Cubs’ Boyd targets June return after meniscus surgery
Matthew Boyd confirms he underwent surgery in early May and is rehabilitating with a view to rejoining the Chicago Cubs roster in June, marking his second injury of the 2026 season.
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd has confirmed he is undergoing rehabilitation following surgery for a torn meniscus, with a target return date set for June. The 35-year-old right-hander disclosed the specifics of the injury during an appearance on the “Foul Territory” podcast, clarifying that the incident occurred in early May while he was bending down to play with his son.
Boyd stated that he heard a “pop” in his knee upon bending down but experienced no initial pain. However, he found he was unable to straighten the leg or bear weight when attempting to stand. He attributed the tear to a likely pre-existing condition that was exacerbated by the movement, rather than the activity itself.
“I didn’t cause my meniscus tear just by bending over one time,” Boyd said. He explicitly exonerated his children from responsibility for the injury, noting, “My kids didn’t take me out.”
The pitcher underwent surgery to repair the tear shortly after the incident and reported resuming throwing the following day. Boyd pitched in a rehab start on Monday as part of his recovery process. This marks the second time Boyd has been sidelined this season; he previously missed time in April due to an arm injury.
Boyd entered the 2026 Major League Baseball season with high expectations following a strong 2025 campaign. Last season, he made his first All-Star team, posting a 3.21 earned run average over 179 and two-thirds innings. He aims to return to the Cubs’ rotation in June to build on that previous success.
