The Chicago Cubs put pitcher Justin Steele on the 15-day injured list on Saturday. They expect him to miss about a month because he strained his left hamstring during the opening game against the Texas Rangers.
To replace Steele, the Cubs called up pitcher Ben Brown from Triple-A Iowa. Brown, who is 24 years old, had two starts and five appearances in spring training. This will be his first time playing in a major league game.
Steele was pitching well, with six strikeouts, before he got hurt in the fifth inning of the game against the Rangers. He injured himself while trying to field a bunt. Steele left the game after a quick check from a trainer.
Manager Craig Counsell said that Steele needs to walk normally before starting a rehab program. He doesn’t expect Steele to pitch in April, but he thinks he’ll be back in May. Steele had a great season last year, with a 16-5 record and a 3.06 ERA. He even made it to the All-Star Game.
Brown had a mixed season in Triple-A Iowa last year, with a 6-8 record and a 5.33 ERA. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2017 and joined the Cubs in a trade in 2022.
