Javier Baez coming close to return with Iowa Cubs

Javier Baez will make a big step in his road to recovery this week and could even be back with the Iowa Cubs next week.

Jaron Madison, the director of player development for the Chicago Cubs, said Baez could return from the disabled list next week.

“He’ll play in rehab games starting Thursday and then he’ll hopefully be back here in a little over a week,” Madison said before Iowa’s 7-1 win over the Round Rock Express Monday before an announced crowd of 5,464 fans at Principal Park. “Hopefully — assuming everything goes well.”

Baez, who hasn’t played in a game since June 7, is on the disabled list with a non-displaced fracture in his left ring finger. Madison said that Baez, who has been in Arizona after spending a week with his family, could be back by July 28.

“He’s anxious to get here, obviously,” Madison said. “He’s sick of being in Arizona but he’s in a really good place right now.”

Baez, a first-round pick by Chicago in 2011, struggled in his first big league promotion in 2014 and again during spring training earlier this year. He appeared to overcome those struggles and was off to a great start to the season, hitting .314 with eight home runs and seven doubles in 37 games with Iowa.

“His timing is going to be a little bit of an issue but hopefully he’ll shake some of that out right now while he’s down in Arizona and then come up here and get right back to where he was,” Madison said. “He was in a really good place before he left.”

While fans should expect to see Baez back with Iowa, Madison said that a few other big names in the minor leagues may not this season. Madison said that outfielder Billy McKinney and infielder Dan Vogelbach, who are both in double-A, will most likely finish the season there. Vogelbach is on the disabled list with what Madison said was a strained oblique.

“He should be back somewhere around the beginning of August, assuming things go well,” Madison said. “It’s still day-to-day.”

McKinney, who began the season at Class A Advanced, was hitting .275 with two homers, a triple and 17 doubles through his first 56 games with double-A Tennessee. Madison didn’t rule out McKinney possibly starting next season in Iowa.

“That’s definitely not out of the question,” Madison said. “Assuming he finishes up strong in Tennessee, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be ticketed to come here.”

And what about Manny Ramirez, a player-coach for Iowa last season, who is working for Chicago as a hitting consultant?

“His schedule is completely dictated by the big league club and by Theo (Epstein),” Madison said. “I haven’t heard anything about him coming down here.”

Before the game, Iowa announced a series of moves. Catcher Cael Brockmeyer was reassigned to Myrtle Beach and infielder Angelo Amendolare was reassigned to Rookie-level Mesa. Iowa infielder Chris Valaika was activated from the disabled list and catcher Luke Carlin was added to the active roster.

Chicago also brought up right-handed pitcher Rafael Soriano from Iowa.