Good Cubs News: Updates on Bellinger and Steele
Hats off to the Chicago Cubs, who have stayed consistent for many years and that’s having awful communication when it comes to injured players. But hey, I guess there is some good news now after the fact on two important players that are hopefully returning soon.
Justin Steele
There was no way Justin Steele wasn’t going to miss time and bless his heart for trying to make it happen, but once his MRI results came in and showed that there was a minor forearm strain in his left arm we all pretty much knew Steele was going to be out for at least a few weeks. He was placed on the 15-day injured list on Saturday, when the Cubs were in the middle of their series against the San Diego Padres. Steele’s stint on the injured list is retro active to June 1, which means the left-handed starter is eligible to return right after the middle of June.
Well, I won’t blame you for raising an eyebrow at this, but there is good news. It appears as though the Cubs, at this point, are expecting Steele to miss the minimum amount of time on the injured list.
Prior to Tuesday’s series opener against the Los Angeles Angels, Cubs manager David Ross said the team has June 17, as the target date for Steele’s return to the starting rotation. If Steele does not suffer any setbacks in the next 10 days, he should be back against the Baltimore Orioles in the middle game of their series at Wrigley Field.
So, if Steele is able to return on June 17, then it would mean the left-hander would have only missed two starts. I’d take that as a win because you look around the league and when pitchers have forearm strains, it can become a much longer term problem really fast.
Fingers crossed that Steele will be back soon without any setbacks.
Cody Bellinger
This one, I didn’t buy for a second. Cody Bellinger made a great catch against the Houston Astros on May 15, but he banged his left knee off the wall and it didn’t look good at all. The Cubs center fielder walked off the field gingerly and was taken out of the game. The next day, Ross said Bellinger could possibly be used off the bench. A few days later the Cubs placed Bellinger on the injured list and nearly a month later he hasn’t returned.
We still don’t quite know when Bellinger will return, but it won’t be until at least the Cubs end their current road trip that concludes following this weekend against the San Francisco Giants. However, the Cubs are already planning Bellinger’s rehab assignment that might begin in Arizona.
Via the Chicago Sun-Times.
The exact timing has yet to be determined, and Bellinger, who suffered a bone bruise when he hyperextended his left knee, might start the stint in Arizona instead of at an affiliate.
‘‘Certainly, he’s been out long enough that we feel like he’s going to need it,’’ Hoyer said. ‘‘And he probably needs it mentally, as well. With his injury, there’s having confidence that he’s going to feel good. It’s one thing to simulate game activity; it’s another thing to actually go and do it.’’
While left-handed hitting outfielder Mike Tauchman has done a great job filling in for Bellinger in the lineup, going 12-for-41 with a .423 OBP since he was called up, the defense in center field has taken a decline with Bellinger’s absence. That is certainly one aspect that the Cubs have greatly missed during the past 3.5 weeks. You can tell at least once a game, there’s a ball that Bellinger catches that Tauchman and others filling in have not.
Hopefully Bellinger returns during the Cubs’ next home stand after playing in some rehab games.