Cubs drop encouraging Ben Brown injury update as potential return comes into focus

All signs continue to point toward Ben Brown returning to the Chicago Cubs before October. Brown has been sidelined since the middle of June with a a neck injury that was similar to the one that ended his season prematurely during the 2024 season.

This time around, the Cubs and Brown were confident that he would return sooner however, the team was initially playing things cautious. Brown had been asymptomatic for some time, but it wasn't until the past few weeks that he resumed his throwing program. On Friday, at the Cubs' spring training complex in Arizona, Brown threw a live bullpen and Counsell referred to it as a big step forward in his recovery.

It's worth noting that Justin Steele also threw a live bullpen on Friday, but for pitchers, the Cubs were waiting until the day after to see how they felt. It was good news for both as neither pitcher reported a setback, and Counsell confirmed the plan is for each to have session this week. For Brown specifically, assuming the session goes well, he will return to Chicago before starting a minor-league rehab assignment.

Cubs just dropped biggest hint yet that Ben Brown return is getting closer

The exact plan for Steele remains unclear. Between the reconstructive UCL surgery last year and suffering a flexor strain during his initial ramp-up, the Cubs are slow-playing Steele's program. It remains to be seen if Steele is going to pitch in games for the Cubs this season, but the door certainly remains open to him starting some form of a minor-league rehab assignment.

The important news is Brown. If Brown is healthy by the middle of September, that would be an important development for the pitching staff. A pitching staff that suddenly has questions, considering Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd have struggled of late, and Kevin Gausman hasn't had the cleanest of starts to his tenure with the Cubs. Not to mention, the further regression from Edward Cabrera confirming that his return will be in the bullpen.

Brown's return will be in the bullpen, considering there's not enough time left in the regular season to get stretched out as a starting pitcher. The comfort, however, is that Brown has thrived as a multi-inning burst reliever for the Cubs earlier this season. Even if he's not in the rotation, a healthy Brown could still make a difference in October.

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