Cubs shut down rookie Ben Brown from throwing, recovery timeline uncertain

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CLEVELAND — The Cubs on Monday shut down rookie right-hander Ben Brown from throwing, putting his timeline to return from a lingering neck issue in question.

‘‘We just weren’t making progress,’’ manager Craig Counsell said. ‘‘We don’t have a date to pick it up, but we’ve got to get symptom-free. We never got symptom-free.’’

Brown initially went on the 15-day injured list in early June for what the Cubs called a strained neck. But further testing revealed a ‘‘benign area of concern’’ that already had started to dissipate.

The Cubs was optimistic the new diagnosis would mean a shorter recovery time, albeit one that was difficult to predict because of the nature of the ailment. But as Brown’s recovery plateaued, they transferred him to the 60-day IL in late July.

Brown was in a throwing program at the Cubs’ complex in Arizona when the team decided to take a different approach. Counsell said the Cubs are confident rest will be enough to address the issue.

‘‘There’s no interventions planned, none needed, none recommended, not even talked about,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘But he just continues to have enough there that he can’t push past the bullpen.’’

Brown was one of a trio of young pitchers the Cubs hoped to get back from the IL in the last couple of months of the season, and Counsell didn’t rule out a late-season return.

Left-hander Jordan Wicks (strained right oblique) came out of the first start of his Triple-A rehab assignment Saturday ‘‘healthy,’’ Counsell said. He allowed six runs, four hits and two walks in 1⅔ innings.

Wicks will be eligible to be activated off the 60-day IL this week, but he likely would need at least three more rehab outings to be considered as a starter. This is his second IL stint of the season. He previously spent almost six weeks on the IL with a strained left forearm.

Right-hander Hayden Wesneski (strained right forearm), who has been on the 15-day IL since July 20, had a start-and-stop beginning to his throwing progression. But he traveled to Arizona to continue his rehab.

Bellinger nearing return to field

Outfielder Cody Bellinger’s fractured left middle finger is still swollen, and he has yet to play defense since returning from the 10-day IL two weeks ago. But Counsell said there’s a chance Bellinger will be back in the outfield in this series against the Guardians.

‘‘It’s improving,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘It’s probably still not exactly where we want it to be. And while we have a healthy group, we’ll try to get to that place.’’

Counsell said Bellinger has been throwing ‘‘at good distances’’ and throwing to bases. The Cubs would like him to get to a point where he can throw hard without pain, but they’re confident throwing won’t worsen the injury.

Happ-y birthday

In left fielder Ian Happ’s second at-bat Monday, he became the first Cubs player in more than two years to hit a home run on his birthday. The last to do it was Rafael Ortega on May 15, 2022.

To make it even sweeter, it was Happ’s 20th homer of the season. He reached the milestone faster than he has in any other season.

Happ, 30, is the 18th Cub in the modern era (since 1901) to put together four 20-homer seasons.

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