<p>In his rational brain, <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs" target="_blank" >Cubs</a> lefty Justin Steele, who hasn’t pitched in a game in over 14 months, understands that what should have been the prime of his career might continue to slip away from him.</p><p>“I can do my best to take care of my body, put myself in the best positions possible, work my tail off, but some things are just going to happen and there’s not much you can do,” he said over the weekend at Wrigley Field. “How it goes from this point is not necessarily up to me.”</p><p>But then there’s his emotional brain, which envisions a better, much simpler picture.</p><p>Will Steele, a 2023 All-Star and the Cubs’ Opening Day starter in 2024, get back out there this season before it’s too late to help a team that could use his services in the worst way?</p><p>President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer expressed hope — <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/06/17/cubs-injuries-justin-steele-rotation-jed-hoyer-craig-counsell-edward-cabrera-cramp-seiya-suzuki-knee-matt-shaw" target="_blank" >but stopped short of “optimism”</a> — the other day. Manager Craig Counsell said Steele has enough “runway” left, as long as there are no more setbacks with his arm.</p><p>The wondering isn’t of much use to Steele, as he expressed to the Sun-Times three weeks before his 31st birthday.