Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Cubs’ depth and resolve will be put to the test in the wake of Kyle Schwarber’s season-ending left knee injury.

“It’s a cruel game sometimes,” manager Joe Maddon said Friday after learning that Schwarber, the Cubs’ prized left-handed hitting slugger, suffered tears in the anterior cruciate ligament and lateral collateral ligament as the result of a collision Thursday with center fielder Dexter Fowler.

The Cubs’ collective thoughts were with the long-term health of Schwarber, 23, who hit 16 home runs in only 69 games last season and earned the admiration of his teammates for his unselfishness and determination to polish his defensive skills in left field and catcher.

“Twenty-four hours ago I thought we were well positioned to win in large part because of Kyle’s presence on the team,” President Theo Epstein said. “And now we’re really positioned to win for Kyle. That’s how his teammates are responding and how they will respond going forward.”

Because there are multiple ligaments involved, Schwarber’s rehabilitation will last much longer than six months. Surgery won’t be performed until one to three weeks from now, when the swelling, stiffness and pain subside.

It may be too early to speculate on whether the 6-foot, 235-pound Schwarber will remain a catcher until he completes his rehabilitation and demonstrates full range of motion in his leg.

“The hope would be it’s a very successful surgery, a very successful rehab with the most important factor being the patience, work ethic and determination,” Epstein said. “Kyle is obviously off the charts as far as that goes and (that) will serve him well through the rehab process. Then he comes back as good as new.

“But it is a significant surgery (because of) multiple ligaments being involved. It is a lengthy rehabilitation process, (but) we have all the faith in the world Kyle (will) come through it.”

An MRI revealed the tears as well as a left ankle sprain. Schwarber will undergo more tests in Mesa, Ariz., but will perform his rehab at Wrigley Field, where the Cubs have state-of-the-art medical and rehab equipment in their new clubhouse.

Schwarber was the Cubs’ first pick in the 2014 draft and soon paid dividends as a hitter, reaching the majors about a year after he was selected as the fourth overall pick out of Indiana.

Schwarber hit five home runs in the postseason, including a signature blast that landed on top of the right field video board against left-hander Kevin Siegrist of the Cardinals.

Many pitchers and coaches were impressed with Schwarber’s improvement behind the plate. Schwarber’s season-ending diagnosis came on the day he was scheduled to catch Jason Hammel.

The plan was for Schwarber to catch most of Hammel’s starts and move behind the plate as part of double-switches when he wasn’t playing left field.

“The game doesn’t wait around for anybody,” said David Ross, who started Friday night in place of Schwarber against the Diamondbacks. “He’s going to be around. We’ll let him get fixed up and get him right back in here.

“He’s going to be missed. It’s a sad day in our locker room.”

Schwarber, who has been relatively injury free throughout his college and professional career, wasn’t available for comment. But Maddon said “he was good with me.”

“I want him to understand we know he’s going to kill the rehab and for him to know that we’re going to be here for him mentally to talk to him whenever he needs us.”

In a text exchange, Epstein conveyed that Schwarber’s main priorities were winning and staying a part of the team.

“That says a lot,” Epstein said.

The Cubs take great pride in their depth and flexibility so they believe they can overcome the loss of Schwarber. When he went down Thursday, the Cubs rebounded from a 6-4 deficit with third baseman Kris Bryant initially moving to left field and Tommy La Stella taking over at third.

The Cubs didn’t miss a beat in rolling to a 14-6 victory and now think their resiliency will come to the fore.

“We’re going to pick him up,” Bryant said. “We have some guys who hopefully can fill his place. He’s a tough one to fill. He’s good in the clubhouse. He’s a fun guy to be around.

“It will be tough, but we’ll work through it, and it’s up to us to carry the load he brought.”

[email protected]

Twitter @MDGonzales