In a shocking turn of events, the Chicago Cubs will be without their star pitcher, Justin Steele, for the rest of the season. Manager Craig Counsell confirmed today that the left-handed ace will undergo surgery on his troublesome elbow.

Steele, who was placed on the injured list with elbow tendinitis after facing the Texas Rangers, initially expected a short stint on the sidelines. His condition seemed manageable, but a follow-up MRI prompted the Cubs to seek a second opinion, leading to the sobering conclusion that surgery is necessary.

Options are still being evaluated between a full Tommy John surgery—often a lengthy 18-month recovery—or an internal brace procedure, which could see him back in roughly a year. Regardless, Steele’s absence marks a significant blow to a team with playoff aspirations.

Fans were hopeful as Steele had been performing at an impressive level from 2022 through the end of 2024, boasting a 3.10 ERA that placed him among the top pitchers in Major League Baseball. While his first starts this season did showcase struggles, including a 6.89 ERA, there were signs he was regaining form, striking out eight in a stellar outing against the Rangers.

With Steele sidelined, the Cubs are now heavily relying on fellow southpaw Shota Imanaga, who had an impressive rookie season and even earned an All-Star nod last year, finishing fifth in the NL Cy Young voting. Matthew Boyd will also be pivotal after showing flashes of brilliance with a 1.59 ERA in his first three outings with the Cubs.

The pitching rotation is now looking thin, with young talents like Ben Brown and Colin Rea filling in, but their performance will be crucial. Plus, veteran right-hander Javier Assad is on the injured list but might return soon.

Despite the hurdles, the Cubs have some promising prospects in the minors. Top pitching prospect Cade Horton is turning heads with a remarkable 1.23 ERA and striking out nearly 39% of batters in his initial starts this year.

As the reality of Steele's surgery settles in, Cubs Nation holds its breath, hoping that the rest of the team can step up to fill the void left by one of their most talented arms.