Levine: Persevering Kyle Schwarber Didn't Accept His Out-For-The-Season Diagnosis

By Bruce Levine--

CLEVELAND (CBS) -- As right-hander John Lackey said about his decision to come to Chicago, so might slugger Kyle Schwarber now impart about his joining the Cubs for the World Series. He didn't come to Cleveland for a haircut.

After missing the team's last 159 regular-season games and the first 10 playoff games with a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee, the 23-year-old Schwarber will serve as the Cubs' designated hitter and bat fifth Tuesday night in Game 1 of the World Series from Progressive Field. His task: bring some thunder to the Cubs by catching up with Indians ace Corey Kluber's 95-mph heat.

"The ball will look really big to him," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Monday. "He will have to slow things down in order to control his adrenaline."

After the collision with Dexter Fowler in the outfield on April 7 caused the gruesome injury, Schwarber never accepted the Cubs' diagnosis that he'd be out the entire season. In an interview on 670 in August, Schwarber was asked if there was "any chance" of him returning this season.

"There's no comment on that -- most likely probably not," Schwarber said, leaving the door cracked to a comeback.

Schwarber attacked his rehab every day -- while also continuing to study the game and film -- and recovered more quickly than anticipated. On Oct. 17, he was cleared by doctors to swing and run the bases. A catcher/outfielder, he's not allowed to play defense.

"He's swinging the bat well and running well," Maddon said. "He has given us another option to think about. He doing everything well and right as of now."

Teammates were thrilled about the addition of Schwarber, which came at the expense of left-hander Rob Zastryzny being left off the World Series roster. He was on the National League Championship Series roster but wasn't utilized.

"Kyle was in full rehab mode from the beginning," first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. "Working so hard, in full sweats all of the time. He never went home. It's June  and he is watching video. I probably yelled at him 10 times this year -- 'What are you doing looking at your swing now?' Dude, I would say, 'What are you doing? Just watch baseball and enjoy it.' He ignored that. He was going over scouting reports. He was breaking down every game. He was trying to learn without playing."

Rizzo and his Cubs teammates have complete faith that Schwarber will add plenty to the lineup.

"He will be ready to go," Rizzo said. "So he will jump right into the fire and enjoy it. This is what he has worked six months for in rehab. This is what we all work for, from the time you start playing as a kid. It will be a special moment for him if he feels like he is ready to play. He will be really smart about it. Knowing him, he will not just play to get his name in the lineup. He's ready. He will play.

"You can ask anyone in here, it does not matter who is playing, as long as we win. We will see how it all plays out. It will mean a lot to him."

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.