The Chicago Cubs lost their ace Justin Steele on April 8, one day after a brilliant 7-inning shutout performance against the Texas Rangers.
It took a few days to confirm that the 29-year-old lefty would be lost for the 2025 season and beyond, but the news hit hard when it did become official.
Surgery to repair his flexor tendon and ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow would put an end to a season where Steele’s top-of-rotation presence was expected to be crucial to postseason aspirations.
As things would turn out (so far), however, the Cubs team has excelled anyway, powered by an explosive offense and a never-say-die attitude. The team has continued its surprising run, even while losing co-ace Shota Imanaga for an extended period of time.
Still, who wouldn’t want to have Steele, the team’s most reliably excellent starter over the last few years, atop a rotation headed for a playoff run?
Justin Steele At Wrigley, For Update And To Provide Morale Support
The recovering all-star southpaw was recently at Wrigley Field to cheer on his teammates, taking in Tuesday’s thrilling 4-3 11-inning victory over the Colorado Rockies. There, he also met with media to give them somewhat of a timeline for his return and an update on his general state of mind.
“Obviously, it sucks,” Steele told reporters. “But as soon as you find out the news, you start processing it, trying to figure out what the next steps are, what’s the best plan of action for me and my family and the team.”
As of right now, per Steele, the target date for his return to the Cubs rotation is the first half of the 2026 campaign, ideally in May or June, although much depends on his recovery from the surgical procedure.
Steele’s Second Major Elbow Surgery
This isn’t Steele’s first time dealing with major surgery to his throwing arm. In 2017, as a minor league prospect, he underwent full Tommy John surgery. That experience, he insists, will help him this time around, stripping away much of the uncertainty regarding recovery and his return to the mound.
“There’s a different mentality once you’ve been through it,” Steele told media. “You kind of know what the tunnel looks like. I remember when I was going through TJ, it was like: ‘Am I going to throw the same? Is the ball going to come out different?’ There are so many thoughts that are running through your mind. With this one, I can tell already it’s going to be the same when I get back. If anything, it’s going to be better.”
For now, Steele is doing his part as a fan, cheering his teammates on from afar and coming to visit whenever possible. He’s also been vocal about his appreciation to the Cubs fans for their support.
Chicago Cubs Must Make Trade Deadline Plans
Meanwhile, the Cubs have been forced to deal with the loss of their ace, as well as the absence of rotation pieces Imanaga, temporarily lost due to a hamstring injury, and Javier Assaad, sidelined by oblique issues.
With about two months until trade deadline, the team has a long way to go before being able to make a stab at bringing in a high-end starter. And, even then, with nearly every contender looking to add pitching, the Cubs will be in a tough spot when it comes to bringing someone impactful aboard. The front office may have to get creative in making use of what’s on the lower end of availability.
“Ultimately, it is going to be somewhat sellers’ market dependent,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer recently told Marquee Sports Network. “If there’s none of one of those things available, you have to zag a little bit, and you have to be prepared to do that. And that could be the nature of this market.”
