“Heartbreak in Chicago: Cubs’ Ace Justin Steele Faces Unexpected Season-Ending Surgery—What It Means for the Team’s Playoff Hopes!”

In a stunning turn of events for the Chicago Cubs, their star pitcher Justin Steele faces a daunting setback as he prepares for season-ending surgery on his left elbow’s flexor tendon. This news sends ripples of concern through the team, spotlighting the precarious nature of a major league pitcher’s career, which is often marred by injuries. Steele, who has already battled through a Tommy John surgery back in 2017, now finds himself on the brink of yet another extensive recovery period. Manager Craig Counsell expressed deep sympathy for Steele, underscoring the harsh realities that come with the sport. With his optimistic demeanor, Steele remains determined to overcome this hurdle and make a comeback stronger than ever, acknowledging that this is all part of the journey he’s chosen. His recent performance—3-1 with a 4.76 ERA in just four starts—was promising, making this news all the more disheartening for fans and teammates alike. As the Cubs navigate this challenge, they’ll need to rely on their depth, with plans already underway to adjust the rotation accordingly. For more insights and updates on this evolving situation, you can LEARN MORE.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Chicago Cubs ace Justin Steele will undergo season-ending surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his left elbow, dealing a significant blow to the team’s rotation.

It was unclear whether Steele, who underwent Tommy John surgery in 2017, will need another full ligament-replacement procedure or a Tommy John revision with an internal brace. The 29-year-old left-hander will be sidelined until 2026.

“On a day like this, you feel for Justin,” manager Craig Counsell said before Sunday’s series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers. “It’s kind of the life of a major league pitcher, these injuries that make you miss most of seasons.

“But I talked to him this morning, and he has a great attitude about it, as he always does. He knows that it’s part of the career he’s chosen, and he’s going to take it a step at a time and do the best he can to come back even better.”

Steele, 3-1 with a 4.76 ERA in four starts, felt tightness in his elbow after throwing seven scoreless innings at home against the Texas Rangers last Monday, discomfort he attributed to the chilly weather at Wrigley Field.

Two days later, the Cubs placed Steele on the 15-day injured list. An MRI revealed that Steele was “dealing with the same injury” as last September, when he missed two starts because of tendinitis, Counsell said Friday. A visit to a doctor for a second opinion revealed a more serious injury.

Steele had a 3.10 ERA in 78 starts from 2022-24 and finished fifth in National League Cy Young Award voting in 2023, when he went 16-5 with a 3.06 ERA in 30 starts, striking out 176 and walking 36 in 173 1/3 innings.

Counsell said right-hander Colin Rea, who started against the Dodgers on Sunday, will fill Steele’s rotation spot for now and that right-hander Javier Assad, who will begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, will be a candidate to fill Steele’s spot when he returns from a left oblique strain.