CHICAGO -- Justin Steele's road back to the Cubs took another tangible step forward on Monday.
Prior to Chicago's series opener against the Rockies at Wrigley Field, manager Craig Counsell said Steele was flying to Chicago and will spend the next three weeks with the club as he progresses through the next phase of his rehab from left elbow surgery.
“Steele will actually be here,” Counsell said. “He’s flying here right now. He’s going to be with us for the next three-ish weeks.”
The update represents the clearest progression Steele has made since suffering a flexor strain during his recovery in late April, a setback that significantly delayed what once appeared to be a realistic first-half return.
“He’s got one more week in the plyo-ball section,” Counsell said. “Then he’ll start throwing next Monday, and then he’s got a couple weeks of throwing program with us before we go to next steps.”
While Steele still remains a fair bit away from returning to a Major League mound, Monday's update offers encouraging news for both the left-hander and a Cubs pitching staff that has spent much of the season navigating injuries.
Chicago envisioned Steele serving as the anchor of its rotation in 2026 after he established himself as one of the National League's most dependable starters from 2022-24. Instead, injuries have reshaped much of the club's pitching plans.
Matthew Boyd remains sidelined while recovering from left knee surgery, though Counsell said the veteran left-hander is scheduled to throw an up-down bullpen session Tuesday as he continues his own rehab process.
The Cubs have also endured extended absences elsewhere in the rotation, forcing the club to rely heavily on a group that includes Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon (who’s now on the IL with a left hamstring strain), Ben Brown and the recently optioned/recalled Javier Assad.
Getting Steele back remains one of the organization's biggest long-term priorities. The left-hander underwent elbow surgery in April 2025 and appeared to be progressing well before the flexor strain interrupted his recovery earlier this season.
For now, the focus remains on the next checkpoint.
Steele will spend the coming weeks around the club as he completes his plyo-ball work and begins throwing again, a process the Cubs hope will finally put him on a clear path toward returning later this season.