Brown underwent cervical spine surgery Monday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins said earlier Tuesday that Brown was likely to have surgery, but apparently an operation had already taken place when he made the statement. Brown first began experiencing neck problems during the 2024 season, and he missed the final three-plus months of the 2026 season due to a stress reaction in his neck. The Cubs expect Brown to be game-ready at some point during the first half next season, but a more specific timetable for the right-hander should be clarified at a later date.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: Neck surgery expected
Rotowire
Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins said Tuesday that Brown is likely to undergo surgery to repair his chronic neck injury, Elise Menaker of Marquee Sports reports.
Brown missed the final three-plus months of the 2026 season due to a stress reaction in his neck, an injury that also kept him out of commission for a chunk of the 2024 season. The exact nature of the procedure and the timeline for Brown's return isn't clear, but Hawkins expects the righty hurler to pitch for the Cubs next season.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: Surgery still not ruled out
Rotowire
Brown has yet to be cleared to resume throwing, and surgery to repair his neck injury has not been ruled out, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
Brown was shelved for the final three-plus months of the 2026 season due to a stress reaction in his neck, which is an injury that also forced him to miss substantial action in 2024. The Cubs and Brown are still determining the best course of action to treat the chronic injury, and it has the right-hander's status for 2027 unclear. Brown was terrific this season when on the mound, logging a 1.85 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 65:19 K:BB over 68 frames covering eight starts and 12 relief outings.
Brown (neck) has been ruled out for the remainder of the season, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Brown has been out since June with a stress reaction in his neck, and he had been cleared to face live hitters before suffering a setback last week. Now set to remain out for the rest of the season, he'll close the book on what seemed to be a promising 2026 campaign in which he posted a 1.85 ERA and 0.94 WHIP with a 65:19 K:BB over 68 innings.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that Brown (neck) suffered a setback during his live batting practice session Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Working his way back from a stress reaction in his neck, Brown began feeling discomfort in his neck toward the end of the session, and the pain worsened as the day moved along. He is headed back to Chicago to be evaluated and is "gonna slow it down in some way," per Counsell. Brown hasn't pitched in a game since late June, and he now looks like a long shot to make it back before the end of the season.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: Cleared to face live hitters
Rotowire
Brown (neck) is slated to throw against live hitters Friday at the Cubs' facility in Arizona, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Facing hitters will represent the final box for Brown to check in his recovery from a stress reaction in his neck before heading out on a rehab assignment. Prior to landing on the injured list June 24, Brown had excelled after transitioning from the bullpen to a starting role in early May, but it's unclear if the Cubs will have room for him in the rotation once he's ready to return from the shelf. Though Edward Cabrera (finger) landed back on the IL on Monday and is slated to serve as a reliever when he eventually returns, the Cubs still have Javier Assad, Colin Rea and David Peterson on hand as viable options to fill the vacancy in the rotation.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: Throws bullpen session Friday
Rotowire
Brown (neck) threw a bullpen session at Wrigley Field on Friday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.
Brown recently advanced to throwing off a mound at the Cubs' spring training facility in Arizona, but this appears to be his first bullpen session in front of the major-league coaching staff since suffering a stress reaction in his neck in late June. The right-hander could be ready for a rehab assignment soon if he continues to progress. Between the Cubs' rotation additions at the deadline and Brown lacking time to get stretched back out, when he does return, it could be in a relief role.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: Sent to 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Cubs transferred Brown (neck) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.
The transaction removes Brown from the 40-man roster and clears a spot for one of the five players the Cubs acquired in the two days leading up to Monday's trade deadline. Brown was placed on the shelf June 24 due to a stress reaction in his neck and isn't projected to complete his rehab program until late August or early September, so the move to the 60-day IL shouldn't alter his timeline for a return. Per MLB.com, Brown rejoined the Cubs on Friday after conducting his rehab at the organization's facility in Arizona over the previous week, and he's currently pain-free and has commenced throwing daily. Brown opened the season in a relief role but had thrived after moving into the rotation in early May, turning in a 1.70 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 41:11 K:BB in 42.1 innings in eight starts before landing on the IL. The Chicago rotation is much more crowded following the deadline, so Brown may be ticketed for the bullpen upon his return from the IL, despite his prior success as a starter.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Friday that Brown (neck) has begun to increase his activity and has taken part in workouts with plyometric balls, MLB.com reports.
Counsell added that Brown is considered "asymptomatic" as he recovers from a stress reaction with his neck, an injury that sent him to the shelf June 24. Though Brown has seemingly made decent progress after being shut down from activity for a few weeks, the Cubs want him to proceed conservatively with his rehab program. He's without an official timeline for a return from the 15-day injured list, and the Cubs likely won't be able to pinpoint a target date for Brown until he starts throwing off a mound and facing hitters.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Thursday that Brown has been diagnosed with a stress reaction in his neck and will have limited activity for the next month, 104.3 The Score reports.
Counsell also noted that Brown's injury is "very similar" to the one the pitcher dealt with during the 2024 campaign. That year, Brown was sidelined in early June and wound up not appearing in another game for the remainder of the season. The Cubs will have a better idea as to Brown's timetable in one month, but the right-hander is looking at an extended absence.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: Sent to IL with neck strain
Rotowire
The Cubs placed Brown on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to a neck strain.
Brown wasn't known to be nursing a neck issue, as he cruised to his second win in as many starts during his most recent appearance Friday against the Blue Jays. He'll be eligible to return from the IL in early July, but the Cubs haven't yet provided a timeline for Brown's activation. Brown boasts a 1.70 ERA and 41:11 K:BB over 42.1 innings covering eight starts since entering the Chicago rotation.
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