdf.com). This 12-year-old event is produced by Nicole Gifford, who leads her own namesake company, and Melissa Mallinson, director of Ology Dance. This year’s installment showcases Chicago groups like the Joel Hall Dancers and Hot Crowd Dance Company as well as visiting ensembles such as the Marquez Dance Project from Cleveland.

Sept. 29-Oct. 2, “Refraction,” Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Harris Theater (harristheaterchicago.org). Hubbard Street opens its 45th-anniversary season with a mixed bill featuring works by three widely recognized choreographers. These include “The Windless Hold” by Cuban choreographer Osnel Delgado and “Dichotomy of a Journey” by Darrell Grand Moultrie, who has created dance works for an array of top companies and collaborated with Beyonc?.

Oct. 9, Music of the Baroque and South Shore Dance, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, and Oct. 11, Harris Theater(baroque.org). Chicago’s Music of the Baroque, a chamber orchestra focused on music of the 17th and 18th centuries, will collaborate for the first-time ever with a dance company during this set of concerts. South Chicago Dance will take the stage as the musical ensemble performs selections from German composer Michael Praetorius’ “Terpsichore,” a 1612 group of more than 300 instrumental dances named for the muse of dance.

Oct. 12-23, “Beyond Borders,” Joffrey Ballet, Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Upper Wacker (joffrey.org). Joffrey Ballet, Chicago’s largest and most widely known dance company, launches its 2022-23 season with a mixed bill. The line-up from past and present includes a new work by Chanel DaSilva and “Suite Saint-Sa?ns,” a classic by the company’s late co-founder, Gerald Arpino.

Oct. 13-16, Elevate Chicago Dance 2022, six locations including The Dance Center of Columbia College, 1306 S. Michigan (chicagodancemakers.org). Ysay? Alma, Donnetta Jackson and Trae Turner are among the 30 area choreographers and companies who will take part in the third installment of this citywide festival, organized by the Chicago Dancemakers Forum. Featured will be indoor and outdoor performances, as well as workshops, panel discussions and in-person and virtual screenings.

Oct. 14 and 15, Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan, Auditorium Theatre (auditoriumtheatre.org). Founded in 1973 by choreographer Lin Hwai-min, the widely traveled Taiwanese company reinterprets Asian mythology and folklore through a contemporary lens. Cheng Tsung-lung, who took over as artistic director in 2020, created this fantastical work based on his mother’s accounts of “13 Tongues,” a celebrated 1960s street performer, and his memories of Bangka, the oldest district in Taipei.

Oct. 21 and 22, Giordano Dance Chicago, Harris Theater (harristheaterchicago.org). Giordano Dance Chicago, one of this country’s oldest jazz-dance companies, marks its 60th anniversary in 2023. Under the artistic leadership of Nan Giordano, the daughter of the company’s founder, it will open its celebratory season with a new work by Cesar Salinas, Giordano’s associate artistic director, and other selections from the company’s repertoire.

Oct. 27-28, “The Rite of Spring/common ground[s],” Harris Theater, co-production of the Pina Bausch Foundation, Ecole des Sables, and Sadler’s Wells (harristheaterchicago.org). Few names are more iconic in the history of modern dance than Pina Bausch (1940-2009), who gained international renown with her stylized, expressionist brand of dance theater. A group of dancers from 14 West African countries will revive Bausch’s milestone 1975 work, “The Rite of Spring,” and dancer-choreographers Germaine Acogny and Malou Airaudo, a Bausch acolyte, will perform “common ground[s],” a duet they created exploring their shared experiences.

Nov. 5, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Auditorium Theatre (auditoriumtheatre.org). Deeply Rooted recently marked its 25th anniversary as one of Chicago’s top dance companies, with a distinctive contemporary style that melds ballet and modern dance with African and African American dance. The 10-member company will present a program mixing existing repertoire with new works.

Read More

Chicago Bears reporter Brad Biggs hints at relocation for the franchise by the end of the year

The Chicago Bears are set to open the 2022 season next week at home, against the San Fransisco 49ers as Soldier Field will be packed with hopeful fans ready to cheer on Justin Fields and company.

One of the main topics of concern for the Bears, (outside of the roster), is the status of Soldier Field. It’s been no secret to how God awful the field has been over the years. Quite frankly, It doesn’t look like it’s getting better anytime soon.

Chicago Tribune reporter Brad Biggs was on the Pat McCafe show this past week, and wasn’t coy about the possibility of the Chicago Bears moving to Arlington Heights.

Even Bears players agree, something has to change. The field conditions have been constantly criticized this pre-season, and in seasons past. Robert Quinn and Cairo Santos are examples.

The NFL has also stepped in and tried to convince ownership to move the Bears. At this point they need to start laying the groundwork, because it seems like a no brainer.

Follow us on Twitter at @chicitysports23 for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Chicago sports news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE

Read More

Chicago Bears win total, as predicted by Sports Illustrated is laughable at its face.

In what amounts the most asinine prediction about the Chicago Bears’ season I’ve read to date, the once illustrious Sports Illustrated has predicted a three win season.

Sports Illustrated predicts that the Chicago Bears will finish this season last in the NFC North with a record of 3-14.

— Daniel Greenberg (@ChiSportUpdates) September 1, 2022

Sports Illustrated has cut back on respectable sports journalists over the last 15 years as it has faded into the oblivion of the digital age of journalism.  Unable to keep up and adjust to the dawning of the internet age, has left SI looking downright laughable.

At face value the Chicago Bears have a schedule with seven possible wins on it against teams that are in a worse roster and quarterback situation.  The Houston Texans, Atlanta Falcons, New York Jets and Giants, Washington Commanders all appear on the Bears’ schedule.

The quarterbacks of those teams are Davis Mills, Marcus Mariota, Zach Wilson, Daniel Jones and Carson Wentz.  None of those five quarterbacks are on the level of Justin Fields.  Neither of those teams have a roster that’s loaded with talent that should also give the Bears issues.

Adding to it the Patriots have a bottom five roster in the NFL, the Lions are still a team that only won two games a year ago and despite all the talent in Miami, and Philadelphia there’s no reason to fear Jalen Hurts or Tua Tagavailoa as QBs.

Even the best betting experts in Las Vegas have the Chicago Bears’ win total tagged at a respectable 6.5, a total on par with the actual reality of where the Bears are headed.

Read More

White Sox center fielder Luis Robert, who hasn’t started a game on the team’s current home stand due to a sore left wrist, went home Thursday morning before the team’s game against the Royals for the birth of his child.

Acting manager Miguel Cairo was hopeful Robert would return to the team this weekend when the Sox host the Twins at Guaranteed Rate Field. The team entered Thursday’s game in third place in the American League Central, five games behind the Guardians and three and half games behind the Twins.

Robert was in obvious discomfort swinging the bat during his last start Thursday, a 4-3 loss in 11 innings in Baltimore. He has appeared in two games since, as a pinch runner and defensive replacement.

Foster, Haseley added to roster

Right-hander Matt Foster and outfielder Adam Haseley were added as major league rosters expanded to 28 on the first day of September.

Right-handed starter Michael Kopech and lefty reliever Aaron Bummer are expected to rejoin the team after healing from injuries, so the roster remains in flux for the final month.

Foster owns a 4.50 ERA in 47 relief appearances this season. The left-handed Haseley was batting .243/.313/.428 with 14 home runs in 91 games for Charlotte. In 11 games over two stints with the Sox this season, he went 5-for-20 with two RBI and three runs scored.

Team meeting

A players only meeting was held Thursday morning as the Sox attempt to make one last push to save a disappointing season.

“Communication is the thing that’s most important,” Cairo said. “Honesty. Have to be up front. Guys not playing that day, be ready to do their job.

“We’re going to have fun. As soon as you cross that line, it’s a battle. You have to be a warrior.”

The Sox broke a five-game losing streak with a 4-2 win against the Royals, Cairo’s second in command after manager Tony La Russa left the team for medical tests.

“Tony is kind of like the soul, like the centerpiece of our team,” Cairo said. “Not having him here, it feels like a little empty. We’ve got to do this for him. He’s going to go through some testing today and we’ll find out later on what is going on.”

All for one

Cairo, the team’s bench coach, said he will be his own man as he handles his new duties. But he’ll rely on those around him.

“I’ve got a good group of coaches, they’re going to help me,” he said. “I’m going to ask for their opinion and then I make the decision. But this is teamwork, we’re going to do it together, the players, the front office, myself and the coaching staff.”

Cairo has fielded all the questions about La Russa’s current status. General manager Rick Hahn, who has not talked publicly it, is expected to talk Friday if test results are known.

Read More

After more than a month of friction with Bears linebacker Roquan Smith, general manager Ryan Poles said Thursday he still believes the relationship can be repaired and a long-term contract is possible.

“First of all, he’s a good player — that’s never changed,” Poles said. “And he’s a good dude. I have faith that he’s gonna have a good year, and we’ll work on our relationship and all that.

“It’s not even a bad thing, either. We’ve all been there, right? You have disagreements and you have to come back together and be teammates. That’s what I expect.”

Negotiations deteriorated to the point that Smith wouldn’t practice and eventually requested a trade. The Bears declined to deal him, and Smith returned to work Aug. 20 after missing 15 practices.

In a letter explaining his trade request, Smith ripped Poles for trying take advantage of him with “take-it-or-leave-it” offers and not negotiating “in good faith.” He said the Poles-led front office “doesn’t value me.”

“It’s human nature,” Poles said. “When things happen and two sides don’t agree on something, it’s gonna take a little time to do that. I’ve got a lot of faith that that’s going to happen, and I’m excited for it.”

Smith reiterated Wednesday he would not entertain any contract offers from the Bears at this point.

Smith is entering the final season of his rookie contract and will play for $9.7 million, then become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. The Bears could keep him by using the franchise tag each of the next two seasons.

Read More

The Bears put N’Keal Harry on injured reserve Thursday, creating an open roster spot but ensuring the wide receiver will miss at least the first four games of the season.

Harry suffered a high-ankle sprain during practice last month, prompting surgery and a belief he’d be ready to play in October. The IR trip was not a surprise, though head coach Matt Eberflus played coy about it Wednesday.

His injury further clouded the Bears’ receiving room, which is, on paper, one of the worst in the league. Byron Pringle and Velus Jones both remain out with injuries; Pringle, who entered the preseason as the Bears’ No. 2 receiver, has missed most of training camp.

In July, the Bears sent the Patriots a 2024 seventh-round pick for Harry, a former first-round draft pick who had disappointed during his time in New England.

Also Thursday, the Bears signed linebacker Joe Thomas, who spent training camp at Halas Hall, to their practice squad. They also added tackle Kellen Diesch, a rookie from Texas A&M who’d spent the preseason with the Dolphins.

Read More

The 2022 season for the White Sox has been quite the disappointing rollercoaster ride. At the start of the season it seemed as if the White Sox were ready to make a run this year, they had all the pieces a fan would think are necessary to make a world series run. The Sox had a solid rotation led by Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn and the emergence of Dylan Cease. The bullpen was seen as a strength headed by the three headed monster that is Liam Hendricks, Garret Crochet, and Aaron Bummer. The White-sox lineup was also viewed as one of the best in all of baseball. With guys like Eloy Jimenez, Luis Robert, Jose abreu and Tim Anderson playing almost everyday what could go wrong.

Seemingly everything has gone wrong for the Sox this year and while they are within striking distance of a wildcard spot, things aren’t-looking so great on the southside. We can play the blame game all day long but what every fan wants to know is how is the team going to get better and contend for a title next year?

Make signing Andrew Benintendi a priority

This offseason Andrew Benintendi is a free agent. I think he would be a perfect fit for the White Sox. Especially with the decision of what to do with Jose Abreu looming (I will get into that later) signing Benintendi makes all the sense in the world. Benintendi plays gold glove caliber defense which the White Sox desperately need. He is coming off his first all star appearance and probably should have been an all star in prior seasons. Benintendi can do a little bit of everything. He gets on base consistently, will hit a solid amount of RBI’s and will hit for average. He fits like a glove for the Sox.

This is going to hit White Sox fans where it hurts. All good things must come to an end as is the case with Abreu’s relationship with the Sox. Abreu has been one of the most consistent first baseman in all of baseball ever since he came into the MLB. With that being said, Abreu is having another good season and even though he is older, he will likely command more money when he hits the market. He certainly will cost more than Andrew Vaughn who should replace Abreu at first. First base is Vaughns natural position and he has proved he is here to stay. It just makes sense for the White Sox to let Abreu walk financially.

The White Sox need to monitor the whole free agent class as a whole

This upcoming free agent class is absolutely loaded. With Jose Abreu departing possibly the White Sox could have some wiggle room in terms of spending this offseason. The free agent list is headlined by guys like Aaron judge (who will most likely win this year’s AL MVP award), Trea Turner, Carlos Correa, Carlos Rodon, and possibly even MLB superstars Jacob DeGrom and Nolan Arenado. Can you even imagine adding even one of these guys to the White Sox? I think if the White Sox find themselves in a position to add a superstar to the fold, they pull the trigger.

Add another lefty to the bullpen

In a perfect world, adding another left handed pitcher to the White Sox bullpen would not be a priority this offseason. However thus is not the case for Chicago. With Garrett Crochet coming off TJ there’s questions surrounding how he will bounce back. Aaron Bummer has also had his own respective injuries this season. Once these two guys go down who’s left for the Sox? As of right now the White Sox have one lone lefty in the pen. That would be Jake Diekman who has been up and down. The options available by way of free agency for left handed arms are actually pretty solid. Flamethrower Aroldis Chapman will be available though he comes with baggage. Will Smith is available. If Andrew Chaffin opts out of his player option he will be a premier arm available. The options are there for the White Sox. I think adding another lefty to the pen as an insurance policy will be beneficial down the road for the team.

Upgrade defense

The White Sox rank 24th in terms of total team defensive runs saved and anyone who has watched the Sox this season knows defense is a problem. Whether the issue is guys being put in positions they aren’t familiar with or just ability, the issue needs to be addressed. One inexpensive solution would be bringing on a guy like Jackie Bradley Jr. JBJ is a UFA this upcoming offseason and while he may lack with the bat, he is exceptional in the outfield and would bring real value to the White Sox off the bench. Plugging in JBJ late in a game could win an extra game or two for the White Sox. I also recommend  taking a flier on Jose iglesias. Same as JBJ he struggles with the bat from time to time but he would bring a slick gloved veteran presence  to a young team who struggles with defense. Whoever the White Sox bring in this offseason, the defense needs to be addressed in order for this team to seriously contend for a title.

Make Michael Conforto a White Sox

Michael Conforto is a free agent in the upcoming offseason and I believe he fits perfectly for the White Sox. Before the season started there was interest between the two parties and the media still believes the White Sox should sign him for the rest of the season. Conforto provides a left handed bat with some thump in it especially against righties. Conforto is also a quality fielder and would provide an upgrade over the current options on the roster.

Overall the White Sox don’t need much to contend for a title in 2023. All the big pieces are already there. A very solid rotation and a lineup with potential through the roof. If they just add a few pieces here and there and are willing to open up the ole’ wallet this offseason, they will be atop the AL central and the baseball world in no time.

For More Great Chicago Sports Content

Follow us on Twitter at @chicitysports23 for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Chicago sports news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE

Read More

TORONTO – A conversation about aggressive base running with Cubs third base coach Willie Harris doesn’t just cover a general mindset.

He’ll delve into the opposing pitcher and how likely he is to give up another hit. He’ll pick apart the fielder, his arm, where and how he’s picking up the ball. He’ll analyze his own baserunner’s speed and jump.

“It’s a fine line between being smart and aggressive,” he said earlier this season.

Too often in their series against the Blue Jays this week the Cubs leaned too far to the side of “aggressive” and left “smart” behind.

Overall, August has been a good month for the Cubs. Their 15-15 record has been their best in any month since May of last year. And they closed out this August – and a stretch of 20 games in 19 days – with a win, beating the Blue Jays 7-5 on Wednesday.

“We’ve still got to get better in a lot of areas,” manager David Ross said. “There’s still some base running stuff we can clean up. There’s still, defensively, some things we can clean up. But this club is so fun to manage because of the way they go about their business on a daily basis, how they want to get better, where they’re willing to learn, the conversations they’re willing to have.”

As far as base running goes, they’re already having those conversations.

Pushing the envelope on the base paths has been a focus for the Cubs all season. Though the Cubs added power to their lineup by claiming Franmil Reyes off waivers earlier this month, they entered Thursday ranked No. 23 in the league in RBI (506) this season.

Sometimes they have to come up with more creative ways to manufacture scoring opportunities. Against poor defensive teams, they’ve been able to prompt unnecessary or wild throws and capitalize.

Against the Blue Jays, they more often ran themselves out of innings. And the issue was widespread.

“We have to be always aggressive,” Reyes said, “but you have to be very smart about when to use it.”

Reyes is sneakily speedy for a 6-foot-5 power hitter. But in the Cubs’ 5-4 loss Monday, he wasn’t quite fast enough to go from first to third on Nico Hoerner’s ground-ball single through the right side of the field in the fourth inning, or to leg out a double on a fly ball to shallow right-center field in the 11th.

“I have to recognize who I am as a runner,” he said. “I cannot make it to every base.”

In the same game, Nick Madrigal tested Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s arm on a dropped third strike and was thrown out trying to steal home.

“You don’t want to take away the aggressiveness,” Ross said, “… But your baseball instincts also have to know Vladimir Guerrero’s a third baseman converted to a first baseman, having a really good year at first and a really good arm.”

Even the Cubs’ highest-scoring inning in their win Wednesday included outs on the base paths. Zach McKinstry was thrown out at home trying to score on a ground ball to Blue Jays second baseman Whit Merrifield, who was playing inside the base path. McKinstry was going on contact.

“I kind of got a bad jump on it,” McKinstry said. “I’ll Keep working on those.”

To end the frame, Rafael Ortega hit an RBI single but was thrown out trying to advance to second.

“We’ve got some work to do,” Ross said, “but these guys fight hard every night.”

Read More

After winning five games in a row to get five games above .500 on Aug. 16, the White Sox lost 10 of 12 games, dropping six games behind the American League Central leading Guardians.

It has felt for days like the Sox (64-66) are out of the race. But if they want to suggest otherwise, stopping a five-game losing streak with a 4-2 win over the Royals and starting a needed hot streak would help.

“The amount of talent in this clubhouse is unbelievable,” said shortstop Elvis Andrus, who hit one of two Sox homers. “Probably one of the most talented teams I’ve been on in my career, and it only takes a nice winning streak to get back in the race. Everybody knows that we’ve still got 30 more games so there’s no reason to panic. But it’s a great time to stay together and go out there and do our thing.”

Lance Lynn (4-5, 4.70 ERA) did his thing, retiring the first 10 Royals he faced and pitching seven innings of one-run ball. Coupled with a Guardians loss, the Sox trimmed their gap behind Cleveland to five heading into September.

Bobby Witt Jr.’s homer in the fourth snapped Lynn’s streak of 10 Royals down to start the game. Two singles and a hit batsman loaded the bases for Hunter Dozier, who rapped into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.

The Sox hit multiple homers for the second night in a row after going 13 straight games without multiple dingers. AJ Pollock homered against lefty Kris Bubic leading off the fourth. Andrus, batting first in acting manager Miguel Cairo’s lineup, hit his first homer in a Sox uniform in the fifth. The Sox pinned two runs on lefty Amir Garrett in the seventh, one of them on Jose Abreu’s two-out single.

Kendall Graveman pitched a perfect eighth and Liam Hendriks allowed a run in the ninth.

“Until that last out, you cannot feel comfortable,” said Cairo, who managed a 9-7 loss to the Royals (53-78) Tuesday. “Today that’s the feeling. Big deep breath, and let it go and do it again tomorrow.”

Cairo goes with his gut

Cairo said he manages with his “gut” more than metrics.

“I watch the game, I watch the scoreboard, that tells you everything,” he said.

Handling the pitching is “the hardest part,” Cairo, 48, said, but he will rely heavily on pitching coach Ethan Katz and bullpen coach Curt Hasler. He also has former manager Jerry Narron nearby.

“So it’s going to be teamwork and we’ve got to do it for Tony,” Cairo said.

Roster moves

Lynn was removed from the Bereavement List before the game, and catcher Yasmani Grandal returned his injury (left knee) rehab assignment at Triple-A Charlotte. Grandal walked twice. Left-hander Tanner Banks and catcher Carlos P?rez were optioned to Charlotte.

This and that

Center fielder Luis Robert missed a fifth straight start due to a sore left wrist but was a defensive replacement in the ninth inning.

*Second baseman Romy Gonzalez had two singles and made a leaping catch on a Nicky Lopez liner in the eighth.

*The Sept. 14 home game against the Rockies was changed from a 7:10 p.m. start to 1:10 p.m. start. The Sox play one makeup afternoon game in Cleveland the next day.

*Minor league right-hander Taylor Broadway was sent to the Red Sox to complete the Jake Diekman trade.

*The Sox’ Cactus League spring training opener is Feb. 25 against the Padres at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. Spring training concludes with two games against the Cubs at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz., March 27-28. The Sox play the Cubs four times.

Read More

TORONTO – In August 2019, Jeremiah Estrada underwent Tommy John surgery. In August 2021, Estrada was hospitalized with COVID-19.

“This year, I was just like, ‘I’m scared of August,'” he said.

Estrada had almost made it through the month when he got the news: He was headed to the big-leagues.

Estrada made his major-league debut on Tuesday in Toronto, throwing a hitless inning and striking out two. His fastball averaged 98.1 mph.

“He’s got some unique stuff, especially the fastball,” pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said. “It’s such a unique profile, and it just carries. It’s a really good pitch. And then, obviously, the breaking balls that can play off of it.”

Estrada hasn’t had an easy path to MLB. Due to injuries and the cancellation of the 2020 minor-league season, Estrada didn’t pitch in a regular-season game from July 2019 through May 2021.

“It was a lot of grief,” he said. “Just a lot of stuff that you wanted to feel like you could do, but you couldn’t. And it was a tough feeling. But at the end of the grief, there’s four stages of it, and I was just like, I need to add another one, which is revenge. Which is my time to come back and to just do what I can do.”

He did just that, posting a 1.57 ERA in Single-A Myrtle Beach in 2021. But his hospitalization at the end of last season didn’t just threaten his career.

“I almost died from it,” he said.

Estrada was on the injured list working back from elbow tightness when he tested positive for COVID-19 in late August.

At first, Estrada just had a headache, sore throat and lost his taste and smell. But a week into his illness, he said, he started throwing up for hours on end. Over the next several days, he made multiple trips to the hospital to receive IV fluids and medication.

He started puking black fluids and experienced other gastrointestinal issues. He had chills, a fever of 102 degrees, hallucinations. Eventually, his oxygen levels dropped dangerously low, and he was put on oxygen.

He said he spent a couple weeks in the hospital.

“It was just the worst feeling and the worst pain I’ve ever felt in my life,” he said. “I remember not eating for like two weeks. And it was just the worst feeling ever.”

He said his dad, Ramiro, called the hospital to check on his son, and the medical staff member he talked to told him to pray.

The next day, his appetite returned. He finally ate some graham crackers. He’d turned a corner.

A year later, he made his MLB debut.

“It’s absolutely unreal,” he said, standing outside the Rogers Center visitors’ clubhouse. “It was a blessing. I’m just glad to be here.”

Estrada said he wasn’t vaccinated against COVID-19 when he got sick last year. But once his sense of taste and smell returned in late July, he got the shots.

“I hate shots,” he said. “But I was just like, ‘That’s what the Cubs want. … I trust them.”

Because he was fully vaccinated by the Cubs’ series in Toronto this week, he was eligible to serve as a substitute player when the Cubs placed Justin Steele and Adrian Sampson on the restricted list due to Canada’s requirements for entry.

With the opportunity, Estrada impressed. He struck out the first batter he faced, Teoscar Hern?ndez, on three straight fastballs and a slider. He walked Santiago Espinal. But then he struck out Danny Jansen and induced a groundout from Jackie Bradley Jr. to finish the frame.

Not a bad end to August 2022.

Read More