Cubs Place LHP Brad Wieck on 60-Day IL with Elbow Strain

Brad Wieck just can’t seem to catch a break. The lefty had been fully released after undergoing a second cardiac procedure that cut his 2021 season short, but he has been placed on the 60-day IL with a left elbow strain. It’s got be pretty serious if the Cubs are taking this step so quickly, but here’s to hoping Wieck can avoid surgery.

https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/1504544892986408963?s=20&t=owPuBYoceKsEu8wVANLVyQ

He got a late start in 2020 due to a similar ablation procedure to correct an arrhythmia, then had a hamstring issue that ended his season after just one inning. The heart condition was discovered during his spring training physical, almost exactly one year after his physical with the Padres revealed testicular cancer.

Wieck was expected to be part of a bullpen that has already experienced a big blow with the loss of Codi Heuer, so the Cubs may end up leaning more heavily on young pitchers in addition to the battalion of veterans they always add.