Cubs INF Nick Madrigal breaks hand in first game after demotion

Infielder Nick Madrigal's demotion from the Chicago Cubs got worse when he fractured his left hand in his first game for Triple-A Iowa.

Madrigal had doubled and drawn a walk before he was hit on the hand by a 97-mph fastball from Toledo Mud Hens pitcher Trey Wingenter in the fourth inning on Wednesday in Des Moines, Iowa.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Thursday that Madrigal was traveling to Chicago to gather more information before determining the next steps in his treatment.

Madrigal, 27, was optioned to the Triple-A affiliate on Sunday when the Cubs selected the contract of second baseman David Bote from Iowa.

Madrigal batted .221 in 51 games for Chicago with no home runs, 10 RBIs, four walks and 10 strikeouts in 86 at-bats.

He has played parts of five seasons for the Chicago White Sox (2020-21) and Cubs and is a career .274 hitter with four homers and 77 RBIs in 285 games. He came to the Cubs in a July 30, 2021 trade that sent pitcher Craig Kimbrel to the White Sox.

--Field Level Media