As the Cubs embark on a new campaign with a new manager (Craig Counsell) at the helm, we answer 24 of the most pressing questions for the 2024 season.

The Cubs have been waiting for a homegrown pitcher to snatch a spot in the starting rotation and hold on to it for a while.

For most of Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer’s tenure running the Cubs front office, the rotation has been built via trade or free agency.

Justin Steele has changed all that.

The homegrown southpaw has been the best success story for the organization’s pitching development since Epstein and Hoyer took over.

Steele was a 5th-round pick in the 2014 Draft and after dealing with injuries early in his career, made his MLB debut as a reliever in 2021. He finished that season in the rotation, though with uneven results (4.95 ERA, 1.44 WHIP).

He won a job in the opening 2022 rotation but the results were mixed again (4.59 ERA through his first 14 starts). But things took a turn in late June and Steele transformed into the best pitcher in the National League for a 2-month stretch before his ’22 campaign was cut short by a back injury.

Steele carried that success over to 2023, enjoying a true breakout season that earned him a spot in the Cy Young conversation all year. He finished 5th in NL Cy Young voting thanks to a 16-5 record, 3.06 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in a career-high 30 starts and 173.1 innings.

That track record made Steele a no-brainer to take the ball for the Cubs when they open their season March 28 against the Rangers.

There’s no question the Cubs feel the 28-year-old southpaw can turn in another Cy Young-caliber season and in fact, he believes there’s more in the tank.

Steele said he came to camp this spring with even more comfort and confidence, knowing he was able to put together the type of season he had last year. But he also came with the valuable understanding that he has to prove himself all over again this year.

“I really appreciate everything that happened last year,” Steele said. “It was really cool to do it and prove it to myself that I could do it. And now it’s kind of like no one cares anymore. It’s time to do it again.”

Steele has stated that his goal for 2024 is to take the next step into the “workhorse” territory. He wants to approach 200 innings and make 30-plus starts again.

From Craig Counsell’s perspective, he has appreciated his new ace from afar and now is getting to learn about him this spring.

Counsell called Steele “unique” in that opposing hitters never feel comfortable against him because Steele’s pitches are different seemingly every time. His style is such that no two fastballs are ever quite the same, so hitters simply don’t know what to expect.

As for carrying over success from last year to this year, Counsell admits there isn’t necessarily one key for Steele.

“He obviously established a routine last year that was valuable to him,” Counsell said. “I think being open to just making that better. Understanding that every year is different. And the season is not going to go exactly how it went in 2023 and being able to adapt and adjust to that.

“Being able to adjust to a league trying to make adjustments to him. So it’s never really the same. You rely on your experience but you have to be willing to change things up and I think that’s what the great ones do.”

24 for ’24 series

What are the Cubs expecting from Kyle Hendricks in 2024 and beyond?
What role will Drew Smyly fill on the 2024 Cubs?
How will Jameson Taillon fare in Year 2 with Cubs?
How will Shota Imanaga handle the adjustment to MLB?
Who will DH for the Cubs?
Who is the Cubs’ fifth starter?
Will defense once again be the Cubs’ strength?
Can Seiya Suzuki pick up where he left off? 
What are the Cubs’ long-term plans at first base?
Have the Cubs done enough to address their left-handed hitting?
Will Justin Steele replicate his stellar 2023 season?