Cubs slugger Schwarber returns, doubles in Game 1

CLEVELAND — The doctors told Kyle Schwarber the day after the Chicago Cubs slugger tore two ligaments in his left knee on April 7 that his season was over.

Funny how months of relentless rehab and a chance to play in the World Series can speed up the healing process.

Schwarber batted fifth and picked up his first hit of the season — a double off the wall in right field in the fourth inning — for the National League champions in Game 1 of the Fall Classic against Cleveland ace Corey Kluber.

The lined shot by the Cubs’ designated hitter came 201 days after Schwarber’s frightening collision with teammate Dexter Fowler while chasing down a fly ball against the Arizona Diamondbacks. It was Schwarber’s first time on base since homering in Game 3 of the 2015 NLCS against the New York Mets.

Yes, even Schwarber is surprised he’s here.

“I took regular visits to the doctor every month or two, and he kept telling me, ‘It’s going to be spring training,’” Schwarber said a few hours before Game 1. “Then this past doctor’s visit I had right before we went to LA for the (NLCS) he looked at my knee, he’s like: ‘Man, it’s great. You’re strong. I’m not going to hold you back from doing anything.’”

Certainly not the chance to end Chicago’s century-plus championship drought. Schwarber played two games in the Arizona Fall League, going 1-for-6 with a double and two walks, before flying to Cleveland late Monday. One last checkup later, the guy who blasted a club-record five home runs during the 2015 playoffs found himself on the World Series roster, giving the Cubs another powerful left-handed bat and making Chicago reliever Pedro Strop’s prediction come true.

“He said all along, ‘Man, you’re going to be back for the World Series,’” Schwarber said. “But the process was a long time. I mean, at first I didn’t think I was ever going to have a normal knee again.”