As Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele returned to the mound after an injury setback, the 30-year-old got a big update for the 2026 season that is sure to disappoint some fans, though there is some hope. While the Cubs pitcher continues to make his injury recovery, the team’s president of baseball operations gives a critical update on Steele’s chances to play.
Speaking with 104.3 The Score, Hoyer would speak after Steele’s rehab start and said that with him coming off elbow surgery over a year ago, he’d say it’s “probably unrealistic” for him to play long stretches when he returns. Instead, Hoyer sees Steele contributing in “shorter bursts.”
“What we really want is positive news that he’s healthy and that he can work his way back,” Hoyer said, via MLB.com. “That’s kind of where we are. Whether or not he can help us at the end of the season, I think, is unclear. I think it’s probably unrealistic to think he’s gonna be fully stretched out at any point, so if he does help us, I think it’s gonna be in shorter bursts.”
Jed Hoyer continues on Cubs’ Justin Steele
Steele last played in the 2025 season, with his last appearance on April 7 of that year, and while Hoyer is hopeful that he could return to the Cubs this season, he would even say that ‘optimism might be strong.’
“He’s had some setbacks, but I think the hope is that he can avoid setbacks and that he can sort of help us later in the season,” Hoyer said. “Not only the hope for this season, but also going into the offseason, it’d be nice to see him out there and pitching healthy just in terms of roster planning for next year.”
Hoyer would repeat wanting a “really good version” of Steele and also saying that starting this season is “unrealistic.” At any rate, there is no doubt that getting Steele back in any capacity would be positive for Chicago, as the team is 40-37, putting them third in the NL Central.
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