Cubs 25-year-old reliever to miss the year after 'arm surgery'

TL;DR

Cubs reliever Porter Hodge will miss the entire season after undergoing major elbow surgery. He is expected to take 12 to 14 months for recovery.

Key points

Porter Hodge will miss the rest of the season
He underwent major elbow surgery for UCL repair
Recovery time is estimated at 12 to 14 months
Hodge had a 6.27 ERA in 2025 before the surgery
Cubs' bullpen has performed well without him

Chicago CubsPorter Hodge

Cubs 25-year-old reliever to miss the year after 'arm surgery' originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Chicago Cubs will be without one of their better relievers, as right-hander Porter Hodge will miss the rest of the season. According to The Athletic’s Paul Mooney, Hodge underwent major right elbow surgery to repair his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) with an internal brace. He will take 12 to 14 months to recover.

Hodge has not appeared in a game all season for the Cubs and made three appearances in spring training (31.50 ERA). The 25-year-old is coming off a rough season in 2025, having a 6.27 ERA in 36 appearances.

More News:Angels received a positive health update on Grayson Rodriguez

The Chicago Cubs' bullpen has been doing well in Porter Hodge’s absence

The Cubs have one of the better bullpens in baseball, as they rank ninth in reliever ERA (3.51) and eighth in WHIP (1.24). In Hodge’s absence, the Cubs have received solid performances from right-hander Ben Brown (2.70 ERA) and left-handers Holby Milner (1.69) and Riley Martin (0.00)

With Hodge missing the rest of the season, the Cubs might be in play for a high-end reliever at the trade deadline to further deepen the bullpen. Especially with right-hander Daniel Palencia landing on the injured list with left oblique strain, the bullpen will be tested.

Q&A

What type of surgery did Porter Hodge undergo?

Porter Hodge underwent major right elbow surgery to repair his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) with an internal brace.

How long will Porter Hodge be out after his surgery?

Porter Hodge is expected to take 12 to 14 months to recover from his surgery.

What was Porter Hodge's performance like before his surgery?

Before his surgery, Porter Hodge did not appear in a game during the season and had a 31.50 ERA in three spring training appearances.