UPDATE: Ben Brown Not Likely to Return in 2024

Well, this was the fear among fans and Cubs manager Craig Counsell all but confirmed that rookie pitcher Ben Brown will likely not return to the team in 2024.

Brown last pitched on June 8, against the Cincinnati Reds and after going on the injured list with a neck issue the 24-year-old could not make progress in his rehab during the summer. On Wednesday, Counsell told reporters that Brown is still not doing any throwing and at this point a return is unlikely.

No other way to describe this. Sucks. Sucks so bad.

Brown was quickly becoming a weapon on the Cubs pitching staff after being an emergency call up early in the season when Justin Steele went on the injured list following Opening Day. Brown was doing it all, making spot starts, pitching multiple innings out of the bullpen, while also getting a few high-leverage outings as a reliever.

Brown's most impressive appearance came less than two weeks before he suffered his neck injury. On May 28, the rookie pitcher threw seven no-hit innings against the Milwaukee Brewers, striking out 10 and walking two.

And now Cubs fans are left to wonder what if Brown never got injured.

The righty will now end his first season in the big leagues with a 3.58 ERA in 55.1 innings. That includes a 2.68 ERA in 53.2 innings following his MLB debut against the Texas Rangers, who put up six runs in 1.2 innings. Brown was the real deal after that blowup, striking out 63 batters in his last 14 outings.

What could have been. Fuck.

(Previous Update)

The Cubs continue to be optimistic about the potential of Ben Brown coming back before the end of the 2024 season, but I have little to no confidence in that happening after Brown's latest setback. The 24-year-old pitcher has been shut down from pitching once again as Brown's nagging neck injury will not go away.

The right-handed pitcher has been sidelined since June 8, when he tossed four innings against the Cincinnati Reds. Brown has been dealing with a neck strain that already called for a brief shutdown earlier this summer and now the Cubs are hoping more rest will be the answer.

Brown was called up after Justin Steele went down on Opening Day in Texas and the rookie was certainly making his presence known in the Cubs pitching staff. Prior to the injury, Brown posted a 3.58 ERA in 55.1 innings.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell hasn't completely closed the door on Brown this season.

It's weird because the Cubs don't seem to really know exactly what's wrong with Brown either and I'm sure he's baffled by this entire dilemma as well.

While Brown hasn't been ruled out for the season just yet the Cubs did shut down their number one pitching prospect for the year a few days ago. First round pick Cade Horton only made nine starts this season in the minor leagues and after a total of 34.1 innings the right-handed pitcher will have to wait until 2025 to make an impact on the team.

Horton went down at the end of May with a shoulder injury and unfortunately his return will be longer than first anticipated.

Via the Chicago Tribune.

Chicago Cubs top prospect Cade Horton’s season appears to be over.

The 22-year-old right-hander had a setback during his rehab and throwing progression from a moderate subscapularis strain in his right shoulder. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer anticipates Horton will begin throwing again after the season.

“I don’t think we’ll see him during the season,” Hoyer told the Tribune on Friday before the Cubs-White Sox game at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Horton suffered the injury in late May and was shut down from throwing for three to four weeks. He had been in Arizona rehabbing and playing catch.

Not only does this Horton news have ramifications for 2024, as the Cubs were prepping him to help out at the major league level this season, but now the right-hander will most likely be limited in innings pitched in 2025 as well.