Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele will be sidelined for the remainder of the 2025 season due to a left elbow injury that requires surgery. Manager Craig Counsell announced the unfortunate news before the team’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.
It is still uncertain whether Steele will undergo Tommy John surgery, but reports indicate that he will need a reconstructive procedure on his elbow to address his flexor tendon and UCL issues. The possibility of an internal brace procedure could potentially shorten his recovery time, but regardless, he will not be back on the mound until 2026.
Steele, 29, experienced discomfort in his elbow during his start against the Texas Rangers, prompting his early exit after seven scoreless innings. He had shown promising performance with eight strikeouts and two walks in that game, but the injury cut his outing short.
Following the diagnosis, Steele was placed on the injured list with hopes that it was just tendinitis similar to his previous ailment last September. However, further tests revealed the need for more extensive treatment, leading Steele to seek a second opinion before making a final decision on surgery.
In the four games he pitched this season, Steele recorded a 4.76 ERA with a 3-1 record, 21 strikeouts, and 21 hits allowed in 22 1/3 innings. His past performances have been solid, with a standout campaign two seasons ago where he achieved a 3.06 ERA and a 16-5 record with 176 strikeouts.
With Steele out of the rotation, Colin Rea will start for the Cubs in his place, while Ethan Roberts has been called up from Triple-A to fill the roster spot. Roberts has shown promise in Iowa with a 3.21 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings.
The Cubs will have to navigate the rest of the season without Steele’s presence on the mound, hoping for a successful recovery and return in 2026.