Cubs' Justin Steele targeting May or June return with steady spring training progress

MESA, Ariz. – Cubs left-hander Justin Steele isn’t used to this pacing in spring training.

He has been a regular in the Cubs rotation member since 2022. Two years ago, he was the Opening Day Starter. Last year, he pitched in the Tokyo Series in mid-March.

“The past four-ish springs, I've been in a different headspace,” Steele said in a conversation with the Sun-Times Sunday. “I've been preparing to get ready for the season, starting one of the first few games. So there's been definitely a mental switch as far as this one goes, because I'm not going to be leaving with the team."

Building up after season-ending elbow surgery last April, he’s targeting May or June to return to a major-league mound.

“There's a little comfortability knowing I don't have to be ready right away,” Steele said. “But it's also like, I want to be ready because I'm just so accustomed to that.”

The Cubs’ rotation is built to weather his early-season absence. Flame-throwing Edward Cabrera’s addition, southpaw Shota Imanaga’s return on a one-year deal, and burgeoning young star Cade Horton’s injury recovery strengthened the group.

The Cubs also solidified their starting depth when right-hander Javier Assad returned to health late last season and the team re-signed Colin Rea in the offseason.

Steele, however, is set to provide a mid-season boost as the Cubs aim to push further into the postseason than their 2025 NL Division Series exit.

“Getting him for healthy innings, and especially having him into October, is going to be the most important thing,” Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins said last week.

Last October Steele, though unable to contribute on the field, joined the team for the playoffs.

“Every pitch, everything just means a little bit more in playoffs,” Steele said of his takeaways. “Just seems like every moment has a little bit more weight to it. And I think that's how you've got to treat it, is, I can't just throw get-me-over strikes, every strike matters, they can change the score with one swing in the bat. So that's the energy you feel.”

Steele soaked in all that he could, as the Cubs went from the eclectic atmosphere at Wrigley Field – “That is something I want to pitch in,” Steele said – to the heartbreak in Milwaukee.

“Obviously, I want to be playing,” he said. “But just being able to experience all that stuff definitely gave me insight into what it's going to be like when I do pitch in those situations. You still get the nervous feelings and whatnot, because you're somewhat still part of it.”

Then it was back to the solitude of injury rehab .

Luckily, Steele didn’t have to undergo full Tommy John surgery for the second time, shortening his expected recovery timeline by months. His elbow surgery last April stabilized his already reconstructed ulnar collateral ligament with an internal brace. As Steele explained it, the brace is supporting all the same “hardware” as before.

“As I started throwing again, it felt the same,” Steele said. “There was no difference — whereas the first Tommy John [surgery] I had, it felt like I had a new arm, I had to re-learn how to use it.”

Steele threw off a mound for the first time in mid-January, in an indoor facility during Cubs Convention. Now he’s built up to throwing 30-pitch bullpen sessions. As he progresses, he’ll gradually introduce new pitches, and as of Sunday, he’d integrated sliders into his last two bullpen sessions.

After Steele has built up the volume in his bullpens, he’ll advance to throwing live batting practice and eventually going on a minor-league rehab assignment.

If all goes to plan, he’ll return with plenty of time to make his mark on the regular season and beyond.

“I’m excited about it,” Steele said. “Just want to get back as soon as possible, in a timely manner, and help the team win games.”