Cubs

NEWS: Chicago Cubs Promote Southpaw Justin Steele to Active Roster

Cubs try to bolster their struggling bullpen by promoting Justin Steele.

by
Cody Delmendo
August 2, 2020

Photo: Danny Parker/Youtube

The Chicago Cubs have promoted left-handed reliever Justin Steele to their active roster.

The Cubs will be adding lefty Justin Steele to their active roster before today’s game against the Pirates at Wrigley Field, sources said. Steele, 25, will be in position to make his big-league debut as the Cubs try to figure out their bullpen.
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) August 2, 2020

With the continued struggles in the Cubs bullpen, David Ross and company are looking for reinforcements from South Bend.

Steele, 23, has been in the Cubs organization since 2014. He spent last season at Double-A Tennessee where he pitched 38.2 innings and finished the season with a 5.59 earned run average.

With Brad Wieck on the Injured List, this move adds another lefty to the bullpen that needs all the help it can get these days. He’ll be active for today’s series finale against Pittsburgh.

Love the Cubs trying Justin Steele out of their bullpen. He’s stretched out to pitch multiple innings as a long reliever, but has a pitch profile to succeed in shorter stints against a couple lefties. The 2700-3000 rpm slider he’s worked really hard to add has been a gamechanger.
— Cubs Prospects – Bryan Smith (@cubprospects) August 2, 2020

Look for Steele to work his slider against left-handed hitters. Considering the three-batter minimum rule, it will be interesting to see what spots Ross uses him in.

Love this 5-pitch K from Justin Steele. Really get a feel for how tough he can be just with his preferred 2 pitches. A curve he can manipulate for strike or as chase pitch. A fastball with late life. Don’t be fooled by bad 2019 numbers, still a big league caliber arm developing. pic.twitter.com/Eol15qQthY
— Cubs Prospects – Bryan Smith (@cubprospects) December 2, 2019