Tommy Birch

tbirch@dmreg.com

Chris Coghlan has struggled to stay healthy and productive at the plate this season.

But he's gotten plenty of satisfaction from his team's success.

The Chicago Cubs outfielder is scheduled to begin a rehabilitation assignment later this week with the Iowa Cubs, who beat the Memphis Redbirds 3-2 at Principal Park on Tuesday with a tie-breaking sacrifice fly in the eighth from Munenori Kawasaki.

“When you struggle is when you really get to grow the most, and you try to learn instead of just pouting,” Coghlan said. “The best thing has been that we have such a great group of guys. We’re the best team in baseball right now, and our expectation is to win the World Series. So, that’s taken a lot off of just thinking about myself.”

The 2016 season hasn’t gone anything like Coghlan would have hoped for. The 31-year-old outfielder began the year with Oakland Athletics and was traded back to the Cubs in July after having spent the prior two seasons in Chicago. He’s had two trips to the disabled list and struggled to hit wherever he’s played. In 78 games between Oakland and Chicago, Coghlan has hit just .165 with nine doubles and five homers.

“Its’ been a rough season,” Coghlan said. “It’s been a grind.”

But the season hasn't been a total waste for Coghlan, who has come up with some key hits and plays for the Cubs, who own the best record in the majors and are considered among the favorites to win their first World Series since 1908. That team success has helped him be at ease with his individual struggles.

“It’s been a blessing,” Coghlan said. “I told my wife, even with the individual struggles, that I want to enjoy each and every day because this is my eighth season, and the last two years have just been awesome for me, personally — just winning, going to the playoffs, and the excitement for the city. We want to make history.”

Coghlan would like to be part of it. He’s working his way back since the Cubs placed him on the 15-day disabled list July 3 with a right rib cage strain. Coghlan said his rib was healing but he would have to “manage it.”

“I don’t anticipate not being able to do what I need to do when I come off the DL,” Coghlan said.

Coghlan worked out before Monday and Tuesday’s games at Principal Park. Iowa has an off day Wednesday. He anticipated being activated by Iowa to begin his rehab assignment on Thursday. Coghlan said he got to Des Moines early so he could have a better chance to take batting practice on the field.

Whenever he goes back up, Coghlan said he hopes to be a part of a postseason celebration that players have only imagined.

“Nobody knows, because nobody’s done it,” Coghlan said. “You can imagine the craziness of it. We all just talk about how long of a party it would be — just nonstop.”