Cubs lose star pitcher Justin Steele for season in crushing injury blow

One of baseball’s best teams just lost a major piece to its 2025 puzzle.

The NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs suffered a tough blow with ace lefty Justin Steele needing season-ending Tommy John surgery, the team announced Sunday.

Steele was initially expected to miss just a few weeks after experiencing tendinitis for the third time since last year, but the Cubs opted for imaging to shed more light on the persistent injury.

The 29-year-old previously underwent Tommy John surgery in 2017, per ESPN, and it’s unclear if he’ll need the ligament replaced or a revision surgery.

Either way, Steele’s 2025 season is over and his 2026 will be affected due to the lengthy rehab process.

“He’s got a great attitude about it, as he always does, and knows that it’s kind of part of the career that he’s chosen,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters. “And just take it a step at a time and do the best he can to come back even better.”

The lefty ends 2025 with a 3-1 record to go along with a 4.76 ERA after posting a career-best 3.06 ERA in 2023 and following with a 3.07 ERA last season.

Steele finished fifth in NL Young voting in 2023.

The Cubs, who are off to an 11-7 start, will now surely be in the market for a starting pitcher, with Miami’s Sandy Alcantara expected to be the top pitcher available this season.

For now, the Cubs will lean more on Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Matthew Boyd and Ben Brown, with Colin Rea stepping into the rotation and starting his first game Sunday against the Dodgers.

The North Siders have an early two-game lead ahead of the Reds and Brewers in the NL Central.