Most pitchers who undergo Tommy John surgery typically spend an entire season rehabbing before returning to the mound. However, Chicago Cubs reliever Shelby Miller is hoping to defy that timeline and contribute sooner than expected.
The Cubs experienced significant turnover in their bullpen during the offseason, losing several key relievers to free agency and trades. Among the biggest departures was Brad Keller, who signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. Drew Pomeranz joined the Los Angeles Angels, while Ryan Brasier headed to the Texas Rangers. Taylor Rogers also moved on, signing with the Minnesota Twins, and Andrew Kittredge was traded back to the Baltimore Orioles.
Because of those losses, Chicago worked to rebuild its bullpen depth this winter. The most notable addition was veteran reliever Phil Maton, who signed a two-year, $14.5 million contract after an impressive 2025 season split between the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers. The Cubs also brought in left-handed submarine pitcher Hoby Milner on a one-year, $3.75 million deal after he pitched for Texas.
Another acquisition that received less attention was Shelby Miller.
Miller was enjoying one of the best stretches of his career with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2025 before being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers midseason. In 37 appearances with Arizona, he posted a 3–3 record with a stellar 1.98 ERA, recorded 10 saves, and struck out 40 batters across 36⅓ innings.
Unfortunately, Miller’s time in Milwaukee ended almost as soon as it began. After making just one appearance with the Brewers, he tore his UCL during his second outing in early September. The injury required Tommy John surgery, forcing him to miss the postseason and putting most of the 2026 campaign in doubt.
Given that timeline, the Cubs signed Miller to a two-year contract with the expectation that he would likely return fully healthy for the 2027 season.
However, Miller recently revealed that he hopes to beat those projections. In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, the veteran reliever said he’s optimistic about returning before the end of the 2026 season.
“My goal is to hopefully come back even earlier than September, depending on how everything feels,” Miller explained. “I’m really optimistic about getting back this year and helping the team.”
Miller is scheduled to undergo an MRI later this month, which will help determine when he can begin throwing again as part of his recovery process.
With Chicago’s bullpen looking thinner than it did a year ago, manager Craig Counsell would certainly welcome Miller’s return whenever he’s healthy. Still, if the Cubs are already settled into their late-season rhythm by September, Miller may face a challenge ramping up quickly enough to earn a role in a potential postseason push.
Regardless of the timeline, Miller’s determination to attack his rehab and attempt a quicker comeback highlights his resilience and commitment to returning to the field. ⚾
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