Cubs option struggling Frank Schwindel to Triple-A

The Cubs optioned struggling first baseman Frank Schwindel to Triple-A Iowa before Sunday night’s game against the Dodgers.

In a corresponding move, the team selected pitcher Adrian Sampson to Iowa.

Schwindel was the Cubs’ top hitter in the second half last summer after the team’s trade deadline selloff, but he’s gotten off to a slow start at the plate this season. He holds a .209/.250/.308 slash line with two home runs and nine RBIs in 25 games.

Over his last 16 games, he’s hit .179/.220/.268.

“Somebody that we believe in but need him to get going a little bit,” manager David Ross said of Schwindel. “Get down there, work on some things, take a little bit of the pressure off and let him continue to get back to what we expect him to be, what he expects himself to be.”