Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele had a strong start to the 2025 MLB season, boasting a 3-1 record with a 4.76 ERA in his first four outings. Unfortunately, his season was cut short as he requires surgery on his left elbow. Manager Craig Counsell broke the news to reporters at Dodger Stadium before a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The specifics of Steele’s surgery are still pending, but it is confirmed that he will undergo a reconstructive procedure on his flexor tendon and UCL. If a decision is made to proceed with an internal brace treatment, his recovery timeline may be shorter. Nevertheless, he won’t be back on the mound until the 2026 season.
Steele, 29, exited his last game versus the Texas Rangers due to elbow discomfort after 91 pitches. Up to that point, he had pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing only three hits while recording eight strikeouts and two walks.
Following the game, Steele expressed his efforts to manage the discomfort between innings and prioritize recovery. The Cubs placed him on the injured list for what was initially thought to be tendinitis, similar to an injury that sidelined him last September.
After an MRI last Thursday, Steele sought a second opinion to determine the necessity of surgery. In his four starts this year, he accumulated a 4.76 ERA and a 3-1 record with 21 strikeouts and 21 hits allowed in 22 1/3 innings. Last season, he finished with a 3.06 ERA and an average of nine strikeouts per nine innings. Two seasons ago, Steele had a standout year with a 3.06 ERA and a 16-5 record, registering 176 strikeouts in a career-best 173 1/3 innings.
Colin Rea will step in for Steele on Sunday, with Ethan Roberts called up from Triple-A to fill the roster spot. Roberts posted a 3.21 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings over 21 appearances for Iowa.
