Cubs fans got some interesting news today regarding the left-hander’s status Justin Steele. Steele himself told reporters (including Mark Gonzales) earlier today that he has reached a point where he no longer needs to visit with Dr. Keith Meister, who performed Steele’s UCL reconstructive surgery last year. Gonzales adds that Steele has been stretched between 35 and 40 in his bullpen sessions, and Bruce Levine of 670 The Score reports that Steele is on track to return to the majors in May or June.
It’s a big hurdle that Steele has now cleared, even though his timeline hasn’t changed much from when it was during Spring Training until now. Still, it’s encouraging news for Cubs fans given Steele’s importance to the club’s rotation. An All-Star and fifth-place finisher for the NL Cy Young Award going back to 2023, Steele posted a 3.07 ERA and 3.11 FIP with a 24.5% strikeout rate in 54 starts across his two healthy seasons. That’s production from a top starter, something the Cubs desperately needed during the playoffs last year. Both Steele and Late Horton they were on the injured list, when Matthew Boyd again Shota Imanaga both tired during the season and struggled in their NLDS start against the Brewers.
Perhaps in an attempt to avoid a similar outcome late in the season this year, the Cubs have added blood by re-signing Imanaga and trading right tackle. Edward Cabrera. Imanaga, Cabrera, Horton, Boyd, and Jameson Taillon all are definite locks for rotating roles this year, and that could leave the Cubs looking to expand into a six-man rotation when Steele returns if the rest of the team is healthy at that point in the season. Of course, with the depth that starts like Colin Rea, Javier Assad, Jordan Wicksagain Ben Brown and in the first mix, it’s possible the Cubs could opt for a six-man rotation in the event of an injury or two.
Turning to the list, last week’s injury news for the newly signed slugger Tyler Austin that will set him aside “months” created many questions about the original site. While Michael Busch he’s held the position for the past two seasons and is the healthiest, most defensive player on the team the past two years. Whether it’s because of Austin’s injury or his breakout campaign last year, The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney writes that Busch will play every day this year, including southpaws. The manager Craig Counsell it has been shown (as relayed by Mooney) that Busch has “earned” the opportunity to become a full-time player at this point, although he added that the 28-year-old will now have to prove he can handle the added responsibilities.
Busch posted an 81 wRC+ against southpaws last year, and has a lifetime 87 wRC+ against lefties overall. Those aren’t the most exciting numbers, but there are everyday players in first base who have weaker numbers compared to lefties. Vinnie Pasquantino of the Royals, for example, had a wRC+ of 63 against same-handed pitching and an 87 career mark similar to Busch’s. Busch’s predecessor in the starting lineup for the Cubs, a multiple-time All-Star Anthony Rizzohe posted worse numbers against lefties than Busch did in the first three seasons of his career before growing into a full-time role and hitting well against both lefties and righties alike afterward. With Austin out for at least the next few months, it makes sense for the Cubs to give Busch a chance to prove himself.
That’s especially true given the state of the first base prospect Jonathan Long. Long is one of the better prospects in the Cubs’ system, a ninth-round pick in the 2023 draft who slashed .305/.404/.479 in 140 games at Triple-A during his age-23 campaign last year. He could be Austin’s replacement on the Cubs’ bench if the team was looking for Busch’s teammate, but he’s dealing with some injuries himself at the moment. As noted by MLB.com, Long has been sidelined with a sprained left elbow since Feb. 21, and while recently resuming minor league action Counsell indicated that the youngster hasn’t recovered as quickly as the Cubs had hoped. It’s not clear what kind of long-term it will take for Long to return to action, but as a youngster who has yet to make his MLB debut it doesn’t mean that a significant Spring Training injury greatly reduces his chances of earning a spot on the team’s bench on Opening Day.
