Cubs Pitcher Ben Brown Has Neck Surgery, Likely Out Until Midseason – WTOP News
Brown remains sidelined with a neck injury as Chicago faces a thin rotation after 10 pitchers entered free agency, including five starters.
- On Monday, Chicago Cubs pitcher Ben Brown underwent neck surgery in New York to address a stress fracture in his C5 vertebra, general manager Carter Hawkins confirmed on Tuesday at the GM meetings.
- The 27-year-old right-hander initially experienced neck pain dating back to 2024, which resurfaced in June 2026 and forced him to the injured list before a failed return attempt in August.
- Brown posted an impressive 1.85 ERA across 68 innings in 2026 before the injury struck; doctors provided a positive prognosis, with the Cubs expecting him to start throwing early next year and return by mid-2027.
- Five of the 2026 starting rotation are now free agents, leaving the Cubs with significant pitching vacancies; Hawkins stated the organization will actively pursue multiple arms this offseason to fill gaps.
- In-House recovery candidates Justin Steele and Cade Horton remain sidelined from injuries; Horton may not return to the rotation until summer 2027, creating health uncertainties that pressure the front office to secure replacements.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Chicago GM Shares Concerning Update on Cubs' Ben Brown After Neck Scare
Ben Brown, the Chicago Cubs right-hander, posted a 1.85 ERA and a team-best 2.0 fWAR in 2026, then lost the final three months to a neck issue that has now required spine surgery. His absence adds another setback for a rotation already short on healthy arms, and he edged left-hander Shota Imanaga’s 1.8 fWAR even though Imanaga threw 105 more innings. That production explains why every health update on Brown moves the needle in Chicago. In an int…
Cubs pitcher Ben Brown has neck surgery, likely out until midseason – WTOP News
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Chicago Cubs pitcher Ben Brown had neck surgery and will likely be sidelined until midseason. General manager Carter Hawkins said the 27-year-old right-hander was operated on Monday in New York because of a stress fracture in his neck. Hawkins said a screw was implanted to improve healing. “He’s walking around the...
Chicago Cubs right-hander Ben Brown undergoes neck surgery in hopes of putting recurring issue behind him
The Chicago Cubs have been hit with more pitching uncertainty after Ben Brown underwent surgery to address the recurring neck ailment that ended his stellar season in mid-June.
Chicago Sun Times
Usa newsBen Brown undergoes neck surgery, further muddying Cubs’ already unclear starting-pitching picture for 2027
<p>LAS VEGAS – A new wrinkle has been thrown into the <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs" >Cubs</a>’ starting-pitching plans for next season.</p><p>Right-hander Ben Brown underwent neck surgery Monday, general manager Carter Hawkins informed Tuesday at the GM meetings, the latest turn in what’s become a long-running story surrounding the 27-year-old’s nagging injury.</p><p>Brown was initially misdiagnosed with an osteoma, or…
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