The Cubs’ first spring training workout for pitchers and catchers on Feb. 9 is fast approaching, and right-hander Ben Brown sounds ready to get things started.

“I’m feeling really good,” Brown said in an interview with Marquee Sports Network’s Elise Menaker at Cubs Convention. “It’s been a good offseason down in Arizona, just locking it in. I’m starting to get the itch again. I’m excited to play catch again and throw bullpens. Things are good.”

That’s an important update from the 25-year-old, who emerged as a key figure on the Cubs’ pitching staff last season before a neck injury sidelined him from early June through the rest of the season.

[The latest on Cubs top pitching prospect Cade Horton]

Brown opened the season with Triple-A Iowa before being promoted to the majors on March 30, after Justin Steele suffered a left hamstring injury on Opening Day. Brown was a versatile presence for manager Craig Counsell; he made 15 appearances (eight starts) and compiled a 3.58 ERA in 55 1/3 innings. That included a 7-inning no-hit performance against the Brewers on May 28.

Brown made two more appearances before landing on the 15-day IL on June 9 with a left neck strain and ultimately did not pitch the rest of the season.

The period to rest and recover proved beneficial.

“It just took some time, and that’s ultimately what my injury needed,” Brown said. “It needed time, and in the middle of the baseball season, time is not your friend. You want to get back as soon as you can. When I finally got that time off and I could really feel myself healing, by October I was close to 100 percent. Obviously, that’s too late. I started throwing in November and it got to full go. Feeling good.”

[WATCH: Jed Hoyer explains his goals for rest of offseason]

The Cubs have focused on adding to their pitching depth this winter. Their starting rotation picture includes veterans Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon, Matthew Boyd, Javier Assad and Colin Rea, and younger arms such as Brown, Jordan Wicks and Cade Horton.

Wicks, Brown and Horton each dealt with injury setbacks last season; Wicks made 11 appearances (10 starts) while missing time with a left forearm strain and a right oblique strain. Horton suffered a subscapular strain and last pitched on May 29, with Triple-A Iowa.

“I think that one of the things that hurt us last year was we have really good young pitching, and a lot of those guys got hurt last year and weren’t able to give us the innings that we had hoped for,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said. “And that hurt our depth a lot. 

“For me, it’s health. “[Brown and Horton] are both super talented. They’re going to get major league hitters out. And really, it’s about having those guys healthy. I put Wicks in that category as well. I feel a heck of a lot better about our pitching depth and our pitching in general, if those guys are healthy and pitching as they can.”

[What comes next for the Cubs this offseason?]

Brown has shown his stuff plays as both a starter and reliever, including in leverage spots. He figures to contribute in a similar capacity in 2025.

“I go out there, I don’t take it easy when I start,” Brown said. “From pitch 1 to pitch 100, it’s the same guy. As a reliever, I don’t really have a hard time transitioning to that.”

He showed that in 2024, and though his season was cut short, Brown took lessons from all that came with his first experience in the majors, such as balancing multiple roles while taking care of his body along the way. 

“Obviously what happened was kind of freakish,” Brown said of his injury. “But my arm felt really good in the middle of that, so I can definitely do that again. One day I would love to be a starter for 162 games and be in that role. But being a swingman and being all over the place is actually kind of a blast. So as long as I can take care of myself, it’ll be good.”

As Brown looked ahead to the upcoming season, he expressed he’s ready to contribute however the Cubs need.

“Being at the field every single day and being a horse in whatever role I’m in,” he said. “I just want to play every day, whatever that looks like.”

Check out the full interview with Brown from Cubs Convention.