JUSTIN STEELE On Overcoming Tommy John, Cubs & Craig Counsell’s Influence

Cubs starter Justin Steele dives deep into his journey from overlooked prospect to frontline MLB pitcher. He shares stories from his early days in the minors, including Tommy John surgery, battling mental hurdles in Low-A, and the turning point during the COVID shutdown that helped him develop his signature slider. Steele opens up about learning from veterans like Kyle Hendricks, gaining confidence in his arsenal, and becoming a clubhouse leader by the second half of 2022.

The conversation also touches on pitching philosophy—how he tailors pitches to hitters, balances metrics with feel, and stays consistent with his five-day routine. Steele reflects on the impact of Craig Counsell as a manager, the nuances of pitch manipulation, and using breathing and prayer to stay grounded. With candid takes on the challenge system, bullpen prep, and playing in a big market, Steele gives fans a rare inside look at what it takes to thrive as a starting pitcher in today's game.

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Hosts

Eric Hosmer /⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @hosmer305⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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