Lefty Justin Steele made only four starts in 2025 before going down to an injury that required an internal brace revision of his previous UCL reconstruction and repair of his flexor tendon. The rehab timeline for that type of procedure is often significantly shorter than full Tommy John, with some athletes returning to play in six months or less. That’s very ambitious and the Cubs aren’t going to rush Steele, but his recovery looks to be progressing very well.
He went off the mound for the second time on Tuesday and reported feeling “crispy,” which is a good thing.