A couple Chicago Cubs relievers would appear to be done for the year, after serious injuries:
Zac Rosscup had arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder (debridement), won't pick up baseball for 3 months. Andury Acevedo out w/ torn left ACL
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) May 13, 2016
Rosscup, 27, has irradiated the minors over the last few years, and showed flashes of being very good at the big league level, but didn’t pitch in Spring Training because of a shoulder issue. That issue put him on the 60-day disabled list (you may not remember or may not have noticed, since it was the day Dexter Fowler strolled into Cubs camp), and now it looks like he might not pitch competitively again this season.[adinserter block=”1″]
The Cubs’ bullpen was very crowded as it was, so Rosscup may not have had a chance to contribute in a significant way this year, but you never know. This is not a nothing loss, as the Cubs will always need quality depth.
Hopefully Rosscup is able to make a full recovery (pitcher shoulders are a scary thing) and continue his career next season.
As for Acevedo, he was a minor league signing for the Cubs in the offseason, but, in a unique situation, he got a big league contract and a spot on the 40-man roster despite never having pitched in the big leagues. Clearly, the Cubs believed in his talent, even if they knew it might be a year or two before he developed into a big league pitcher.[adinserter block=”2″]
In 5.0 innings at AA, Acevedo had posted a 25.0% strikeout rate … and a 32.1% walk rate. With his season over, the Cubs will be able to transfer him to the 60-day DL should the need for a 40-man roster spot arise at some point. Then, the Cubs will have to decide if they want to carry him on the 40-man roster all offseason despite the injury. It might depend on how his rehab is coming along at that point.
It’s a big blow for Acevedo’s career trajectory, and for the Cubs, who’d undoubtedly been hoping they could work with him this year and harness the obvious talent in the future.