Chicago Cubs’ Carlos Zambrano to return for pitching after getting hit in the face – MLB News
Carlos Zambrano who had last pitched for the Chicago Cubs on August 12 had a hit in the face in Venezuela last week, but is expected to return on Saturday, November 26. Playing in the Venezuelan Winter League, the right hander has had a wonderful season,
but last Friday’s incident brought about a lot of worry for him.
Nonetheless, he was examined on Monday and was said to be available for Saturday’s game. Appearing in Friday’s game, he gave up only two hits and an unearned run in over five innings that he pitched for his team.
All this comes in the wake of the meeting that he had with the Chicago Cubs president baseball operation, Theo Epstein on November 14. Epstein had stated in the meeting that Zambrano wanted to return to the team, but he had to work hard for that.
“He expressed a strong desire to be a Cub (again) and an even stronger desire to have a strong 2012 season. He's in great shape. He's working out twice a day, pitching down in Venezuela. I told him that we'd let him earn his right back to being a Cub.”
Zambrano, it would be worthwhile to recall, was ejected from the August 12 game due to directly throwing at Chipper Jones, not once but twice. Also, he had given up five homers in the game, which in itself was a record for any Cubs’ pitcher.
Being ejected from the game, Zambrano announced his retirement from the game. But he later stated that he had said everything in anger.
Epstein, in the post meeting press conference had commented that Zambrano had to work hard to get back his place in the team.
"We said he'd have to work hard and that we aren't welcoming him back unconditionally. We said he'd have to earn his way back."
Since that meeting, Zambrano has had three starts in the Venezuelan Winter League, in an attempt to prove he is only determined to come back but also prove that he has the capability to win, especially the new president of baseball operations’ confidence
to play.
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