Chicago Cubs’ mysterious injury is reaching a boiling point

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Chicago Cubs’ mysterious injury is reaching a boiling point

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Matthew Schmidt | Last updated May 31, 2026 9:33 AM ET

The Chicago Cubs could use reinforcements across the board right now, as they have gone just 5-15 over their last 20 games and are on the verge of getting swept by the St. Louis Cardinals this weekend.

Nothing is going right for the Cubs at the moment. Their starting rotation is a complete mess, their bullpen is shaky and they aren’t hitting consistently. So while acquiring another starting pitcher should be at the top of their priority list, they have other holes to fill, as well.

The problem for Chicago is it doesn’t have many internal answers, and one player we thought could represent a potential impact solution for the Cubs isn’t even currently playing: Tyler Austin.

Chicago signed Austin over the winter after the 34-year-old spent the last six seasons in Japan, slashing .293/.377/.568 over the course of 1,491 plate appearances in the NPB. The Cubs could certainly use his bat right now, but he has been sidelined with a knee injury since Spring Training, and now, Chicago fans are wondering what’s going on.

Chicago Cubs have provided no updates on Tyler Austin

Sep 8, 2019; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Tyler Austin (29) rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run against the Chicago Cubs in the fourth inning at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports

Jordan Campbell of Cubbies Crib spoke for many Cubs fans in a recent piece, questioning why exactly we have not heard any updates on Austin’s status.

“Two months into the season, as Craig Counsell has provided daily injury updates, Austin hasn’t been mentioned. Looking at the Cubs’ injury update on their website, Austin’s status was last updated on March 24. It’s around the time that an update on Austin should be expected, but that hasn’t been the case,” Campbell wrote.

Austin underwent surgery to repair his knee issue back in late February, but Campbell notes that Chicago has not even elaborated on what type of procedure he had.

The Conyers, Ga. native began his big-league career with the New York Yankees back in 2016 and spent parts of three seasons in the Bronx. He has also spent time with the Minnesota Twins, San Francisco Giants and Milwaukee Brewers.

Austin owns a career big-league slash line of .219/.292/.451, but the hope was that his time in Japan revitalized him and would result in better major-league at-bats. Unfortunately, we haven’t gotten the chance to see that this season, and who knows when we actually will.

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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