By Townhall Chicago News Staff
Cubs pitcher Ben Brown underwent cervical spine surgery Monday to address a recurring neck issue that ended his 2026 season in June, general manager Carter Hawkins said Tuesday at the General Managers Meetings in Las Vegas.
The surgery stabilized a stress fracture in Brown’s neck. The Cubs anticipate the right-hander returning at some point in 2027, though his exact timetable remains unclear.
“This isn’t something that was usual or a normal type of surgery,” Hawkins said, according to MLB.com’s report from Las Vegas. “But at the same time, we are very confident that he’s going to pitch for us next year.”
Brown was in the middle of a breakout campaign before the neck problems flared up again. In 20 games, the 27-year-old posted a 1.85 ERA with 65 strikeouts against 19 walks in 68 innings. He began the year as a multi-inning reliever, recording a 2.10 ERA in 12 appearances before moving into the starting rotation, where he put up a 1.70 ERA in 42 1/3 innings as a starter.
The neck issue involved his C5 vertebra and had also affected his 2024 season. After landing on the injured list in June, Brown gradually built back up through a throwing program but was shut down for good in early September when symptoms returned.
“The frustrating thing for Ben is just this is multiple times where this has knocked him out for a long period of time,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said in September. “And that obviously is what is the most frustrating part of it.”
Brown had expressed a desire to resolve the issue permanently.
“I think the biggest thing is just figuring out how to not let this happen again,” Brown said in June, according to MLB.com. “I want to pitch five years from now. What does that look like? And that’s the biggest focus right now.”
The surgery adds another challenge to an offseason in which the Cubs face significant pitching needs. Chicago’s entire end-of-season rotation is headed for free agency. Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes and David Peterson are all on the open market.
“It’s no secret how many guys are coming off our books from a free-agent perspective,” Hawkins said, “and then there’s uncertainty around the injuries. So, I think we’re looking to bring in several arms.”
Beyond Brown, the Cubs face injury uncertainty with several other pitchers. Cade Horton underwent right elbow surgery in April. Edward Cabrera dealt with multiple injury setbacks. Justin Steele did not pitch in the Majors while working back from arm issues. Javier Assad represents the lone returning arm coming off a healthy season.
Brown had added a sinker to his repertoire last offseason, giving him a second fastball alongside a four-seamer, knuckle-curve and an altered changeup. His ground-ball rate climbed to 44.6 percent in 2026, while his hard-hit rate dropped to 29.1 percent from 35.2 percent the prior year.
The Cubs may look to re-sign one or two members of their departing rotation while exploring both the free-agent and trade markets for starting pitching.
“We’ve got guys who need to step up who are currently with our club,” Hawkins said. “There’s no secret about that, either. But yeah, we’ll be active in that market.”
