CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs got good news regarding top pitching prospect C.J. Edwards when his latest MRI on his right shoulder came up clean.
“It was positive,” general manager Jed Hoyer said Tuesday afternoon. “We’re going to ramp up his throwing progression now and get him back towards game action.”
Edwards last pitched for Double-A Tennessee on April 20, making four starts this year before experiencing discomfort in his throwing shoulder. Rest and shoulder-strengthening drills were prescribed and now Edwards is nearing the end of his sabbatical.
“We haven’t mapped out specifically when he’s going to pitch and where but the MRI was good news,” Hoyer said. “I was happy for C.J. Came through clean and we’ll start ramping it up.”
Edwards was the key member in a five-player trade last July when the Cubs moved Matt Garza to the Texas Rangers. Edwards is the fourth-rated Cubs prospect and top pitcher, having won minor league player of the year in 2013. He was 1-0 with a 2.61 ERA before going down with his injury.