Cubs’ Ben Brown Undergoes Neck Surgery

Cubs right-hander Ben Brown underwent cervical spine surgery yesterday, reports ESPN’s Jesse Rogers. He won’t be cleared to throw until early next year. The organization hopes that he can be ready at some point in the first half of the 2027 season. Cubs GM Carter Hawkins told Marquee Sports’ Elise Menaker that the team was “likely to move forward with the surgical option” for Brown earlier this morning, but it seems the procedure had already taken place at that point.

Brown’s surgery only makes the Cubs’ rotation need more acute. Chicago saw Matthew Boyd, Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes, David Peterson, Shota Imanaga and Colin Rea all become free agents at season’s end. Top starter Justin Steele…