CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs have officially ruled out right-hander Ben Brown for the remainder of the 2023 season. This decision comes as Brown continues to recover from a stress reaction in his neck, an injury that has kept him sidelined since mid-June.
At just 26 years old, Brown has shown promise this season, posting a record of 4-2 with an impressive 1.85 ERA over 20 appearances. His performance included a transition to starting pitcher, where he excelled with a 3-1 record and a 1.70 ERA in his last eight games. This shift was necessitated by injuries that depleted the Cubs' rotation.
The stress reaction first became apparent after Brown pitched six innings, allowing only two runs in a dominant 16-2 victory against the Toronto Blue Jays on June 19. Following that game, he was placed on the injured list, and the same condition had previously caused him to miss significant time in 2024.
Brown had hoped to return this season but faced setbacks during a throwing session on August 25, where he experienced discomfort. This prompted the Cubs to cancel plans for a minor-league rehab assignment and seek further medical evaluation and imaging.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell addressed the situation before a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field, stating, "This is a bone injury. There’s a healing process, but it hasn’t progressed enough to alleviate the discomfort. We need to allow more time for healing." He emphasized the need for rest, noting that some bone injuries can take longer to heal.
Despite the disappointing news for the Cubs and their fans, Counsell expressed optimism that Brown would be ready to return as a healthy player for spring training. Over his three seasons in Major League Baseball with the Cubs, Brown has accumulated a record of 10-13, a 4.15 ERA, and two saves across 60 games, including 31 starts.
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