Kyle Schwarber: Rehab means no more McDonald’s, Taco Bell

Kyle Schwarber defied expectations by playing in the World Series just seven months after tearing ligaments in his left knee, but he said he’s still at least a month away from regaining full range of motion.

“It’s going to be a lot of knee strengthening,” the Cubs outfielder said Monday night. “My knee is strong already. We got to get the quick movements down, cutting, obviously, the unexpected cutting, things like that. It usually takes like four weeks before you’re going to be ready to go back to it. So I’m really looking forward to it.”

Schwarber’s leadoff single in the 10th inning of Game 7 set the table for two runs that eventually earned the Cubs their first championship since 1908. Albert Almora Jr. replaced him as a pinch runner, but Schwarber said he wasn’t in pain.

“No discomfort at all,” he told Chicago Inc. “You want to feel as good as possible. Obviously you know you’re not there yet. Obviously there’s still more work to go, but I felt really good overall.”

Now that Schwarber can concentrate on regaining flexibility in his knee, he has designs on playing left field and catcher next season. “I still feel like I have things to offer at the catcher position,” he said.

Earlier in the night, he acknowledged he has some conditioning work ahead. “No more eating late-night McDonald’s. No more late-night Taco Bell. It’s going to be a big process for me” preparing for spring training.

Schwarber told an audience of Cubs fans at the Nike store on Michigan Avenue that he appreciated the encouragement from peers and fans throughout his rehabilitation but also has been able to commiserate with former Indiana University roommate Sam Travis, a Red Sox prospect who also tore his ACL this spring. “That was a really good person to talk to when you’re going through it all.”

Schwarber tackled a number of topics during his Nike appearance, fielding questions from the crowd and reporters. (And speaking of appearances, Schwarber’s scheduled to visit “Live with Kelly” with Kelly Ripa and guest co-host Alex Rodriguez on Thursday).

On demands on his schedule

That is going to be a little bit difficult, but obviously the rehab’s going to come first and you’re going to try to work it into your schedule.

On fans’ “trust falls” from light posts during the victory rally

You’re an idiot. (Laughs). Like, what if someone drops you? I saw some people jumping from the bridge into the water.

On convincing Cubs President Theo Epstein he was healthy enough to play in the World Series

I said, “I’d really just like a chance to try to come back and help.” That’s all I could ask for. Deep down inside if you’re a competitor … if someone told you you could do something and you don’t try it, wouldn’t that kill you deep down inside?

On Jason Heyward’s speech to rally his teammates during the rain delay after the Indians tied Game 7 6-6

That was probably one of the best timing talks that we had. We got so many young guys on this team and a lot of first-time World Series experiences. And for him just to come up in his first World Series, to be a leader in that situation, was big. Because this guy works his butt off. He’s my favorite teammate. He’s a guy who I want to go in a foxhole with if I was in a fight.

On his pivotal 10th-inning single

When I went up there I had the edge. It’s like the “Rocky” movie. You know (Anthony) Rizzo with the “Rocky” stuff? You just have this edge: When you come up to the plate, “I’m not going to get out,” you just know you’re not going to get out. Obviously I faced that (pitcher) plenty of times before, so I wanted to back off the plate. … I made sure I was going to get the head (of the bat) to it. And then what do you know? I hit a hard hit. … Then the rest is history: Albert with the great tag from first to second base on Kris’ (Bryant) deep ball; (Ben) Zobrist with the double; Miggy (Montero) with the big hit to put the insurance run on. Unbelievable.

On whether the World Series trophy will “travel” like the Stanley Cup

This one’s a little bit more important than the other ones. This is 108 years. This thing’s going to be put away where we can’t get to it unless there’s multiple supervision with it.

When he finally got home after celebrating the title

I was drained and hung over, so I went to bed. We got in at 11 in the morning. I’m like, “I’m done. I need to go to bed.”

On his favorite memory from the postseason

The whole Game 7. Just that whole battle. Like I said, it’s going to be a movie one day.

Who would play Schwarber?

Who’s the guy who plays Champ Kind in “Anchorman”? (He asked the audience, trying to think of actor David Koechner.) … What about Zach Galifianakis? There you go.

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