Chicago Cubs: Bullpen arm Codi Heuer to miss entire 2022 season

Chicago Cubs reliever Codi Heuer reportedly underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this week and will miss all of the 2022 season. He shared a photo on his Instagram on Tuesday post-surgery.

"“Horses don’t stop, they keep going,” Heuer posted along with a picture of his arm in a brace. “Can’t wait to be back with the best fans in baseball again.”"

Heuer, 25, was acquired along with Nick Madrigal in the Craig Kimbrel deal with the Chicago White Sox at the trade deadline last summer. Before coming over to the north side, the Missoula, MT native posted a 5.12 ERA in 40 outings with the White Sox. He was hit-or-miss, owning 9.1 K/9 and 10.5 H9 metrics.

With the Cubs, Heuer made 25 appearances, all out of the bullpen, spinning a much better 3.14 ERA but struggled with his command, walking 13 batters in just 28.2 innings of work.

The Chicago Cubs are losing an important bullpen arm in Codi Heuer.

While Major League Baseball is still sorting through the lockout, the injury comes at a terrible time as Heuer looked to be a big piece of the Cubs bullpen.

Despite finishing in the top seven percent of the league in barrel percentage, Heuer allowed a .336 batting average on his fastball last season. His two other pitches, a slider, and a changeup were very good, generating a .151 and .170 average, respectively.

Heuer pitched mostly in the later innings, with an impressive .221 batting average and 1.93 ERA in the eighth inning, perhaps paving the way as a potential closer one day.

He was also really good working with two outs in the inning, generating a combined 24 strikeouts to just five walks while allowing a .238 average.

Fangraphs projected the right-hander to post a 3.71 ERA, 8.5 K/9, and 2.8 BB/9 in 68.0 innings of work.

Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait until 2023 before we see Heuer again. Maybe we’ll have a new CBA by then.

Heuer’s injury opens the door for other fringe roster players to claim a spot in the bullpen whenever the season gets underway.