The Cubs got a much better read on their bullpen health over the weekend, and the biggest surprise came with Hunter Harvey.
Harvey had not pitched for Chicago since April 8, when a triceps injury sent him to the injured list. After a setback in May, the expectation had been that his season was probably over.
That no longer looks like the case. Craig Counsell said Harvey has taken major steps forward in his recovery, has started throwing bullpen sessions again, and should begin a minor-league rehab assignment in the next week or two.
If that holds, a return around the middle of August is now in play.
That is obviously good news for the Cubs, but it should not change how the front office approaches the bullpen. Harvey’s career has been shaped by injuries, and even if he is back next month, there is no guarantee he stays available the rest of the way. Still, the late-season picture could get a lot more interesting if everything breaks right, with Harvey, Justin Steele, and Ben Brown all potentially available for Counsell down the stretch.
Counsell also tied Harvey’s timeline to Daniel Palencia, which says as much about Harvey’s progress as it does about the Cubs’ closer. Palencia did not make much forward movement during the All-Star break while dealing with right elbow inflammation, and his status had been left a little fuzzy when the team returned.
That changed after a strong bullpen session over the weekend. Palencia is now expected to begin a minor-league rehab assignment within the next couple of weeks.
Shelby Miller is moving in the same general direction, though his path back should take longer. When the Cubs signed him to a two-year deal at the start of spring training, there was no real expectation he would help this season after Tommy John surgery at the end of last year.
Miller believed he could be back by September, and while September 1 still sounds aggressive, the sense now is that he should be in the bullpen before October. He has resumed bullpen work and is on track to start a rehab assignment soon, but unlike Harvey and Palencia, he will likely need a longer tune-up before he is ready.
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Justin Dean is part of that conversation because the current outfield group leaves little room for a player with so little recent usage, while Pedro Ramirez remains another name to watch as the roster churns. Jonathon Long is also forcing the issue at Triple-A, where his bat and defensive versatility have made him look like the kind of bench option the Cubs could use if they decide they need another right away. [Read more 🡒]