Justin Steele gets the green light and could rejoin the Cubs' rotation by May or June

It's time to let the horses run.

Or something like that.

Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele has officially been cleared in his rehab from UCL revision surgery and has zero restrictions in his throwing program moving forward. Although the southpaw isn't expected to join the rotation until May or June, this represents the final box to be checked in his road back.

Steele told reporters on Sunday he's a 'full go' and can begin incorporating his curveball back into his bullpen sessions. For some time now, it's been one positive update after another and now both Steele and Cubs fans can start to look forward to his return to the mound.

Justin Steele appears to be way ahead of his initial recovery schedule

The 30-year-old Steele made just four starts last year before going under the knife - but in the three seasons prior, had established himself as one of the higher-quality hurlers in the game. From 2022-24, he worked to a 3.10 ERA/3.14 FIP in 427 innings of work, earning an All-Star nod and a fifth-place finish in NL Cy Young voting in '23.

He'll rejoin a deep Cubs rotation that looks to enter the season with Cade Horton, Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Edward Cabrera and Jameson Taillon taking the ball every five days, with last year's unsung hero, Colin Rea, operating as the swingman in the pen. It'll be interesting to see how Counsell reintegrates Steele into that mix, but odds are there's some sort of injury or hiccup in the group that will help there.

Steele isn't focused on rushing back to the mound - he already has his eye set on October. As impressive as he's been for the club, the Mississippi native has never pitched in a postseason game. You can bet that playoff baseball's return to Wrigley Field last fall is still fresh in his mind and he's ready to take the ball in that environment.

The Cubs are going to be careful with Steele in these final steps of recovery. Even when he's back, he's not going to be out there throwing complete games this summer. Nevertheless, a healthy, effective Steele could make last fall's concerns about the rotation feel like a very distant by this summer.