Well, so much for trying to be optimistic about Justin Steele’s 2026 season with the Chicago Cubs. We did point out on Monday that Jed Hoyer was being cautious regarding Steele’s return after the left-handed pitcher suffered a setback in late April as the team’s former ace was rehabbing from last year’s elbow surgery. On Tuesday, Hoyer was more straightforward about Steele’s potential role on this year’s roster, and the expectations have dramatically lowered.
Back in April, when Steele had his setback, he was shut down for about a month. At the time, there was a loose timeline that projected a second-half return for Steele. The latest update about Steele came last week, when he joined the team at Wrigley Field, looked to be in high spirits with his teammates in the dugout, and was ready to throw a baseball again as the team traveled to New York to begin a road trip. ESPN’s Jesse Rogers said that an August return would be considered a victory, and while that could technically still happen, it won’t be Steele in his full capacity.
Hoyer was on The Score on Tuesday morning and said that the organization does not expect Steele to return as a starting pitcher this season. Furthermore, Hoyer emphasized the importance of a healthy 2027 season for Steele. If Steele can come back this year, it sounds like it will only be out of the bullpen late in the season.
Via The Score.
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“I think it’s probably unrealistic to think he’s going to be fully stretched out at any point, so, if he does help us, I think it’s going to be in shorter bursts …. I think expecting starts this year is unrealistic. We have to hope that he can potentially come back at the end of the year and help us, and prove health going into the offseason.” -Jed Hoyer
Cool.
Let’s take a quick look back at Steele’s injury timeline that goes back to the end of the 2024 season.
Sept. 4, 2024: Placed on the 15-day IL with left-elbow tendinitis
Sept. 18, 2024: Returns from IL, throws 2.2 IP (57 pitches), makes final start on Sept. 24, 4 IP (62 pitches)
April 9, 2025: Placed on the 15-day IL with left-elbow tendinitis
April 18, 2025: Undergoes UCL revision/internal repair
Feb. 28, 2026: Cleared by surgeon to resume normal ramp-up for game action
March 1, 2026: Steele says he expects to return by late May to early June
April 28, 2026: Steele suffers setback, flexor strain
June 22, 2026: Starts throwing baseball again, first step in build up
That brings us to the dreadful update from Hoyer today. Listen, I want to remain optimistic, but this just hasn’t gone smoothly, and the last thing you want is for Steele to come back too soon and get injured again. The timing seems odd because, despite the setback in April, you would still think that Steele could be stretched out to make starts by September. Who knows? Maybe the Cubs are being extra cautious with him, given how things have gone up and down across the organization in 2026.
