Cubs GM Carter Hawkins gives injury updates on two impact players

The Chicago Cubs go into the second half with a one-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the National League Central.

Chicago isn’t fully healthy, but general manager Carter Hawkins gave injury updates on two key players ahead of their series opener against the red-hot Boston Red Sox.

Both Miguel Amaya and Javier Assad are dealing with oblique injuries. Amaya was having a great season before he went down on May 24, but Assad has been sidelined since Spring Training and reaggravated his injury during a rehab start in late April.

Hawkins went on 670 The Score and discussed their timelines to return to the big league club.

“I think we’re looking at August for both of those guys,” said Hawkins. “It would be really, really nice to have them back. Our catching group has done great since Miggy has been out, obviously Reese McGuire has been outstanding in terms of his ability to be our second catcher and Carson [Kelly] has had just a heck of a year.

“Obviously, the more starting pitching you can have, the better. And certainly, a guy like Javi that’s done it before and pitched in multiple roles will be great to have. We will get those guys back in rehab games soon and hopefully have them here in August.”

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Amaya, 26, was the starting catcher before he went down, even though he and Kelly were splitting catching duties pretty much 50/50.

Amaya has four home runs and 25 RBI while slashing .280/.313/.505 with nine doubles in 27 games this season.

Assad, 27, was used only as a starter last season and was solid. He was 7-6 with a 3.73 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP in 29 starts.

Assad does walk a lot of batters, as his career strikeout-to-walk ratio is just 2. However, getting Assad back will be like adding a solid back-end starter to the rotation.

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