Justin Steele

Justin Carl Steele Bio

Justin Carl Steele is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on July 11, 1995, in Lucedale, Mississippi, Steele has established himself as a reliable left-handed starter for the Cubs organization that drafted him in 2014. He made his MLB debut in 2021 and earned his first MLB All-Star selection in 2023 after posting a remarkable 16-5 record with a 3.06 earned run average and 176 strikeouts. Steele has compiled a career record of 32 wins and 22 losses with a 3.30 ERA and 517 strikeouts across his MLB career through the 2025 season.

Early Life and Background

Justin Carl Steele grew up in Agricola, Mississippi, raised by his parents Ben Steele and Nicki Clark alongside his older brother Jordan. His father played college football for the University of Alabama, while his grandfather competed in college basketball at Southern Miss, establishing a strong athletic family legacy. Steele and his brother spent their childhood practicing baseball in their family backyard, developing the skills that would later carry Justin through his amateur career.

During his sophomore year at George County High School, Steele suffered a lower back injury that required rehabilitation. Interestingly, this setback proved beneficial as his fastball velocity increased to 90 mph during recovery, catching the attention of professional scouts and college recruiters. As a junior in 2013, Steele dominated on the mound with a 7-3 record, a 1.94 ERA, and 98 strikeouts in 61 and one-third innings pitched. He also contributed as an outfielder and designated hitter, batting .326 with three home runs and 23 runs batted in. In his senior year, he went 5-1 with a remarkable 0.98 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 43 innings, including two no-hitters.

Path to Professional Baseball

Despite his impressive high school performance, Steele did not receive a drafted selection until the Chicago Cubs selected him in the fifth round with the 139th overall pick of the 2014 MLB Draft. At the time of his selection, he had committed to play college baseball at the University of Southern Mississippi. However, he ultimately chose to sign with the Cubs for a $1 million signing bonus, beginning his professional career rather than pursuing collegiate baseball.

Justin Carl Steele Career

Minor Leagues and Development (2014–2020)

Steele began his professional career with the Rookie-level Arizona League Cubs in 2014, where he posted a 2.89 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 18 and two-thirds innings. The following season, he made 10 starts for the Low-A Eugene Emeralds, recording a 3-1 record with a 2.66 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 40 and two-thirds innings pitched. In 2016, Steele advanced to the Single-A South Bend Cubs of the Midwest League, though he struggled early in the season with a 3-5 record and 6.17 ERA in his first nine starts.

The 2017 season showed promise before it was cut short by injury. While pitching for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Steele went 6-7 with a 2.92 ERA in 20 starts before suffering an arm injury that required Tommy John surgery in August. He returned in 2018, pitching for the AZL Cubs, Myrtle Beach, and Double-A Tennessee Smokies, combining for a 2-2 record with a 2.31 ERA in 11 starts. After the season, Steele played in the Arizona Fall League and was added to the Cubs 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He returned to Tennessee in 2019 but went 0-6 with a 5.59 ERA in 11 starts. The 2020 season was lost entirely due to the COVID-19 pandemic canceling the minor league schedule.

Chicago Cubs Breakthrough (2021–Present)

Steele received his first major league promotion on August 2, 2020, but was optioned back to the minors on August 6 without appearing in a game. He earned another opportunity on April 12, 2021, when the Cubs promoted him to the majors. He made his MLB debut that night against the Milwaukee Brewers, striking out Daniel Robertson as the first batter he faced. Steele finished his rookie season with a 4-4 record, 59 strikeouts, and a 4.26 ERA.

The 2022 season marked a significant step forward as Steele went 4-7 over 24 starts with a 3.18 ERA and 126 strikeouts. Notably, he posted a 0.98 ERA with 49 strikeouts in seven starts after the All-Star break before a back injury ended his season prematurely. The following year, Steele experienced his breakthrough campaign, compiling a 16-5 record with a 3.06 ERA and 176 strikeouts across 30 starts. He recorded a career-high 12 strikeouts on September 4, 2023, against the San Francisco Giants while earning his 16th win of the season. His performance earned him an All-Star selection and a fifth-place finish in the National League Cy Young Award voting.

Steele began 2024 as the Cubs Opening Day starter but endured a challenging season due to injuries. He 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. He returned in May but continued to deal with physical setbacks. On September 2, he was revealed to be dealing with elbow soreness, and an MRI on September 3 confirmed left elbow inflammation. He was subsequently placed on the injured list with left elbow tendinitis, ending his 2024 campaign.

The 2025 season began with Steele in the Cubs rotation, posting a 3-1 record with a 4.76 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 22 and two-thirds innings over four starts. However, on April 13, 2025, it was announced that Steele would require season-ending surgery on his left elbow. The procedure, performed on April 19, was specified as a revision repair of his left ulnar collateral ligament.

Driving Style and Strengths

Steele is a crafty left-handed pitcher who relies on deception and movement rather than exceptional velocity. He throws a cut four-seam fastball at roughly 89-92 mph and a slider at 81-84 mph as his primary weapons, with these two pitches accounting for approximately 87 percent of his offerings. In his All-Star 2023 season, he threw his fastball and slider 96.6 percent of the time. He also incorporates a sinker, changeup, and curveball into his repertoire. Steele throws from a 45-degree arm angle and creates unusual spin and seam action on his pitches that batters find difficult to barrel, allowing him to succeed at the major league level despite not possessing elite fastball velocity.

Notable Events and Milestones

Steele’s career highlights include his MLB debut against the Milwaukee Brewers in 2021, his breakout 2023 All-Star season where he finished fifth in Cy Young voting, and his selection as the Cubs Opening Day starter in 2024. His career-high 12-strikeout performance against the San Francisco Giants in September 2023 stands as one of his most dominant displays. His resilience through Tommy John surgery in 2017 and subsequent return to MLB demonstrates his determination to overcome adversity in his career.

Justin Carl Steele Career Wins

Through the 2025 season, Justin Steele has compiled 32 career wins in Major League Baseball with a 3.30 ERA and 517 strikeouts. His most successful season came in 2023 when he earned his only All-Star selection with a 16-5 record. He owns a career win-loss record of 32-22 across parts of five MLB seasons with the Chicago Cubs organization.

Major League Baseball Highlights

Steele’s best season remains 2023 when he went 16-5 with a 3.06 ERA and 176 strikeouts over 30 starts, earning his first All-Star selection. His 2022 season showed promise with a 4-7 record but an impressive 3.18 ERA and 126 strikeouts in 24 starts. He has accumulated 32 career wins and 517 strikeouts through the 2025 season while maintaining a 3.30 earned run average across 67 MLB appearances, 63 of which have been starts.

Minor League Achievements

Prior to his MLB success, Steele demonstrated potential throughout the minor leagues. His 2017 season with Myrtle Beach was particularly notable before it ended prematurely due to injury, as he posted a 2.92 ERA in 20 starts. He also excelled in limited duty in 2018, posting a 2.31 ERA across three affiliates while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Justin Carl Steele Family

Family Background and Athletic Lineage

Justin Steele comes from a distinguished athletic family with achievements spanning multiple sports. His father, Ben Steele, played college football at the University of Alabama. His grandfather competed in college basketball at Southern Miss. His older brother Jordan Steele was a pitcher at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College before pursuing professional baseball, and he later became a pitcher for the Chicago White Sox organization. This multi-generational athletic tradition provided Justin with both the competitive drive and the baseball knowledge that helped shape his career.

Personal Life

Steele became engaged to his girlfriend Libby Murphy in 2022. The couple welcomed their first child, a son, in July 2022. Beyond baseball, Steele hosts a podcast titled “Steele the Show” on the Barstool Sports network, allowing fans to gain insight into his personality and career outside of his pitching duties. He maintains an active presence on social media, connecting with fans through his Instagram account.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season began with promise for Justin Steele as he took the mound as a starting pitcher in the Chicago Cubs rotation. Through his first four starts, he posted a 3-1 record with a 4.76 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 22 and two-thirds innings pitched. However, the season took a dramatic turn on April 13, 2025, when the Cubs announced that Steele would require season-ending surgery on his left elbow. The procedure, performed five days later, was classified as a revision repair of his left ulnar collateral ligament, representing a significant setback in his career trajectory.

This surgery came on the heels of the elbow issues that plagued him during the 2024 season, which included inflammation and tendinitis that limited his effectiveness. The revision UCL procedure marks the second major elbow surgery of his career, following his initial Tommy John surgery in 2017. Recovery from this procedure will require an extensive rehabilitation period, and the Cubs medical staff will monitor his progress carefully as he works toward a return to the mound.

Despite these challenges, Steele’s career record of 32 wins, 22 losses, and a 3.30 ERA across parts of five MLB seasons demonstrates his capability as an effective major league pitcher when healthy. His 2023 All-Star campaign and fifth-place Cy Young finish established him as a valuable member of the Cubs organization. The team and its fans remain hopeful that Steele will return to form following his recovery, potentially resuming his role as a key contributor to Chicago’s starting rotation in future seasons.