For a little bit, it seemed like the chances of Justin Steele coming back to pitch for the Chicago Cubs in 2026 were uncomfortably low. The left-handed pitcher was initially scheduled to return by the end of May or early June, but a setback in April suddenly put Steele’s comeback from elbow surgery in jeopardy. There was nothing he or the Cubs could do but wait and hope there were no further setbacks, and now fans get to see Steele pitch at Triple-A with the Iowa Cubs on Wednesday.
Marquee Sports Network reporter Taylor McGregor confirmed on Monday night during the Cubs’ series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers that Steele will officially begin his rehab assignment on Wednesday.
Steele was working his way back from a revision repair in his left UCL, a procedure that he had in April 2025, when he suffered a flexor strain this past April. The Cubs immediately shut him down, and there wasn’t much of an update other than Steele being out until at least after the All-Star break.
Jed Hoyer did lower fans’ expectations in late June, saying that there probably would not be enough time for Steele to build up to pitch starter innings in 2026. The Cubs have suffered several injuries to their starters this year, and the Steele setback in April likely made the front office more aggressive at the trade deadline, as Hoyer completed two deals to boost the rotation.
🔥 Subscribe to the Untold Chicago YouTube channel to hear Chicago legends tell stories you’ve never seen in headlines — real moments, real experiences, straight from the athletes themselves.
The Cubs will surely be cautious with Steele, who has been throwing live BP in Arizona, but he last pitched in a game on April 7, 2025. It’s going to be nearly an 18-month layoff for Steele, but the Cubs are obviously hoping that he can return and contribute out of the bullpen heading into the postseason.
Steele’s last healthy season came in 2024, when he had a 3.07 ERA in 24 starts. The 31-year-old, who was drafted by the Cubs in 2014, has not had the chance to pitch in the playoffs in his career, so it would be great to see Steele out there in October. So, we’ll see how Steele responds after his appearances with the Iowa Cubs, as that will determine whether he’ll come back this year.
