The Chicago Cubs have suffered a major blow to their rotation with news that pitcher Justin Steele will miss the remainder of the 2025 season. Manager Craig Counsell confirmed Sunday that the left-hander will undergo surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his left elbow.
Steele, 29, experienced discomfort following his most recent outing and was placed on the injured list last week. Though he pitched seven shutout innings against the Texas Rangers in his last start, the pain lingered, and further evaluation revealed the need for season-ending surgery. It is not yet clear if Steele will require a full Tommy John procedure or a revision surgery with an internal brace.
“On a day like this, you feel for Justin,” Counsell said before the Cubs’ series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers. “It’s kind of the life of a major league pitcher—these injuries that make you miss most of a season. But he has a great attitude. He understands it’s part of the career path and is focused on coming back stronger.”
This isn’t Steele’s first elbow issue. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2017 and has dealt with recurring elbow discomfort in recent seasons. He also spent time on the injured list late in 2024 but returned in September. His 2025 campaign ends after just four starts, in which he went 3-1 with a 4.76 ERA.
Steele’s career numbers with the Cubs include a 32-22 record and a 3.30 ERA across 91 starts.
His absence leaves a noticeable gap in the Cubs’ starting rotation. Long reliever Colin Rea is set to fill Steele’s spot temporarily, starting Sunday night. Meanwhile, the team is considering additional options as they look to stabilize their rotation moving forward.
Javier Assad, who is recovering from an oblique strain, will begin a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa this week and could be an option once healthy. Other internal candidates include left-hander Jordan Wicks and right-hander Cade Horton. Horton, one of the organization’s top prospects, is still ramping up after missing time due to injury last year.
The Cubs may also explore the trade market to reinforce their pitching staff. Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara is expected to be available this summer, and the Cubs could be among the interested teams.
For now, the focus remains on Steele’s recovery. The Cubs will be without one of their most consistent arms until 2026, a tough setback in what was shaping up to be a promising season.
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