PHOENIX – Ben Brown’s recovery has taken an unexpected, and potentially concerning, detour.
The 26-year-old has been on the injured list since June 24 with a stress reaction in his neck, but his recovery had gone smoothly since he started his throwing program. Brown most recently completed a bridge camp game at Sloan Park in Arizona on Tuesday, throwing 34 pitches over two innings, but began experiencing discomfort shortly thereafter.
That pain has continued to worsen, and Cubs manager Craig Counsell said any plans of sending him for a Minor League rehab assignment are on hold, but Brown will travel with the team back to Chicago on Wednesday.
The news was a reversal from one day earlier, when optimism abounded.
“We’re going to have to regroup, and he’ll probably check back in with the doctors and see what it means,” Counsell said. “He said symptoms popped up at the end of the outing, and then worsened as the hours went on.”
Next steps beyond a return to Chicago at this time have not yet been determined.
“We’re not sure yet what this means, but it’s going to slow it down in some way,” Counsell said. “Maybe Friday we’ll have a better idea.”
The right-hander is in his third professional season, and was 4-2 with a 1.85 ERA in 20 games, including eight starts, this season. He has not appeared in a game with the Cubs since June 19.