Tommy Birch

tbirch@dmreg.com

The Chicago Cubs have desperately missed Dexter Fowler as the jump-starter of the offense ever since he went down with a hamstring injury in June.

He’ll be back helping the lineup soon.

Fowler said he planned to be back on Friday after playing for the Iowa Cubs in both games of a Pacific Coast League doubleheader against Salt Lake on Wednesday at Principal Park.

“I’m ready to go,” Fowler said. “It’s been four weeks. It’s about time.”

The wait may finally be over for Fowler, who is still on the disabled list and hasn't played since June 18. Fowler was a key component to Chicago’s lineup before he went down. He hit .290 with 19 doubles, seven homers, and three triples.

When Fowler went on the disabled list, the Cubs started stumbling. The struggles continued into the All-Star break, with the Cubs losing 15 of the last 21 games before the hiatus. Without Fowler at the top of the lineup, the offense struggled to get going. It was tough on everyone.

“It’s tough anytime you’re not in the lineup,” he said. “I think that’s huge. It always sucks watching your team on TV. Win, lose, or draw, you’ve just got to hurry up and get back and have fun.”

Fowler played in one rehabilitation assignment game in South Bend on July 8. He was then in San Diego for the All-Star Game but couldn’t play after being voted in as a starter for the National League.

“It’s kind of frustrating, but at the same time, you’ve just got to go out and try to get right and come back and play,” Fowler said.

He played in both of Iowa’s seven-inning games Wednesday. Fowler went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and played center in Iowa’s 5-0 loss in Game 1. He was back in the lineup for Game 2 as the designated hitter and went 1-for-2 with a double, walk and a run scored as the designated hitter. He was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the sixth inning. Iowa won Game 2 by a 6-3 count.

Outfielder Jorge Soler, also on a rehab assignment with Iowa, went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in Game 1 and sat the back half.

Fowler's goal for Wednesday was simple.

“I’m just here to see pitches,” Fowler said. “I think that’s the main thing. I hadn’t seen pitches in four weeks. I’m just trying to do that and take some (at-bats).”

Now that Fowler has done that, his time in the minors should be done. Fowler said he didn’t plan to play Thursday when Iowa finishes its homestand at 12:08 p.m. Chicago is off, but returns to action Friday. By then, Fowler expects to be back.

“I’m playing on Friday,” he said.

Fowler will be a big addition for the Cubs who are still poised to make the playoffs and possibly a deep run into the postseason. If they will, they'll need Fowler at the top of the order.

“(He) had started off this year extremely well,” said Iowa manager Marty Pevey.

Although Fowler said he was ready to get back to the big leagues, he enjoyed his brief stay in Des Moines.

"It's been cool coming down here and getting a chance to play with the other guys and get to see this side of the game again," Fowler said.