Welp. We’ve been waiting on an update on top Cubs pitching prospect Adbert Alzolay for a little while, and now we’ve got one, thanks to Tommy Birch.
But the news ain’t great:
#Cubs top prospect Adbert Alzolay not expected to return from the disabled list until after the All-Star break. An update on his progress: https://t.co/sz9Be5jR2c
— Tommy Birch (@TommyBirch) June 11, 2018
Alzolay came up with a mildly strained lat at the end of May, an injury that you’d love to see a pitcher back from in a few weeks if possible. But, then, given that it’s a pitching prospect of future importance, it only makes sense that the Cubs are going to play it very safe with the recovery timeline.
That means Alzolay will not return to Iowa any sooner than the second half of July.
Assuming he does come back healthy eventually, Alzolay, 23, remains on the radar for a start later this year, or work out of the bullpen if he can help the Cubs. After a breakout 2017 season, Alzolay was looking good in his debut at AAA (well, a mix of fantastic starts and dodgy ones), and was in line to get a spot start soon. Given Yu Darvish’s injury and Tyler Chatwood’s struggles, you never know how things would have played out if Alzolay didn’t strain the lat.
Hopefully he’s back on the grid for the Cubs in the second half without any issues.