Cubs spring invitee Murton has appendectomy

MESA, Ariz. -- Matt Murton's stomach was bothering him last Thursday, so he took some Tums and Pepto Bismol, but that didn't alleviate the pain. One day later, Murton was in a hospital to undergo an appendectomy.
"I can't remember [my stomach] being like that other than when I had food poisoning or had the flu," Murton said Wednesday.
A non-roster invitee in Cubs camp, Murton, 34, woke up Saturday feeling nauseated.
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"I said, 'Something's not right,'" he said. "I told the training staff, and within a few hours, I was in the operating room. They said, 'You're not particularly fond of your appendix are you? Because we're taking it out.'"
There have been no setbacks, and he will be eased back into activities.
"I'm fortunate the staff was real aggressive and knew what they were looking at," Murton said.
• Zac Rosscup was diagnosed with a partial tear in his left rotator cuff last season, but there is nothing that needs to be surgically repaired. He's focusing on rehab this spring, and will open the season on the 60-day disabled list.
"I'm optimistic," Rosscup said Wednesday. "This will give me time to heal and get it right rather than force the issue."
• Outfielder Matt Szczur has been slowed by a slight oblique strain on his left side, but he will hopefully return to action next week.
"He's making good progress and smiling easily, which normally means he's feeling better," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Wednesday. "We did not want to press it early. Our guys didn't think it was very severe, but it's something that can become aggravated. I told him, 'Listen, back off. Let's make sure this doesn't turn into anything more chronic or awful.'"
• The team of Kris Bryant and Eric Jokisch won the Cubs' golf tournament on Tuesday. Bryant, who has an 18 handicap, shot an 83.
"My job was to make sure Kris was doing OK," Jokisch said.