Chicago Cubs: Unexpected comebacks lead good-news bullpen updates

Hunter Harvey, who has officially been on the shelf with a stress reaction near the right triceps/shoulder since April 12, was thought to be done for the season after suffering a significant setback in his recovery and then being transferred to the 60-day IL.

Now, out of the blue, it’s being reported that the oft-injured veteran reliever has resumed a throwing program in Arizona and is expected to begin a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League on Tuesday, with an eye on a mid-August major league return.

Harvey was signed to a one-year, $6 million contract by Chicago this past offseason in a huge gamble on the hard-throwing righty’s delicate physical well-being. When healthy, Harvey has elite velocity and true closer stuff. Unfortunately, he’s rarely healthy.

Since being the Baltimore Orioles’ first round draft pick in 2013, Harvey has been hobbled by injury in every single season of his professional baseball career. Over the course of 14 seasons of minor league and major league ball, he’s pitched an average of less than 35 innings per year. As a major-leaguer, he’s averaged just about 26 innings per season. In 2025, an assortment of injuries led to him pitching only 10.2 innings for the Kansas City Royals.

This season, he’s only logged 4 innings over 4 appearances, posting a 6.75 ERA.

All told, the 31-year-old has had several elbow issues (including Tommy John surgery in 2016), shoulder issues, leg injuries, an oblique strain, and a sports hernia to go along with this season’s problems.

Having him back in time for the postseason, though, gives the Cubs a nice wild card option that could be an insurance policy for Palencia, who’s been on the IL twice this season already. At the very least, Harvey could be a plus rather than a minus when it comes to possible depth options.

Shelby Miller ahead of schedule

The other bit of positive bullpen news comes with the name Shelby Miller attached.

The Cubs signed the 35-year-old Miller to a two-year, $2.5 million contract in the offseason with the full understanding that 2026 may be entirely spent rehabbing from last October’s Tommy John surgery.

Now, however, there have been multiple reports that the veteran may see some pitching time with the Cubs this season after all.

According to the latest update, Miller has resumed a throwing program in Arizona and actually pitched a bullpen session on July 25. He could possibly contribute to the major league team at some point in September.

By the way, Riley Martin and even Justin Steele are expected to be bullpen contributors before the end of the season as well.

Hopefully, the Cubs won’t hold off on acquiring relievers by the August 3 trade deadline because of the bullpen help that could be coming their way internally. But it is good to know that at least some degree of depth is coming their way after a rough season of subtractions.