Birdsell (elbow) will miss the entire 2026 season, Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline reports.
Birdsell had elbow reconstruction surgery last summer -- he also had Tommy John surgery in high school -- and Callis reports that Birdsell will miss the entire regular season. Perhaps he will get healthy in time to participate in the Arizona Fall League or winter ball.
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Cubs' Brandon Birdsell: Slated for surgery
Rotowire
Cubs assistant general manager Jared Banner said Tuesday that Birdsell is scheduled to undergo season-ending right elbow surgery later this week, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The exact nature of the procedure and and a timeline for his recovery won't be revealed until the surgery is completed. A shoulder/lat injury had delayed Birdsell's season debut until the second June, and once he was healthy enough to join Triple-A Iowa, he produced a 3.38 ERA and 1.32 WHIP across 18.2 innings over four appearances before getting placed on the 7-day injured list Aug. 8 due to the elbow issue.
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Cubs' Brandon Birdsell: Nursing shoulder/lat problem
Rotowire
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Monday that Birdsell is dealing with an injury to his right shoulder/lat area, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Birdsell is coming off a solid showing in 2024, having posted a 3.91 ERA and 134:31 K:BB over 135.2 innings between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa. The pitching prospect is attending camp as a non-roster invitee, and, if healthy, is slated to open the season in the rotation at Iowa.
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