Cubs' Brandon Morrow Shut Down for Season After Suffering Another Setback
By Michael Luciano
The already-struggling Chicago Cubs bullpen was just dealt a crippling message, as their second-best member will not rejoin the team in 2019.
Brandon Morrow, who closed in 2018 and was expected to fill in behind Craig Kimbrel in 2019, suffered yet another setback as he works his way back from elbow surgery. Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein announced Wednesday the 35-year-old Morrow would miss the rest of the season.
Theo: Morrow had another setback and is done for the season.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) August 21, 2019
Morrow, once a promising starting pitching prospect with the Seattle Mariners, saw injuries derail that dream and force him into a role as a flame-throwing reliever.
Following extremely successful stints in San Diego and Los Angeles, the latter of which made him an NL champion with the Dodgers, Morrow signed with the Cubs and threw up a 1.47 ERA and 22 saves in 35 games last season.
But he underwent elbow surgery and has yet to pitch in 2019 for Joe Maddon.
A picture of Brandon Morrow alive and breathing would be progress at this point #Cubs https://t.co/MMxZ1NTqxa
— Matthew Tolly (@TheBigMT_06) August 13, 2019
Injuries have once again given Morrow another obstacle to overcome. We won't see him back on the mound at Wrigley Field until 2020...assuming they pick up his $12 million team option.