Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Javier Assad had an MRI on Monday after experiencing oblique soreness following a pitching session down at spring training. Cubs manager Craig Counsell gave a positive update and for now it appears as though Assad has escaped a major injury.
According to Counsell, Assad has a mild oblique strain and that he'll only be sidelined for a few more days.
Counsell says they got good news on the MRI of Javier Assad’s oblique showing only a mild strain. He’ll be shut down for a few more days. #Cubs
— Josh Frydman (@Josh_Frydman) February 11, 2025
Assad made his MLB debut with the Cubs back in 2022. The righty has been a dependable pitcher in the rotation and out of the bullpen the past few years and last season Assad started 29 games, ending 2024 with a 3.73 ERA in 147 innings.
Now, as much as this update is positive for Assad, the Cubs do have an early start to their regular season action with a pair of games against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Japan on March 18 and 19. Seeing that Assad is somewhat setback even if deemed minor, the Cubs probably won't be rushing the pitcher to return from the oblique issue for that pair of games in Japan.
So, we'll see how much longer Assad is kept out of action before he begins to ramp up again. In the meantime, this could open the door for Ben Brown to get an early shot in the rotation. Brown is returning from a neck injury that sidelined him from June through the end of the 2024 season.
The Cubs also have Colin Rea and Jordan Wicks as the other depth starting pitching options.
(Previous Update)
Well, this is obviously the part of the season baseball fans are all looking forward to as pitchers and catchers have reported to spring training for the Cubs, but it's also the time when surprise injuries can pop up. Well, on day two of camp Cubs manager announced that a couple of pitchers are out of action, including righty Javier Assad.
On Monday, Counsell said Assad will undergo an MRI to see the extent of damage on what for now is being labeled as oblique soreness. Assad comes into the 2025 season competing for the fifth starter spot in the rotation. Now, he'll be hoping that he won't be missing much time as the Cubs prepare for the beginning of the season.
Cubs pitcher Javier Assad is sidelined with oblique soreness, manager Craig Counsell said on the second day of spring training, and will be reassessed after imaging testing.
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) February 10, 2025
Assad, 27, made 29 starts for the Cubs last year. He finished the 2024 season with a 3.73 ERA in 147 innings. The righty first stepped into the starting rotation early in the year filling in for Jameson Taillon, who began the season on the injured list. Assad got off to an outstanding start and remained in the rotation throughout the year, only missing a few weeks during the summer because of a forearm strain.
Assad was noticeably worse once he returned from the IL in July, ending the year with a 4.64 ERA in 13 starts. That was after posting a 3.04 ERA in his first 16 starts. Assad's walk rate and home run rate increased in the second half, while the strikeout rate declined. Not a great combo to have on the mound and the results suffered.
Oblique injuries can be tricky for any player and even if it's determined to be a minor problem for Assad we're still talking about a multi-week setback.
Meanwhile, minor league starting pitcher Brandon Birdsell is dealing with a shoulder issue. The 2022 fifth round pick excelled in 2024, posting a 3.91 ERA in 135.2 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. While the young righty wasn't necessarily in camp as a serious contender to make the big-league club, the Cubs do believe Birdsell can contribute in 2025 if needed as he continues to develop at Triple-A Iowa.
However, Birdsell's status will now be in question with the shoulder injury.
Craig Counsell said Javier Assad is dealing with some oblique soreness and is out right now. Brandon Birdsell is also dealing with an issue, back of shoulder area.
— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) February 10, 2025
So, maybe we keep a closer eye on guys like Colin Rea, Jordan Wicks and Ben Brown for the back end of the starting rotation to begin the 2025 season. Fingers crossed that Assad's MRI results come back clean and his oblique issue isn't too serious. We quickly saw last year how injuries can pile up fast and whatever pitching depth you thought you had could disappear in an instant.
The more available arms, the better.
