Cubs pitching prospect’s career put on hold again after third elbow surgery

Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Ben Leeper underwent his third Tommy John surgery in what’s been an exhausting injury rehab.

Cubs relief prospect Ben Leeper underwent his third Tommy John surgery this week. It’s been just two years since he last went under the knife for TJ back in 2020.

Leeper was a breakout prospect for the Cubs in 2021, and was on the verge of a call-up to the bigs after a standout performance in Triple-A Iowa. Unfortunately, this signals yet another step back for a player all of us are rooting for, even beyond just Cubs fans.

Leeper was in major-league camp this fall, and at 25 years old will no longer have the same sense of urgency to reach the bigs. However, he did mention 2024 as his looming return, so he does plan on continuing his minor-league journey in hopes of reaching his ultimate goal. What a story that would be — and I’m not going to bet against him.

Cubs prospect undergoes third Tommy John surgery

Leeper posted on Instagram that he was excited to return with his “new arm”. The full message is below:

"“Sometimes the plan you’ve drawn up doesn’t always align with the one God has in store for you. For over the last year, I’ve been trying to push through this to achieve what I’ve always dreamed of doing. Believing in what he has lined out for me has given me peace, knowing there are still unwritten chapters ahead of me. This is just a lesson of being patient and having perseverance.The best is still in front of me. See y’all in 2024 with a new arm.”"

Leeper wouldn’t be the first player to return from a third Tommy John surgery, as Reds reliever Johnny Venters did so a few years ago to a successful degree.