Justin Steele didn’t make any sensational statements. No specific timelines. No flowery promises. But when he took the initiative to talk about his recovery, the message was clearly not just for the Chicago Cubs.
After a long and turbulent winter in the NL Central — culminating in Freddy Peralta leaving Milwaukee after months of speculation — the division seemed to be entering a rebalancing phase. And then, Steele reappeared in the story in a very… Steele way.
2025 almost went by without him. Only four games, then a UCL revision surgery with an internal brace — a step very close to Tommy John, and enough to make any team prepare for a long absence. The Cubs did that. The rest of the NL Central did too. Everyone assumed Steele would return late, cautiously, and perhaps not at his best when he came back.
Therefore, Steele’s confirmation that he would be facing a batter “sometime in spring training” broke a comfortable silence for his opponents.
There was no official timetable, but the message was clear: he wasn’t falling behind the plan. And in the context of the Cubs building a young, variable rotation, Steele was more than just a name — he was the cornerstone.
From 2022 to 2024, Steele quietly became one of the most consistent shooters in the NL. 427 innings. ERA 3.10. FIP 3.14. Not the loud ace type, but the kind opponents don’t want to face. Especially Milwaukee. His numbers against the Brewers need no further explanation: 2.29 ERA, 86 strikeouts in under 80 innings. That wasn’t a coincidence. It was the result of understanding, patience, and high-level execution.
If Steele returns to his proper rhythm—not 100%, just good enough—the Cubs will instantly transform their image. Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, and Matthew Boyd will no longer have to shoulder the leadership role. Jameson Taillon and Shota Imanaga will become depth rather than solutions. A rotation once considered “effective” could become something far more formidable.
And that’s when Steele’s message transcends the Cubs’ locker room.
Milwaukee has just lost Peralta—a key player who shaped their pitching identity for years. While Brandon Sproat is a valuable long-term asset, he’s not someone who can immediately fill that void. The Brewers still have potential, still have a superior bullpen, but their once safe pitching advantage is beginning to waver.
Steele’s return, therefore, doesn’t need to be flashy to be dangerous. It just needs to be timely.
Perhaps the most noteworthy thing isn’t what Steele said, but what he didn’t need to say. No challenge. No mention of the Brewers. No talk of the lead. But when a pitcher who’s just undergone serious surgery proactively enters the competition earlier than expected, the rest of the league will understand.
The NL Central is no longer a race to see who makes the first mistake. It’s becoming a race to see who’s ready first.
And if Justin Steele does return early—not as a recovery project, but as a mainstay—that message will resonate far beyond Chicago.
Leave a Reply