Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele is scheduled to start a rehab assignment Wednesday with Triple-A Iowa, moving him closer to a possible return after nearly 17 months away from major league games.
Marquee Sports Network reporter Taylor McGregor first shared the update late Monday, noting Steele would pitch for the Iowa Cubs. The assignment marks the next official step after weeks of live batting practice and bullpen work in Arizona.
Steele last pitched in the majors on April 7, 2025, when he threw seven innings against Texas. He needed revision surgery on his left ulnar collateral ligament later that month. A flexor strain in April 2026 then shut him down again just as he was building toward a midseason comeback.
The 31-year-old Mississippi native made the All-Star team in 2023 and finished fifth in National League Cy Young voting that year. He has a career 3.30 ERA over 102 big-league appearances, most of them as a starter.
Cubs officials have said for months that stretching Steele back out as a traditional starter this season is not realistic. The calendar simply does not leave enough time. Instead, the plan is for him to work in shorter bursts out of the bullpen if everything stays on track.
Manager Craig Counsell has repeatedly urged patience.
“He’s got runway,” Counsell said earlier this summer. “He probably can’t afford setbacks.”
More recently Counsell reminded everyone how long Steele has been out.
“We have a lot of steps to go before we get there,” Counsell said. “I mean, he hasn’t pitched in an affiliated game in almost two years, so let’s get him pitching in an affiliated game. I think we can understand that he’s going to have to pitch in multiple games before he’s ready.”
Steele has sounded more upbeat as the throwing program advanced.
“It’s just been a long road,” Steele said last week in Arizona. “It feels really good to get towards the end of that tunnel. You see how the team’s playing, you just want to get back and help.”
He also told reporters he felt good throwing all of his pitches.
“Everything feels good,” Steele said. “Fastball, sinker, slider, curveball — everything’s there.”
President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer has described the situation in measured terms.
“I’d say ‘hopeful,’” Hoyer said. “‘Optimism’ might be strong.”
Hoyer added later that a full starter’s workload was unlikely.
“It’s probably unrealistic to think he’s going to be fully stretched out at any point,” Hoyer said. “If he does help us, I think it’s going to be in shorter bursts.”
The Cubs entered Monday 77-60 and eight games behind Milwaukee in the NL Central. They still hold a strong position in the wild-card race with about a month left in the regular season. A healthy Steele in the bullpen would give Chicago another left-handed option for high-leverage spots.
Iowa plays at Principal Park in Des Moines. Steele made a rehab start there in May 2024 after a hamstring injury and threw 3 1/3 innings. He knows the surroundings.
The Cubs will watch how Steele responds after each outing before deciding how many appearances he needs. He remains on the 60-day injured list, which keeps him eligible for postseason rosters if the club reaches October.
Teammates have welcomed him back into the clubhouse during recent series. Several players have said they are eager to see him compete again. Steele has made clear he wants to contribute before the year ends.
Whether that happens in September or later will depend on how the next few weeks unfold in Iowa. For now, the simple fact that he is heading to Triple-A represents progress after a frustrating two-year stretch.
