Cubs' Justin Steele to Undergo Season-Ending Surgery on Elbow Injury

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell announced that starter Justin Steele is set to undergo season-ending elbow surgery, per Patrick Mooney of The Athletic.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported that it's "unclear" if the procedure is a primary repair or Tommy John surgery, but Steele's season is over regardless.

The Cubs previously placed the lefty on the 15-day injured list with left elbow tendinitis on Wednesday.

Steele revealed that he experienced elbow tightness following a start against the Texas Rangers on Monday, per ESPN's Alden Gonzalez. Counsell told reporters on Friday that the 29-year-old would seek a second opinion regarding the injury.

Steele missed time due to elbow tendinitis near the end of the 2024 season and previously underwent Tommy John surgery in 2017.

The southpaw has steadily blossomed into a key piece of Chicago's pitching staff since making his MLB debut in 2021, earning All-Star honors and finishing No. 5 in National League Cy Young Award voting for his 2023 campaign.

Steele owns a 32-22 record and 3.30 ERA in 102 total appearances with the Cubs, racking up 517 strikeouts compared to 155 walks in 506.2 innings of work.

While he started off slow to begin the 2025 season, he threw seven scoreless innings against the Rangers on Monday and looked sharp after allowing at least three earned runs in each of his first three appearances of the year.

His upcoming absence is a tough blow to a Cubs team that has opened the season on a high note, sitting at No. 1 in the NL Central standings with a 10-7 record.

Colin Rea could fill in for Steele in Chicago's rotation alongside Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Matthew Boyd and Ben Brown.