Important Cubs prospect is cleared for a normal offseason after injury-shortened 2024

What role Ben Brown will play for the Chicago Cubs next season remains to be seen. It depends on a variety of factors, most importantly the make-up of the roster once the offseason concludes and the team reports to camp in Arizona.

As we saw in his injury-shortened rookie campaign, the lanky right-hander has the stuff to get big-league hitters out as either a starter or reliever. But all the positives were overshadowed by a season-ending neck injury that sidelined him from early June on. Thankfully, a re-evaluation of that issue has resulted in an 'all-clear' from the medical team, setting him up for a normal offseason.

This was one of the strangest, most unclear injuries I've seen in more than a decade writing about the game. Nobody really seemed able to put their finger on exactly what the issue was, and it continued to linger - eventually leading to the Cubs shutting him down for good this summer. Now, Brown and the team can turn their attention to 2025.

Cubs News: Ben Brown poised to return to the team in 2025

Even with a free-agent or trade addition, Brown could force his way into the starting rotation as the team's fifth starter. But, again, it would be pure speculation on our part to assume what that mix of arms will look like or what role he'll play. Last year, he showed the ability to start or work out of the bullpen effectively - and regardless of what innings he gets next season, the team is counting on him to be a key piece.

If you take out his season-opening blow-up against the Rangers in Arlington, Brown was nothing short of magnificent for several months, working to a 1.61 ERA and 2.05 ERA in six starts and a half-dozen relief appearances heading into June. His final two outings of the year were rocky, but looking back, we might be able to chalk that up to the neck issue as his season ended June 8.

For now, it's good news. Brown can work through a typical offseason throwing program and hopefully, this neck issue is a thing of the past or, at the very least, is something he and the Cubs can manage moving forward.