10:42AM: The Cubs announced Steele’s promotion, and in a corresponding move, right-hander James Norwood was placed on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to July 30) due to right shoulder inflammation. Pitching in his third season for the Cubs, Norwood has a 16.20 ERA over 1 2/3 innings pitched this season.
9:22AM: The Cubs will promote left-hander Justin Steele to their 30-man roster prior to today’s game, The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney reports (Twitter link). Steele is already on the 40-man, though a corresponding move will need to be made to create room on the big league roster.
The 25-year-old Steele was a fifth-round pick for the Cubs in the 2014 draft, and he’ll now get his first taste of MLB action following six seasons and 320 2/3 innings pitched in the minors. Steele has worked almost exclusively as a starter, though he will be used as a reliever in Chicago to try and help the struggling Cubs bullpen. Some extra southpaw depth is particularly necessary since Kyle Ryan and Rex Brothers, the two lefties in the relief corps, have both gotten off to a tough start.
Steele’s career was stalled by a Tommy John surgery in 2017, though he has a 3.62 ERA, 2.41 K/BB rate, and 8.9 K/9 over his minor league career. MLB Pipeline ranks him as Chicago’s 21st-best prospect in Chicago’s farm system, noting Steeler’s plus four-seamer and “one of the best curveballs in the system.”
Plus fastball AND plus curveball? If he throws strikes too, he might be our closer in a week.
It’s easy to say plus fastball and curve if they haven’t been seen yet.
Be supportive, either way. It often takes awhile to be MLB-ready.
More “wisdom” from the Tim-witted Twitterer.
Its been 6 years. If he is not ready now when will he be
Max Power.
Love the Simpsons reference