Cubs marvel at growing playoff 'legend' of Schwarber

David Ross, the retiring Chicago Cubs catcher, has been in the majors for 15 years. He's seen a lot of remarkable October performances, including a ton of heroics from his former Boston Red Sox teammate David Ortiz.

But even he can't seem to comprehend what Kyle Schwarber has done in the first two games of the World Series after missing virtually the entire regular season and the first two playoff rounds thanks to torn knee ligaments sustained in the Cubs' third game of the year.

Schwarber made a shocking return to the lineup as the designated hitter during the first two games in Cleveland after just two rehab games in the Arizona Fall League. All he's done is hit .429 over those two contests, and he continued his hot hitting with a pair of RBI singles to key the Cubs' 5-1 victory over the Indians in Game 2 - all the while, leaving Ross and his teammates struggling for words to describe what the 23-year-old has done in two games after missing six months.

"The legend of Kyle Schwarber," Ross said, according to Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star.

"I like our chances (to win) with and without Schwarber," he added, per Will Graves of The Associated Press. "I like them a lot more with Schwarber."

The 39-year-old wasn't the only member of the Cubs to be left speechless by Schwarber through the first two games.

"They're going to make a movie about him," third baseman Kris Bryant told MLB.com's Carrie Muskat.

Now, as the series shifts to Wrigley Field for Game 3 - where there will be no DH to hide Schwarber and his wonky knee - questions are flying about whether the catcher/outfielder will be cleared to play in left field, or be reduced to the role of pinch-hitter until the series potentially returns to Cleveland. Manager Joe Maddon told reporters that no decision has been made and doctors will examine Schwarber in Chicago before any determination is reached.

Maddon: Doctors to decide if Schwarber can play OF

As far as the man himself is concerned, he's simply not stressing over his spot in the lineup during the next three contests. Nobody within the Cubs or around baseball expected Schwarber to be playing right now, so he's simply soaking everything in as the Cubs chase down history.

"I'm just going to keep riding the wave until it ends," Schwarber told reporters, according to ESPN's Jesse Rogers.

(Videoourtesy: MLB.com)