Justin Steele
{{short description|American baseball player (born 1995)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name = Justin Steele
|image =
|team = Chicago Cubs
|number = 35
|position = Pitcher
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|7|11}}
|birth_place = Lucedale, Mississippi, U.S.
|bats = Left
|throws = Left
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate = April 12
|debutyear = 2021
|debutteam = Chicago Cubs
|statleague = MLB
|statyear = April 7, 2025
|stat1label = Win–loss record
|stat1value = 32–22
|stat2label = Earned run average
|stat2value = 3.30
|stat3label = Strikeouts
|stat3value = 517
|teams =
- Chicago Cubs ({{mlby|2021}}–present)
| awards =
}}
Justin Carl Steele (born July 11, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2021 and was an MLB All-Star in 2023.
Early life
Justin Carl Steele was born July 11, 1995, in Lucedale, Mississippi,{{cite web |title=Justin Steele Stats, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/justin-steele-657006 |website=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media |access-date=September 7, 2023}} and was raised in nearby Agricola by Ben Steele and Nicki Clark.{{cite news |last=Mooney |first=Patrick |title=How the Cubs found Justin Steele in the draft and landed their new Cy Young contender |url=https://theathletic.com/4800806/2023/08/24/cubs-justin-steele-cy-young/ |work=The Athletic |date=August 24, 2023 |access-date=September 7, 2023 |url-access=subscription}}{{cite news |last=Stephenson |first=Creg |title=Baseball recruiting: George County's Justin Steele signs with Southern Miss |url=https://www.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-sports/2013/11/baseball_recruiting_george_cou.html |work=Press-Register |date=November 13, 2013 |access-date=September 7, 2023}} Steele and his older brother Jordan spent their childhood practicing baseball in their family backyard.{{cite news |last=Bastian |first=Jordan |title=Steele has unique hometown All-Star connection |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/justin-steele-s-steady-growth-leads-to-all-star-nod |work=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media |date=July 10, 2023 |access-date=September 7, 2023}} During his sophomore year at George County High School, while rehabilitating a lower back injury, Steele's fastball velocity increased to {{convert|90|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, which attracted the attention of scouts and recruiters.{{cite news |last=Mooney |first=Patrick |title=How Justin Steele became the All-Star pitcher the Cubs can build around at Wrigley Field |url=https://theathletic.com/4681084/2023/07/11/justin-steele-all-star-cubs/ |work=The Athletic |date=July 11, 2023 |access-date=September 7, 2023 |url-access=subscription}} As a junior in 2013, Steele had a 7–3 win–loss record and 1.94 earned run average (ERA) with 98 strikeouts in {{frac|61|1|3}} innings pitched. In addition to pitching, he spent time as an outfielder and designated hitter, batting .326 with three home runs and 23 runs batted in (RBI). The next year, Steele went 5–1 with a 0.98 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 43 innings,{{cite news |last=Stephenson |first=Creg |title=George County pitcher Justin Steele selected by Chicago Cubs in fifth round of MLB draft |url=https://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-sports/2014/06/george_county_pitcher_justin_s.html |work=Press-Register |date=June 6, 2014 |access-date=September 7, 2023}} including two no-hitters.{{cite news |last=Stephenson |first=Creg |title=Baseball: No-hit man Justin Steele, George County rolling as 5A playoffs approach |url=https://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-sports/2014/04/baseball_justin_steele_george_2.html |work=Press-Register |date=April 15, 2014 |access-date=September 7, 2023}}
Professional career
=Draft and minor leagues=
The Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB) selected Steele in the fifth round, 139th overall, of the 2014 MLB Draft. At the time, he had committed to play college baseball at the University of Southern Mississippi. He ultimately joined the Cubs on a $1 million signing bonus. He made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Arizona League Cubs, pitching to a 2.89 ERA with 25 strikeouts in {{frac|18|2|3}} innings during the 2014 season. The next year, Steele made 10 starts for the Low-A Eugene Emeralds, with whom he went 3–1 with a 2.66 ERA and 38 strikeouts in {{frac|40|2|3}} innings.{{cite web |title=Justin Steele Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=steele000jus |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 7, 2023}} In 2016, Steele was promoted to the Single-A South Bend Cubs of the Midwest League.{{cite news |title=Roster set for South Bend Cubs Opening Day on Thursday |url=https://www.wndu.com/content/sports/Roster-set-for-South-Bend-Cubs-Opening-Day-on-Thursday--374516881.html |publisher=WNDU-TV |date=April 4, 2016 |access-date=September 7, 2023}} He struggled at the start of the season, going 3-5 with a 6.17 ERA in his first nine games for South Bend, and was sent back to Eugene for June.{{cite news |title=SB Cubs score 7 in 9th for win |url=https://www.southbendtribune.com/story/sports/2016/07/10/sb-cubs-score-7-in-9th-for-wi/117179194/ |work=South Bend Tribune |date=July 10, 2016 |access-date=September 7, 2023}} He finished the season with a 5–7 record, 5.00 ERA, and 76 strikeouts in {{frac|77|1|3}} innings across 19 starts. Most of Steele's troubles came from batted balls: his 3.48 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) was a significant improvement over his ERA, and hitters had a .383 batting average on balls in play against him that season.{{cite news |last=Huff |first=Rob |title=Cubs minor league climbers and fallers: Which pitchers took steps forward, backward in 2017? |url=https://theathletic.com/205320/2018/01/28/cubs-minor-league-climbers-and-fallers-which-pitchers-took-steps-forward-backward-in-2017/ |work=The Athletic |date=January 28, 2018 |access-date=September 7, 2023 |url-access=subscription}}
Steele started 2017 with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, but had his season cut short in August due to injury which required Tommy John Surgery.{{cite web|url=https://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/sports/mlb/myrtle-beach-pelicans/article156767449.html|title='Forever 21': Pelicans' Steele carries on family tradition through simple gesture|website=myrtlebeachonline|access-date=December 14, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sunherald.com/sports/high-school/article168653952.html|title=Chicago Cubs prospect Justin Steele has season-ending surgery|website=sunherald|access-date=December 14, 2018}} In 20 starts prior to the injury, he went 6–7 with a 2.92 ERA. He returned from the injury in 2018 and pitched for the AZL Cubs, Myrtle Beach, and Double-A Tennessee Smokies, pitching to a combined 2–2 record with a 2.31 ERA in 11 starts.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/justin-steele-657006|title=Justin Steele Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=November 14, 2018}} After the season, he played in the Arizona Fall League.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-nico-hoerner-arizona-fall-league-20181008-story.html|title=Nico Hoerner, Justin Steele are among the Cubs prospects headed to the Arizona Fall League|first=Mark|last=Gonzales|website=chicagotribune.com|access-date=December 14, 2018}} The Cubs also added Steele to their 40-man roster after the season, in order to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/cubs-add-three-pitchers-to-40-man-roster/c-300981712|title=Cubs add three pitchers to 40-man roster|website=MLB.com|access-date=December 14, 2018}}
Steele returned to the Smokies in 2019,{{Cite web | url=https://www.cubsinsider.com/2019/04/02/2019-chicago-cubs-affiliate-preview-tennessee-smokies-starting-pitchers-look-to-impress/ | title=2019 Chicago Cubs Affiliate Preview: Tennessee Smokies' Starting Pitchers Look to Impress | date=April 2, 2019 }} going 0–6 with a 5.59 ERA and 42 strikeouts over 11 starts. He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=April 14, 2025|website=mlb.com|language=en}}
=Chicago Cubs (2021–present)=
On August 2, 2020, Steele was promoted to the major leagues for the first time but was optioned down on August 6 without appearing in a game.{{cite web | url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2020/08/06/cubs-option-relievers-rex-brothers-and-justin-steele-to-south-bend-leaving-just-1-left-hander-in-the-bullpen/ | title=Cubs option relievers Rex Brothers and Justin Steele to South Bend, leaving just 1 left-hander in the bullpen | website=Chicago Tribune | date=August 6, 2020 }} On April 12, 2021, Steele was again promoted to the majors.{{Cite web | url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/04/cubs-place-3-relievers-on-covid-il-select-pedro-strop.html | title=Cubs Reinstate Brandon Workman, Dan Winkler; Reassign Pedro Strop | date=April 17, 2021 }} He made his MLB debut that night against the Milwaukee Brewers, striking out the first batter he saw, Daniel Robertson.{{cite web | url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2021/08/11/justin-steele-shows-in-his-first-major-league-start-why-the-chicago-cubs-left-handers-future-is-bright/ | title=Justin Steele shows in his first major-league start why the Chicago Cubs left-hander's future is bright | website=Chicago Tribune | date=August 11, 2021 }} He finished the year with a 4-4 record, throwing 59 strikeouts and putting up a 4.26 ERA.
In 2022, Steele went 4-7 over 24 starts with a 3.18 ERA and 126 strikeouts. In 7 starts after the All-Star break, he posted a 0.98 ERA while recording 49 strikeouts before a back injury ended his season.{{Cite web |last=Sikes |first=Ryan |date=February 20, 2023 |title=Justin Steele, Cubs Hoping to Carryover Second-Half Success |url=https://ontapsportsnet.com/mlb/justin-steele-cubs-hoping-to-carryover-second-half-success |access-date=August 29, 2024 |website=On Tap Sports Net |language=en}}
In 2023, Steele was 16–5 with a 3.06 ERA and 176 strikeouts over 30 starts. On September 4, Steele had a career-high 12 strikeouts and won his 16th game of the year as the Cubs won 5-0 against the San Francisco Giants.{{Cite web |date=September 4, 2023 |title=Cubs' Steele dominates Giants in 5-0 win, moves into tie for MLB lead in victories |url=https://apnews.com/article/cubs-giants-steele-webb-suzuki-a4329bbbb98f3fcada1c84b6dc8eb4fd |access-date=August 29, 2024 |website=AP News |language=en}} He selected as an All-Star and finished fifth in the Cy Young Award voting that year.{{cite web | last=Mooney | first=Patrick | title=Justin Steele looks forward after breakthrough season and end result that fuels the Cubs | website=The Athletic | date=2023-12-01 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5103346/2023/12/01/cubs-justin-steele/ | access-date=2024-12-26}}{{cite web | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/cubs-steele-spring-training/ | title=Despite career year, Cubs pitcher Justin Steele looks forward - CBS Chicago | website=CBS News | date=February 15, 2024 }}
On March 9, 2024, Steele was named the Opening Day starter for the Cubs.{{cite web | last=Bastian | first=Jordan | title=Justin Steele named Cubs 2024 Opening Day starter | website=MLB.com | date=2024-03-09 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/justin-steele-named-cubs-2024-opening-day-starter | access-date=2024-10-25}} Steele exited his Opening Day start against the Texas Rangers and was placed on the 15-day injured list on March 30 with a left hamstring strain.{{Cite web |date=March 30, 2024 |title=Cubs' Justin Steele: Officially placed on IL |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/cubs-justin-steele-officially-placed-on-il/ |access-date=September 4, 2024 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}} On May 6, the Cubs activated Steele from the injured list.{{Cite web |date=May 6, 2024 |title=Cubs' Justin Steele: Activated ahead of Monday's start |url=https://picks-s6.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/cubs-justin-steele-activated-ahead-of-mondays-start/ |access-date=September 4, 2024 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}} He consistently made his starts until September 2, when it was revealed that he would miss his next start due to elbow soreness.{{Cite web |date=September 3, 2024 |title=Cubs' Justin Steele: Scratched from Tuesday's start |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/cubs-justin-steele-scratched-from-tuesdays-start/#:~:text=Steele%20will%20not%20start%20Tuesday's,stint%20on%20the%20injured%20list. |access-date=September 4, 2024 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}} Steele was later diagnosed with left elbow inflammation following an MRI on September 3.{{Cite web |date=September 3, 2024 |title=Chicago Cubs Pitcher Justin Steele Diagnosed with Elbow Inflammation |url=https://thereportonsports.com/chicago-cubs-pitcher-justin-steele-diagnosed-with-elbow-inflammation/ |access-date=September 4, 2024 |website=thereportonsports.com |language=en-US}} He was later placed on the 15-day injured list on September 4 with left elbow tendinitis.{{Cite web |date=September 4, 2024 |title=Chicago Cubs Roster Moves: Justin Steele, Jorge Lopez and MORE! |url=https://thereportonsports.com/chicago-cubs-roster-moves-justin-steele-jorge-lopez-and-more/ |access-date=September 4, 2024 |website=thereportonsports.com |language=en-US}}
Steele began the 2025 season pitching out of Chicago's rotation, posting a 3-1 record and 4.76 ERA with 21 strikeouts in {{fraction|22|2|3}} innings pitched over 4 starts. On April 13, 2025, it was announced that Steele would require season-ending surgery on his left elbow.{{Cite web|title=Justin Steele To Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/04/justin-steele-to-undergo-season-ending-elbow-surgery.html|access-date=April 14, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} On April 19, the surgery was specified as a "revision repair" of his left ulnar collateral ligament.{{Cite web|title=Justin Steele Undergoes UCL Revision Surgery|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/04/justin-steele-undergoes-ucl-revision-surgery.html|access-date=April 22, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}
Personal life
Steele comes from an athletic family: his father played college football for Alabama, his grandfather played college basketball at Southern Miss, and his brother Jordan was a pitcher at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.{{cite news |last=Hughes |first=Joe L. |title='Forever 21': Pelicans' Steele carries on family tradition through simple gesture |url=https://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/sports/mlb/myrtle-beach-pelicans/article156767449.html |work=The Sun News |date=June 17, 2017 |access-date=September 7, 2023}} Steele proposed to his girlfriend, Libby Murphy, in 2022.{{cite news |last=Willis |first=Jeremy |title=Chicago Cubs Ian Happ and Justin Steele use team's day off to get engaged to their girlfriends |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/33850164/chicago-cubs-ian-happ-justin-steele-use-team-day-get-engaged-their-girlfriends |work=ESPN |date=May 3, 2022 |access-date=September 7, 2023}} The couple have one child together, a son born July 2022.{{cite news |last=Lee |first=Maddie |title=Cubs' Justin Steele returns from paternity list, will start Wednesday vs. Orioles |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2022/7/12/23206287/cubs-justin-steele-returns-paternity-list-start-vs-orioles-wednesday-anderson-espinoza-optioned |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=July 12, 2022 |access-date=September 7, 2023}}
Steele hosts a podcast on the Barstool Sports network titled "Steele the Show".{{cite web |title=Steele The Show |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/steele-the-show/id1740776226 |website=Apple Podcasts}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Baseballstats|mlb=657006|espn=41022|br=s/steelju01|fangraphs=17312|brm=steele000jus|retro=S/Psteej002}}
{{Chicago Cubs roster navbox}}
{{Chicago Cubs Opening Day starting pitchers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Steele, Justin}}
Category:Arizona League Cubs players
Category:Barstool Sports people
Category:Baseball players from Mississippi
Category:Eugene Emeralds players
Category:Major League Baseball pitchers
Category:Mesa Solar Sox players
Category:Myrtle Beach Pelicans players
Category:National League All-Stars
Category:People from Lucedale, Mississippi