Cubs Receive Promising News on Return of Two Key Players
July 18, 2025
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Andrew Wright is a Newsweek contributor based in Lancaster, South Carolina. His focus is MLB content. Andrew has been with Newsweek since April 1st and previously worked at Yardbarker, SEC Unfiltered and more. He is a graduate of Charleston Southern University.
You can get in touch with Andrew by emailing a.wright@newsweek.com or dew4417@icloud.com
Andrew Wright
Contributing Sports Writer
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Reinforcements are coming for the Chicago Cubs.
The Cubs opened the unofficial second half of the season among the serious World Series contenders across the league.
The team received good news Friday when general manager Carter Hawkins spoke to the media and announced that starting pitcher Javier Assad and catcher Miguel Amaya are expected to return in August.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – AUGUST 20: Javier Assad and Miguel Amaya of the Chicago Cubs exit the field of play in a game against the Detroit Tigers at Wrigley Field on August 20, 2024 in Chicago,… CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – AUGUST 20: Javier Assad and Miguel Amaya of the Chicago Cubs exit the field of play in a game against the Detroit Tigers at Wrigley Field on August 20, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.
Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images
“I think we’re looking at August for both of those guys,” Hawkins told Leila Rahmi and Ramie Makhlouf of 670 The Score. “It would be really, really nice to have them back.”
Carter Hawkins shares health updates on Javier Assad (oblique) and Miguel Amaya (oblique).
“I think we’re looking at August for both of those guys,” Hawkins says. “It would be really, really nice to have them back.” pic.twitter.com/c2cHiLiPNR
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) July 18, 2025
Assad injured his oblique during spring training and has not yet been able to make it back to a major league mound. He made 29 starts for Chicago last season, going 7-6 with a 3.73 ERA and 124 strikeouts in 147 innings pitched.
He’s put together solid numbers over his three seasons in the majors, with a career 3.40 ERA and 248 strikeouts across 70 appearances and 294 innings pitched.
Amaya was the starting catcher for the Cubs to start the season and was performing at an excellent clip before going down with an oblique injury of his own.
He had a .280 average with four home runs, nine doubles, 22 RBIs and an .819 OPS. The duo of Amaya and Carson Kelly behind the plate for the Cubs was and still is a huge reason that they rank No. 1 in Wins Above Average at catcher.
Cubs Catcher Miguel Amaya has taken huge strides this year at the dish and behind it
After putting up just 0.7 fWAR in 117 games last season, he’s now slashing .280/.313/.505 with a 128 wRC+ in 100 PA
He’s also lowered his poptime from 2.04 to 1.98 (82.7 MPH Avg Velo) pic.twitter.com/GNqPxnKnpY
— Kick Dirt Baseball (@KickDirtBB) June 18, 2025
The return of those two certainly aren’t the groundbreaking and needle-moving moves that will put Chicago over the top in the National League.
They are however, two important pieces that will help bolster the depth of the roster and help the Cubs secure their first division championship and playoff appearance since 2020.
More MLB: Cardinals Insider Predicts Former Reliever Of Year Stays Put At Deadline
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