The Chicago Cubs are closing in on the long awaited return of relief pitcher Codi Heuer.
Heuer, who the Cubs got in 2021 from the Chicago White Sox, has been out since 2022.
The young star was looking forward to having a dominating season before suffering an injury.
His injury led to him needing Tommy John surgery.
This surgery, along with rehab, will keep him out until June/July 2023.
While his estimated return puts him back right before the trade deadline, his return can determine his team’s season.
The reason for this is how he’s known as a solid relief pitcher during his career.
When he came into the league in 2020, he was in 21 games and had a 1.52 ERA with three wins, five holds, and one save.
In 23.2 innings of work that season, he had 25 strikeouts and held opponents to a .145 batting average.
The Cubs saw how solid he was and they took a chance when they got him in a trade.
While he missed all of 2022, he could make a return at a pivotal point in the Cubs’ 2023 season.
With his return being around the trade deadline, his performance can make or break the Cubs’ playoff chances.
If he shows he’s still a star reliever, despite coming off a Tommy John surgery, he can help make his team contenders.
However, if he doesn’t have the magic from his 2020 and 2021 seasons, he might cost the Cubs some important games.
With the team going all-in for 2023, they need Heuer at his best to complete their star-studded roster for 2023.
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