Justin Carl Steele (born July 11, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Justin Steele | |
---|---|
Chicago Cubs – No. 35 | |
Pitcher | |
Born: (1995-07-11) July 11, 1995 (age 27) Lucedale, Mississippi | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
MLB debut | |
April 12, 2021, for the Chicago Cubs | |
MLB statistics (through 2022 season) | |
Win–loss record | 8–11 |
Earned run average | 3.53 |
Strikeouts | 185 |
Teams | |
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Steele attended George County High School in Lucedale, Mississippi.[1] He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the fifth round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.[2]
Steele made his professional debut with the Arizona League Cubs, compiling a 2.89 ERA in 18.2 innings pitched. Steele pitched 2015 with the Eugene Emeralds, going 3–1 with a 2.66 ERA in ten starts, and 2016 with the South Bend Cubs, pitching to a 5–7 record with a 5.00 ERA in 19 starts. He started 2017 with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, but had his season cut short in August due to injury which required Tommy John Surgery.[3][4] In 20 starts prior to the injury, he went 6–7 with a 2.92 ERA. He returned from the injury in 2018 and pitched for the Arizona League Cubs, Myrtle Beach and Tennessee Smokies, pitching to a combined 2–2 record with a 2.31 ERA in 11 starts.[5] After the season, he played in the Arizona Fall League.[6] The Cubs also added him to their 40-man roster after the season.[7]
Steele returned to the Smokies in 2019,[8] going 0–6 with a 5.59 ERA over 11 starts. Steele did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. On August 2, 2020, Steele was promoted to the major leagues for the first time but was optioned down on August 6 without appearing in a game. On April 12, 2021, Steele was again promoted to the majors.[9] He made his MLB debut that night against the Milwaukee Brewers, striking out the first batter he saw, Daniel Robertson.
Steele and girlfriend Libby Murphy got engaged in May 2022.[10]