Cubs RHP Ben Brown suffers a setback with his neck injury, casting uncertainty on his return

Chicago Cubs right-handed pitcher Ben Brown is facing an uncertain return to the pitching staff due to a setback in his neck injury. Sidelined since June 21 with a stress reaction in his neck, Brown threw live batting practice Tuesday morning at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona, in front of the team's staff, including manager Craig Counsell and pitching coach Tommy Hottovy.

If he had felt well during the live BP, he would have started a rehab assignment, marking a significant step towards his return. However, Brown experienced worsening symptoms near the end of the two-inning live BP, leading to his decision to travel back to Chicago with the Cubs for reevaluation on Wednesday. Cubs manager Craig Counsell stated, "We’re going to have to kind of regroup, and he’ll probably check back in with the doctors and see what it means."

The timeline for Brown's recovery is further complicated by the fact that there are only 28 games left in the regular season, with only 4 1/2 weeks remaining. The 26-year-old was on track to earn his first All-Star honor with a 1.85 ERA and 220 ERA+ in 20 games (eight starts) before his neck started bothering him following a June 19 start.

Brown's situation is particularly concerning given that a similar issue plagued him during his 2024 rookie season, also starting in June. Initially, Brown acknowledged the need to adjust his mechanics to avoid recurring stress reactions, but ultimately emphasized that healing the bone should be the top priority.