Today, we celebrate the 30th birthday of Justin Steele, a proud product of Lucedale, Mississippi, and one of the most consistent left-handers in Major League Baseball over the past few seasons. From his early days dominating high school hitters at George County High School to taking the mound at Wrigley Field as the ace of the Chicago Cubs, Justin Steele’s journey has been a testament to small-town toughness and Southern pride, marked by a steady rise through hard work and determination.
Steele was born on July 11, 1995, in Lucedale, where he grew up in the tiny, rural community of Agricola. He starred for George County, putting together a senior season that included a 0.98 ERA, 92 strikeouts, and a pair of no-hitters — one of which came in front of a slew of MLB scouts. That performance helped land him on the radar of pro teams despite a commitment to Southern Miss. The Cubs took him in the fifth round of the 2014 MLB Draft, signing him away from college with a $1 million bonus and setting the wheels in motion for a slow but steady climb to the big leagues.
(Justin Steele in High School for the George County Rebels)
Steele spent seven years grinding through the minor leagues, enduring Tommy John surgery in 2017 and periods of inconsistency before everything began to click. He made his Major League debut on April 12, 2021, striking out the first batter he faced. By 2022, he had carved out a spot in the rotation and finished with a 3.18 ERA across 24 starts, showing signs that he was ready to take the next step. That step came in a big way in 2023, when Steele emerged as the Cubs’ ace and earned his first All-Star selection. That season, he went 16–5 with a 3.06 ERA and 176 strikeouts, finishing fifth in National League Cy Young voting and cementing his role as the face of the Cubs’ pitching staff.
(Steele pitching for the National League in the 2023 All-Star Game in Seattle)
What made Steele’s 2023 campaign even more impressive was his consistency and poise. He allowed three runs or fewer in 27 of his 30 starts, tossed a 12-strikeout gem in early September against the Giants, and became the reliable anchor Chicago desperately needed. Beyond the numbers, Steele brought a quiet intensity and a workmanlike approach to the mound — a reflection of his Mississippi upbringing, where hard work and humility go hand in hand.
Entering 2024, Steele was named the Opening Day starter — a symbolic and well-earned honor. However, adversity soon returned. He suffered a hamstring strain in his first start, sending him to the injured list early in the season. “After being activated from the injured list on May 6, Steele returned to the Cubs’ rotation and made his scheduled starts consistently throughout the summer. However, on September 2, it was announced that he would miss his next outing due to elbow soreness. An MRI the following day revealed inflammation in his left elbow, and on September 4, he was placed on the 15-day injured list with a diagnosis of left elbow tendinitis and would not pitch at all the rest of the season.
Steele opened the 2025 season in the Cubs’ starting rotation, going 3-1 with a 4.76 ERA and recording 21 strikeouts over 22 2/3 innings across four starts. However, on April 13, the team announced that he would undergo season-ending surgery Tommy John on his left elbow, the second Tommy John surgery of his career. He will be out until summer 2026.
As he celebrates his 30th birthday, Justin Steele stands as a shining example of what Mississippi baseball is all about. A small-town kid from rural Mississippi who climbed all the way to the majors, Steele has faced adversity head-on—overcoming injuries and setbacks to become one of the National League’s premier left-handed pitchers. Whether he’s commanding the mound at Wrigley Field or supporting his teammates while rehabbing, Steele continues to embody the grit, humility, and determination that define his hometown.
Happy birthday, Justin Steele. The Magnolia State is proud of you, and we can’t wait to see what the next chapter holds.
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