The Chicago Cubs did not sign a marquee free agent pitcher in hopes that Justin Steele would be ready to step in in time for the 2026 MLB season.
So far that plan is still ready to be enacted.
Steele announced this week he is ahead of schedule in his recovery from UCL surgery and is hoping to be a part of the Cubs rotation shortly after they break camp in Arizona.
Steele went 3-1 with 21 strikeouts and a 1.14 WHIP in in 22 2/3 innings over four starts before he was shut down due to the elbow injury. The left-hander had made at least 24 starts over the previous three seasons, including his All-Star campaign of 2023.
Justin Steele’s Recovery Is Ahead Of Schedule
Chicago has a lot to look forward to in 2026, especially Steele’s return. The 30-year-old completed a bullpen session last week and felt no ill effects of returning to the mound, which is phenomenal news for Cubs fans.
“It felt great,” Steele told Marquee Sports Network’s Elise Menaker at Cubs Convention last week. “I’ve been doing the normal throwing progression [over] the past however so many months, and it’s been feeling really good.
“It felt back to normal, and [I’m] ready to start building the volume off the mound again.”
Steele’s mind and body need to be in sync though, especially with Cubs pitchers and catchers set to report to Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona in about two weeks. Chicago’s first spring training game is Feb. 20 against the rival Chicago White Sox.
But Steele is going to need to pump the brakes on trying to go overboard while still trying to ramp up and prepare for an early-season return.
“That’s going to be the tough part, during spring training,” Steele said. “The past however so many spring trainings I’ve been like training, preparing and getting ready to go start the season, so it’s going to be an adjustment and watching everybody come in … and I’m going to want to leave with everybody, so that’s going to be an adjustment period, but it’ll be good.”
A Healthy Justin Steele Could Alter The Cubs’ Expectations
Losing Steele, who pitched to a 3.11 ERA and a 20-12 record over 54 starts between 2022-24, was a disappointing outcome and one that could have pushed Chicago over the top in its NLDS matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Cubs were devoid of an ace starting pitcher — since they did, after all lose Games 1 and 5 to the Brewers. They had to piece together starts in the postseason, which taxed their bullpen and also led to their undoing.
But Steele is a workhorse-style starter who is just two seasons removed from placing fifth in NL Cy Young voting. He was Chicago’s Opening Day starter in 2024 and started the Cubs’ second game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Tokyo last season.
So even if Steele is not ready to start in Chicago’s opening home stand — or even until after the first month of the year — his presence is necessary for the Cubs if they are going to compete in the NL arms race against the Dodgers and New York Mets.
Cubs Pitcher Justin Steele Shares Major Update on Injury Recovery