Pederson (wrist) goes on IL; Hoerner up

CHICAGO -- Joc Pederson had such an incredible Cactus League showing this spring that it made his struggles out of the gates this season a bit perplexing. At least a partial explanation arrived prior to Thursday's game against the Mets.

Less than two hours before first pitch, the Cubs announced that Pederson was placed on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to Wednesday) due to tendinitis in his left wrist. Infielder Nico Hoerner was recalled from Chicago's alternate training site.

"Unfortunately, I did not start the season the way I wanted or planned," Pederson said earlier this week. "But, I think that's life, that's baseball. You've got to adapt, make some adjustments. It kind of hit me by surprise, especially the way I was feeling during spring."

Pederson gave those comments prior to Tuesday's game, when he then went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in frigid conditions against the Mets. The outfielder was then out of the starting lineup on Wednesday and Thursday, leading up to the IL decision.

Following Thursday's 4-3 win in 10 innings over the Mets, Cubs manager David Ross said the wrist issue flared up in "the last day or two." The manager noted that Pederson saw a specialist, but has not yet undergone an MRI exam.

"That's one of those things that we're going to have to monitor it a little bit," Ross said of the injury. "We'll get him some rest with the IL stint and see how he feels in a couple days."

On the season, Pederson has hit .137 (7-for-51) with one home run, four RBIs and a .498 OPS in 16 games. By comparison, he was on a tear in Spring Training, hitting .378 with eight homers, 19 RBIs, 45 total bases and a 1.431 OPS in 18 preseason games.

"I'm not really too worried about not coming out of it," Pederson said. "I know I'm a really good baseball player. So, I'm not going to let 30 at-bats -- as frustrating and as much as it makes you feel like you've never picked up a bat -- dictate how I feel about myself as a baseball player."

In the meantime, Hoerner gives the Cubs a versatile option for all around the infield. Like Pederson, the 23-year-old Hoerner enjoyed a torrid spring, slashing .364/.396/.659 with seven extra-base hits in 17 Cactus League games.

At the end of Spring Training, the Cubs ultimately opted to hand the everyday second base job to David Bote, while electing to carry Matt Duffy and Eric Sogard as veteran bench bats. That left Hoerner as the odd-man out for the Opening Day roster.

This marks the third MLB stint for Hoerner, who was with the Cubs on Opening Day last year and finished as a National League Gold Glove finalist at second base. He enjoyed a solid rookie showing down the stretch in '19, and then weathered some ups and downs offensively during the '20 campaign).

Between the past stints with the Cubs over the past two seasons, Hoerner has turned in a .247/.309/.333 slash line in 68 games. A first-round pick by the Cubs in the 2018 MLB Draft, Hoerner can handle second, shortstop and third, and has limited experience in the outfield.

While Pederson is out, Ian Happ might see more action in left field, with Jake Marisnick manning center. Happ can play all three positions, while Jason Heyward patrols right and also offers a third-tier option for center.

Ross could continue to include third baseman Kris Bryant in the outfield mix. Bryant started in right field both Wednesday and Thursday night with a lefty on the mound for the Mets, and he can also man left, if needed.

"He looks so comfortable out there and at ease," Ross said Thursday about Bryant. "I mean, it really is a nice luxury to have, to be able to move a guy of his caliber around a little bit. ... He's gotten some action out there and there's been no panic in the movements. It's been very clean. I've thought he's done a great job and looks really natural out there, and that's a really big value."