Ben Brown Neck Setback Delays Cubs Return Plans in Phoenix

Chicago right-hander will return to Chicago for medical evaluation

PHOENIX, Arizona — Chicago Cubs right-hander Ben Brown suffered a potentially significant setback in his recovery from a neck stress fracture after experiencing symptoms during a bridge league appearance Tuesday at the club's Arizona complex, manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday.

Brown threw two innings and 34 pitches in what amounted to an organized scrimmage as he worked toward a return from the injured list. Counsell said the 26-year-old began feeling discomfort near the end of the outing, and the symptoms worsened as the day continued. Brown will travel back to Chicago with the team and be examined by doctors before the Cubs determine the next steps.

“Not sure yet what this means,” Counsell said. “But it’s going to slow it down in some way.”

The development interrupts what had been an encouraging recovery for Brown, who had not previously encountered negative news during the latest stage of his rehabilitation, according to Counsell. The Cubs had been considering a path that could have brought Brown back next month as a bullpen option, a role that would have added another power arm to a pitching staff preparing for a possible postseason run.

Instead, the Cubs must now assess whether Brown can pitch again this season. Counsell called Tuesday the first bad news of a rehabilitation process that had appeared to be progressing smoothly.

Recurring neck issue clouds Brown's availability

Brown landed on the injured list in late June after posting a 1.70 ERA across eight starts. The current injury is the same issue that limited much of his 2024 season, although the club initially had a different understanding of the condition. Brown said in June that a previous diagnosis involving a benign bone growth, or osteoma, in his neck had been incorrect.

That clarification had given Brown hope that identifying the underlying problem could help him develop a long-term approach to preventing repeat injuries. But the reappearance of symptoms just before a possible minor league rehabilitation assignment has created fresh uncertainty around both his immediate availability and his broader pitching future.

The Cubs had viewed Brown as one of several starting pitchers who could shift into relief work during the playoffs. Right-handers Edward Cabrera, Javier Assad, Colin Rea and Aaron Civale are also among the pitchers competing for potential bullpen roles as the club weighs its October roster construction.

Brown also remains a possible candidate for the Cubs' 2027 rotation if he returns healthy. The current starting group — Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes, Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga and David Peterson — could all reach free agency, creating the prospect of considerable offseason turnover. Cabrera, Cade Horton and Justin Steele are among other pitchers returning from injuries who could factor into next year's plans.

Cubs rotation delivers in Arizona

While Brown's status became less clear, Chicago's major league starters continued a strong stretch against Arizona. Boyd allowed one run over six innings Wednesday, following consecutive seven-inning shutout outings from Gausman and Holmes.

“We’ve got a ton of talent in our rotation and our whole pitching staff,” Boyd said. “We’ve got that mentality that we can hang with anybody.”

Outfielder Tyrone Taylor also continued to produce after joining the Cubs at the trade deadline, raising his average to .323 with one of Chicago's two hits Wednesday. For now, however, the club's focus will turn to Brown's medical evaluation in Chicago and whether the right-hander can resume his comeback this season. The Cubs have not announced a timetable for his return.