The Chicago Cubs’ skilled southpaw pitcher, Justin Steele, is set to go through a considerable season-ending surgical treatment on his left elbow, as divulged by supervisor Craig Counsell throughout a press rundown. This info, reported by Patrick Mooney of The Athletic, follows Steele was put on the hurt list due to elbow tendinitis quickly following his last video game versus the Texas Rangers. Following a preliminary MRI last Thursday, he looked for a consultation to much better comprehend his condition. Currently, it stays unpredictable whether Steele will require the more comprehensive Tommy John surgical treatment or a less intrusive internal brace treatment. Regardless of the surgical treatment type, he will not have the ability to pitch once again in 2025. However, if he goes through the internal brace treatment, he might have a much shorter healing time of roughly twelve months, in contrast to the 18-month healing duration generally related to Tommy John surgical treatment, which might considerably affect his efficiency throughout the 2026 season.

This news is unquestionably a considerable blow to the Cubs and their dedicated fanbase, particularly considering that preliminary evaluations suggested that Steele’s injury may not be extreme. After being put on the hurt list recently, Steele communicated optimism to the media, revealing his belief that he would just deal with a quick healing. Initially, his injury appeared comparable to the fairly small elbow concern that sidelined him for 2 weeks the previous September. The Cubs’ choice to pursue a consultation originated from the repeating nature of Steele’s tendinitis, recommending a requirement for a more irreversible option to his continuous elbow issues. Unfortunately, this indicates that the southpaw will require to go through surgical treatment.

With Steele out for the rest of 2025, the Cubs will lack among their most skilled pitchers, which is a considerable issue for the group. Over the years, Steele has actually dealt with criticism concerning his pitching collection, which mainly includes a fastball and a slider, in addition to a couple of hardly ever made use of secondary pitches. In the competitive landscape of Major League Baseball, beginning pitchers generally require a minimum of 3 trustworthy pitches to be successful. Despite this, Steele has actually handled to defy expectations. His fastball’s special qualities have not just permitted him to stay a starter however likewise master his function. Since ending up being a full-time starter in 2022 through the conclusion of the 2024 season, Steele has actually published a remarkable 3.10 PERIOD, ranking him together with elite pitchers like Justin Verlander and Sandy Alcantara for among the very best figures in the sport. His 3.14 FIP put him within the top ten, while his 3.46 SIERA ranked him 19th, putting him ahead of well-regarded aces such as Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, and Zac Gallen.

Unfortunately, Steele has actually not been carrying out at that elite level in the early phases of this season. He had a hard time considerably, publishing a frustrating 6.89 PERIOD with a 19.4% strikeout rate in his very first 3 starts. Although he showcased his normal skill in his most current trip by starting out 8 Rangers over 7 scoreless innings, his speed has actually been troublingly low throughout the year, balancing simply under 90 miles per hour throughout his start versus Texas. This decrease is noteworthy for a pitcher who generally relaxes 92 miles per hour, raising issues about his efficiency. It is undoubtedly annoying for Steele to be sidelined simply as he appeared to be restoring his kind this season.

More updates will follow as the scenario establishes.