Justin Steele has hit a setback in his recovery from last year’s elbow surgery, and the Cubs may now have to wait longer than hoped to get their left-hander back. Jesse Rogers of reported the setback, though the specifics were not clear.
Steele underwent surgery on his ulnar collateral ligament in April of 2025, a revision repair that the Cubs said could put him back in about a year. He was throwing off a mound by the end of January 2026, but his return by Memorial Day may now be in jeopardy. Because the Cubs placed him on the 60-day injured list just as the season was beginning, he could not officially return before late May anyway.
Before he can rejoin the club, Steele still has to build back through bullpens, live batting practice and a rehab assignment, a process expected to take at least a few weeks. That makes the timing of his return even more important for a Cubs team that has opened with a 17-12 record and is already trying to absorb another major loss on the mound.
The Cubs have had a number of pitchers land on the injured list this year, and Cade Horton’s Tommy John surgery is the most notable blow. Horton will miss the rest of the season, leaving Chicago without two arms it would have counted on in a rotation that looked much stronger with both Steele and Horton available.
The club was expected to provide further details before tonight’s game, but the immediate reality is simple: Steele’s rehab has been interrupted, his timeline is no longer firm, and the Cubs will have to keep moving without knowing when one of their most important starters can actually return.