Justin Steele Exits Opening Day Start with Injury
What the fuck man! Justin Steele just exited his Opening Day start after fielding a bunt in the bottom of the fifth inning against the Texas Rangers. The Cubs’ ace made the play, but in doing so Steele appeared to injure his left leg. He was grabbing the back of his leg.
The only good news and who knows at this point, is that Steele was able to walk off under his own power after getting checked out by the team trainer.
Here’s the play.
The Cubs are already beginning the season testing their pitching depth as veteran right-hander Jameson Taillon is currently on the 15-day injured list because of a back strain. Taillon didn’t pitch a single inning during spring training, first missing time with a calf issue and then he suffered a back strain in the middle of March.
Young lefty Jordan Wicks and third-year pitcher Javier Assad are already in the starting rotation and if Steele has to miss extended time, then we might see 24-year-old right-hander Ben Brown come up to fill in. Brown was stellar in spring training and would be at the top of the list for the Cubs to call on after Steele’s Opening Day injury.
Hopefully this is only a mild hamstring strain for Steele. Maybe a 15-day IL stint, but as of now we don’t know the severity of the injury.
Well, maybe it isn’t too bad after all.
UPDATE
The Cubs confirmed that Justin Steele left Thursday’s start because of tightness in his left hamstring.