As Justin Steele and the Chicago Cubs looked at how much time was left in the season and how much further the lefty had to go in his rehab, they came to the realization that starting was no longer an option for this season. If Steele was going to help the Cubs in the big leagues this season, it was going to have to come out of the bullpen.
"We just didn't have enough time to get built up to start," Steele said in an interview with the Des Moines Register on Sept. 10.
The Chicago Cubs ace allowed two runs on four hits with three strikeouts in two innings out of the bullpen against Toledo in a rehabilitation ****** ignment outing with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs at Principal Park on Sept. 10.
"I feel good," Steele said afterward. "Not giving up too hard of contact. I'd like my velo to be a little bit better but it's part of the process."
The process has been a long one for Steele, an All-Star for the Cubs in 2023. The southpaw, who hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2025, underwent Tommy John surgery and was originally slated to return to the mound sometime at the midway point of 2026.

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