Five pitchers returning from injury that could have a big impact in 2026

As fans know, pitcher injuries are just part of the game these days. Every season, several pitchers are lost to major injuries. The thing about these injuries is that they keep pitchers out for a long time. For example, Tommy John surgery recovery takes around 12 to 18 months, so these injured pitchers often get lost in the shuffle.

We are going to take a look at five pitchers who missed most, if not all of last season, who should be coming back early in the 2026 season. All of these pitchers have shown the ability to be front of the rotation arms, but we did not see much of them in 2025. All five have the ability to be difference makers in 2026.

Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees

Gerrit Cole is the biggest name on this list. After winning the Cy Young in 2023, Cole struggled with injuries. His 2024 season was limited due to elbow problems, but eventually he got back on the mound. However, those issues came back early in 2025 and he was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery in March.

The surgery cost Cole all of the 2025 season. It is also going to cost him the first couple months of 2026. Reports indicate that Cole should be back in late May or early June. At 35-years old and coming off a major injury, it will be interesting to see if Cole can recapture his old magic.

At his best, Cole dominated with his electric fastball and power slider. He could just overwhelm hitters with his fastball. Due to age and his injury, Cole might have to adjust his arsenal when he returns. Great pitchers usually find ways to remain great, so there is reason to believe that Cole will be an ace again.

A reason to be optimistic about Cole comes from his old rotation mate Justin Verlander, who had Tommy John in 2020. Verlander was even older than Cole when he went under the knife. However, Verlander managed to come back and win a Cy Young at age 39.

Cole will look to have the same success in the later parts of his career. The Yankees better hope he comes back with a bang because he is under contract for the next three seasons. Baseball is better when Gerrit Cole is dominating, so hopefully he can come back strong.

Jared Jones, Pittsburgh Pirates

Jared Jones is at a very different point in his career compared to Cole. At 24, he is over a decade younger than Cole. Like Cole, Jones missed all of 2025 due to elbow surgery. Instead of undergoing Tommy John Surgery, Jones had an internal brace procedure to shorten the recovery.

He went under the knife in May of 2025, but should be back within 12 months of the surgery. That is great to see because Jones showed flashes of his elite upside in 2024. While he will always be in Paul Skenes’ shadow, Jones is an electric arm in his own right.

He had some growing pains in his rookie year, posting an ERA just over 4. However, Jones also flashed ace potential as a 22-year old. He struck out over 26% of hitters, while walking less than 8%. Like Cole, his arsenal is centered around a dominant fastball.

His heater averaged over 97 MPH in 2024 and hopefully that will remain the case after his injury. The trio of Skenes, Jones and Bubba Chandler has so much upside. With the Pirates investing more into their offense, this could be a big year for them.

Joe Musgrove, San Diego Padres

We have not seen a fully healthy Joe Musgrove for a while now. The last time he threw over 100 innings was back in 2022. After struggling with injuries in 2023 and 2024, Musgrove eventually had to undergo Tommy John Surgery late in 2024.

He should be back in the Padres rotation to start the 2026 season though. His return will be a big boost for a Padres team that lost Dylan Cease in free agency. Musgrove can step right in and replace him.

At his best, Musgrove dominated with a deep mix of pitches. He has always had an elite ability to spin the baseball. That has allowed him to keep hitters off balance with several different breaking balls. He was one of the most underrated starters in all of baseball in the early 2020’s.

The Padres owe Musgrove 40 million over the next two seasons, so they will be counting on him. Musgrove is under contract for the next two seasons. With the loss of Cease, the Friars really need Musgrove to come back looking like himself. Unlike some of the other names on this list, he should be ready to go on Opening Day.

Justin Steele, Chicago Cubs

After breaking out in 2022, Justin Steele became a steady top of the rotation arm for the Cubs. From 2022 to 2024, Steele posted a 3.10 ERA. The lefty dominated hitters with his unique cut fastball. It was one of the best pitches in the sport.

However, he ran into injury troubles in 2025. He only made four starts in 2025 before going under the knife. Like Jones, he had an internal brace procedure instead of Tommy John. This is Steele’s second major elbow surgery, so there are questions as whether he can come back as the same guy.

The Cubs recently acquired Edward Cabrera from the Marlins to help shore up their rotation but getting Steele back would go a long way towards solidifying it. Steele will not be ready for Opening Day, but he should be back at some point in the first half of the season.

Reynaldo Lopez, Atlanta Braves

Back in 2024, Reynaldo Lopez was one of the better starting pitchers in all of baseball. Lopez debuted as a starter, but moved to the bullpen from 2021 to 2023. After signing with the Braves, he moved back into the rotation and dominated.

He posted a 1.99 ERA in 135.2 innings in 2024. The advanced metrics showed there was some luck involved, but a sub-2 ERA is still impressive. Like a lot of the other guys on this list, Lopez dominated with his fastball.

His mid to upper 90’s heater was his bread and butter. He established the heater and then put guys away with his slider or curveball. Lopez was really fun to watch and played a big role in the Braves making the playoffs in 2024.

However, after one start in 2025, Lopez had to undergo shoulder surgery. Shoulder stuff is very scary for a pitcher, but he should be back for the 2026 season. If his stuff is the same, he will be a very valuable piece for the Braves rotation. After a down year for the club in 2025, Lopez can help bring the Braves back to the playoffs.