In the top of the second inning against the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs starter Justin Steele was hit with a comebacker to the mound in his right knee. He immediately went to the ground. The training staff helped him up and was extremely cautious walking him slowly to the dugout. This was supposed to be his final spring training start before Opening Day next week against the Texas Rangers.
The best news to come out of this is the ball hit the ground before striking Steele. So, it lost a little velocity before making contact with his leg. But with an already short-handed starting rotation, this is not something the Cubs liked to see happen to their ace.
The Cubs took no chances at all and immediately pulled Steele from the game. We hope this was just a one-time sting and things are still okay for him to start next Thursday in Texas. Steele himself has updated us on his own status via social media.
Justin Steele: "I'm Okay."
I'm going to be honest with you, Justin. I don't super care about the brackets right now. This is exactly what all of us needed to know.
Everyone can now return to their regularly scheduled programming. It appears the scare is over, and Justin Steele will be fine starting Thursday against the Rangers.
There's no need to dwell on what would have happened if he was not okay. We don't have to discuss what to do, who to bring up, and who to sign. Maybe this was a blessing in disguise to get him out of spring as healthy as possible.
Unless something drastic happens between now and Thursday, it'll be Steele on the mound.
