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Cubs' Theo Epstein: Kyle Schwarber Won't Return This Season

(CBS) Cubs second-year slugger Kyle Schwarber recently left open the slight possibility that he could make a return this season from a serious knee injury. On Monday, president of baseball operations Theo Epstein closed the door entirely on that idea.

"No, he can't play this year," Epstein said before the Cubs hosted Pirates at Wrigley Field.

Schwarber tore his ACL and LCL in his left knee in the first week of the regular season on an outfield collision. He then had surgery, and his rehab has been going well, he's said on several occasions.

On Aug. 18, Schwarber indicated he was still entertaining the thought of returning this season.

"There's no comment on that — most likely probably not," Schwarber said. "So we're shooting for spring, but I'm going to push myself as hard as I can to come back as soon as I can. It sounds like it's going to be spring."

Schwarber hit .246 with 16 homers, 43 RBIs and an .842 OPS in 69 games as a rookie in 2015.

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