The Chicago Cubs have strengthened their pitching staff significantly during the 2026 season, giving themselves more depth as they pursue a postseason berth. However, one of the team’s most intriguing potential reinforcements remains a long way from being ready.
That pitcher is Justin Steele.
The 31-year-old left-hander has not appeared in a major-league game for 16 months after undergoing surgery to repair a serious elbow injury. While Steele has remained optimistic about returning to the Cubs before the end of the season, manager Craig Counsell is urging everyone to remain patient.
Steele’s potential comeback has naturally generated excitement around Chicago. If he can return healthy and effective, he could give the Cubs another experienced starter at precisely the time when pitching depth becomes most valuable.
But there are still significant hurdles standing between Steele and a return to the major leagues.
The biggest issue is simply how long he has been away from competitive pitching. Steele has not yet begun a formal minor-league rehabilitation assignment and has faced live hitters only once since undergoing surgery. That means there is still a considerable amount of work to complete before the Cubs can confidently determine whether he is ready to handle the demands of major-league competition.
Steele has indicated that he hopes to begin a rehab assignment next month and has expressed confidence that he can make it back. Counsell, however, has been careful not to put a timetable on the pitcher’s return.
The manager’s cautious approach is understandable. After such an extended layoff, Steele will need to rebuild his pitch count, stamina and command while also proving that his surgically repaired elbow can withstand the stress of pitching regularly.
The Cubs have no reason to rush him.
Chicago has already made significant investments in its pitching staff. One of the biggest additions was veteran starter Kevin Gausman, who recently delivered an outstanding performance against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Gausman worked seven scoreless innings in that outing, providing a reminder of why the Cubs prioritized adding experienced pitching at the trade deadline.
Those reinforcements could prove crucial if Chicago enters the postseason as a wild-card team.
The Cubs currently trail the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central, meaning they may have to navigate the wild-card route to reach the World Series. That would potentially require them to win multiple postseason series, placing enormous demands on their pitching staff.
In that environment, a healthy Steele could be an enormous asset.
Steele is not an ordinary rotation piece. He is a homegrown Cubs pitcher who developed from a bullpen arm into one of the organization’s most dependable starters. His breakthrough came in 2023, when he earned his first All-Star selection and finished fifth in National League Cy Young voting.
That season demonstrated just how valuable he can be when healthy. Steele combined quality command with an effective arsenal and became one of the leaders of Chicago’s rotation.
His return could therefore give the Cubs something they cannot simply acquire through another minor-league promotion: a proven starter with postseason-caliber experience and familiarity with the organization.
Still, the Cubs must prioritize his long-term health over a potentially rushed late-season comeback.
Even if Steele begins his rehab assignment in September, he would need to progress through multiple stages before being trusted with a major-league start. His workload would likely increase gradually, and the organization would have to monitor how his elbow responds after each outing.
There is also no guarantee that Steele would immediately resemble the pitcher who earned All-Star honors. Pitching after a lengthy injury absence can involve a substantial adjustment period, particularly for someone returning from major elbow surgery.
For now, the Cubs are treating Steele’s potential return as a bonus rather than something they are counting on.
That distinction could be important for Chicago’s postseason planning. The team’s newly strengthened pitching staff gives it a better chance of surviving without Steele, while allowing the left-hander to focus on completing his rehabilitation properly.
If he eventually proves healthy enough to return, the Cubs could suddenly have another high-quality arm available for the stretch run or postseason. But until Steele completes his rehab work and demonstrates that he can handle a full workload, expectations should remain measured.
The excitement surrounding his possible comeback is understandable, especially given his 2023 All-Star season. However, after 16 months away from major-league competition, Steele still has a long road ahead.
For now, Chicago is pumping the brakes and that may be exactly the right approach for a pitcher whose health could be far more valuable to the Cubs beyond this season.
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