Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele is set to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, taking another important step toward returning to the major leagues after being sidelined for nearly 17 months.
Marquee Sports Network reporter Taylor McGregor reported the development Monday night, confirming that Steele will take the mound for the Iowa Cubs. His upcoming appearance follows several weeks of live batting practice sessions and bullpen work in Arizona.
Steele’s last MLB outing came on April 7, 2025, when he delivered seven innings against the Texas Rangers. Later that month, he underwent revision surgery on his left ulnar collateral ligament. His comeback was delayed again in April 2026 after he suffered a flexor strain while preparing for a potential midseason return.
The 31-year-old left-hander from Mississippi has already established himself as one of Chicago’s most reliable pitchers. Steele earned an All-Star selection in 2023 and placed fifth in that season’s National League Cy Young Award voting. Across 102 major-league appearances, he owns a career 3.30 ERA, with the majority of those outings coming as a starter.
However, the Cubs have made it clear that rebuilding Steele into a full-time starter this season is unlikely because there simply isn’t enough time remaining on the schedule. If his rehabilitation continues without complications, the more realistic option is for Steele to return as a reliever and handle shorter outings.
Chicago manager Craig Counsell has consistently emphasized that Steele’s comeback needs to be handled carefully.
“He’s got runway,” Counsell said earlier this summer, while stressing that Steele cannot afford another setback.
Counsell recently provided more perspective on the long process ahead, pointing out that Steele has not appeared in an affiliated game for nearly two years. Before he can be considered ready for major-league action, he will likely need several rehab appearances to rebuild his game conditioning and confidence.
Steele, meanwhile, has become increasingly encouraged by the progress he has made during his throwing program. Speaking in Arizona last week, he acknowledged how difficult the recovery has been but said he was excited to finally be approaching the finish line. With the Cubs playing well, Steele made it clear that he wants to return and contribute to the team’s postseason push.
The pitcher also expressed confidence in his entire arsenal, saying his fastball, sinker, slider and curveball were all feeling good during his workouts.
Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer has taken a more cautious approach when discussing Steele’s potential return. Rather than making bold predictions, Hoyer described the organization as “hopeful,” while acknowledging that calling it optimism might be too strong at this stage.
Hoyer also indicated that expecting Steele to regain a complete starter’s workload would be unrealistic. If the left-hander is able to help Chicago this season, the expectation is that he would likely do so in shorter relief appearances.
The Cubs entered Monday with a 77-60 record, sitting eight games behind Milwaukee in the NL Central. Despite the division deficit, Chicago remains firmly in the wild-card picture with roughly a month left in the regular season. If Steele can return healthy, his presence could provide the Cubs with another valuable left-handed arm for important late-game situations.
Steele is familiar with Iowa’s Principal Park in Des Moines, where he is scheduled to begin his rehab assignment. He previously made a rehab appearance there in May 2024 after recovering from a hamstring injury, throwing 3⅓ innings.
For now, the Cubs will evaluate Steele after each outing and determine how many additional rehab games he needs before considering a return to Chicago. He remains on the 60-day injured list, meaning he would still be eligible for a postseason roster should the Cubs qualify for October baseball.
His teammates have also been happy to see him around the clubhouse during recent series, with several expressing excitement about watching him pitch competitively again. Steele has made it clear that his goal is to find a way to contribute before the season ends.
Exactly when that happens—whether in September or later—will depend on how his rehab progresses in Iowa. Still, getting back into Triple-A action is an important milestone for Steele after enduring a difficult stretch of injuries and setbacks.
