I-Cubs' Javier Baez fractures finger in Sunday's win

Bad news Chicago Cubs fans: Iowa Cubs infielder Javier Baez's road back to the major leagues hit a snag when he suffered a non-displaced fracture in his left ring finger during Sunday's game.

A Chicago spokesperson who confirmed the news added that the team had no timetable on how long Baez would be out and that he would be evaluated further the next couple of days. ESPN Chicago's Jesse Rogers reported Sunday that Baez will be out 4-to-8 weeks.

It's a crushing blow for the 22-year-old, 2011 first-round pick by the Cubs, who appeared on the verge of a second promotion to the big leagues before suffering the injury.

Baez suffered the injury in the seventh inning of Iowa's game Sunday when he went sliding headfirst into second base on a steal.

Fans braced as the youngster rolled around on the ground and appeared to be in pain before coming out of the game. Iowa manager Marty Pevey said after the game that Baez was taken to get X-rays on the injury.

"We'll just have to fill in," Pevey said after the game before news of the extent of Baez's injury got out. "That's what good teams do."

The timing couldn't be worse for Baez, who compiled a .314 batting average with eight home runs with Iowa this season.

It was a turnaround for Baez, who struggled during his first big league promotion in 2014 — hitting just .169 and striking out 95 times in 213 at-bats in 52 games with Chicago.

Those struggles continued into spring training, forcing the Cubs to send Baez back to the minor leagues to start the 2015 season.

The start of his season was delayed when he left the team to be with his family following the death of his sister, Noely.

Baez, who had played shortstop and second base, had recently been moved to third base. Many had saw the move as a way to help get Baez back to the majors with current Chicago third baseman Kris Bryant getting playing time in the outfield.

"He's been a great teammate," Pevey said. "His move to third base has been really good and he's playing super defense."

Baez was embracing the change and had even continued to hit well, including during Iowa's game on June 6 when he smacked a two-run home run that appeared to hit off a light pole at Principal Park.

"They know I'm going to do my job anywhere they put me on the field," Baez said following the game.

Baez was even shagging balls in the outfield.

"They say to shag some balls (in the outfield) during BP but nothing yet — nothing about playing the outfield," Baez said.

Talk of another promotion had been heating up, especially with the Cubs possibly in need of a designated hitter for the start of their interleague series against Detroit Tuesday.

Baez added that he was tuning out all the talk about a possible promotion.

"When the right time comes, we will be ready for that," he said.

Baez was already out of the game when Iowa catcher Taylor Teagarden broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the ninth inning with a walk-off single. Teagarden drove in all three of Iowa's runs with the single and a two-run homer earlier, finishing the day 3-for-4.

"Every day is a grind," Teagarden said. "You just keep working. Some days you're going to get pitches to hit, some days you're not but I was able to get three today."