Justin Steele Making Progress, Still Hopes To Pitch For The Cubs This Year
Despite a flexor strain setback, the All-Star southpaw is progressing toward mound work, eyeing a high-stakes return to the Chicago bullpen just in time for a postseason push.
Video Transcript
What is up, Cubs fans?
And welcome back to Cubs Roundtable.
I'm Joey Polizzi, talking about all things Cubs.
And Justin Steele is still holding out hope to pitch again this season.
Steele obviously started the year on the injured list as he recovered from elbow surgery that he underwent l- early last season, and the expectation was that he was gonna return in late May/early June.
But a setback in late April pushed back his timeline, and then in June, Jed Hoyer said that Steele will not start any games this season.
Steele injured his left flexor strain.
That is a big injury to come back from, and obviously he's coming back from an elbow injury himself.
So a lot of bad things for Steele to start the 2026 season as he kinda worked his way up.
But Steele is making significant progress in a return for this season.
Steele recently was seen at Wrigley Field on Friday, throwing off flat ground.
He threw about 80, 85 pitches, and the expectation's that he will throw off the mound on Saturday before Saturday's game against the Yankees, about 20 pitches there.
So obviously, Steele is hoping that he could return later this season.
Obviously, we don't know what his timeline is yet right now.
There's a chance he doesn't even pitch this season.
But Steele's doing all he can to try to contribute something to the Cubs this year.
It won't be in a starter role, as Jed Hoyer said in June that he will not start any games, but he could come back in kind of that relief role and contribute some meaningful innings out of the Cubs' bullpen.
Obviously, there's gonna be some rust there, but if the Cubs can get him back in September, mid-September, kinda shake off that rust in the regular season before the postseason, Steele could be a key weapon out of the bullpen if he can shake off that rust, and obviously assuming there's no setbacks down the stretch.
But let me know what you guys think about Steele.
Do you want the Cubs to get him back down the stretch, or should he just sit out the rest of the year and be ready to go for the start of the 2027 season?
Let me know down below.
And as always, guys, go Cubs go.
