Chicago Cubs: Team dodges bullet with Adbert Alzolay injury

The Chicago Cubs have big plans in their rotation for Adbert Alzolay in 2020 and the latest on his arm injury is a sigh of relief.

It’s a setback but the Chicago Cubs should breathe a sigh of relief on the news they received for top pitching prospect, Adbert Alzolay. The 24-year old left his start on Wednesday evening after just 3.2 innings and told the training staff that “his arm just didn’t feel right.”

When I initially read this, my mind immediately went to Tommy John surgery as most Cubs fans did as well. The team has been extremely fortunate thus far with their pitching prospects avoiding serious injuries. Alzolay had been erratic in his last three starts, walking 14 guys in 11.0 innings.

On Wednesday, Alzolay had walked five guys while allowing 2 home runs and 5 earned runs in his brief outing. He’s already had a taste of the big leagues, making 3 appearances and was absolutely terrific in his first two outings. He backed Tyler Chatwood‘s start on June 20 with 4.0 innings of 1-hit ball with 5 strikeouts and just 2 walks, both of them coming in that ninth inning before he was lifted for a reliever.

Cole Hamels is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason and Alzolay figures to have a jump on the opening in the rotation over Tyson Miller, who has risen quickly through the minors. Miller got roughed up in his last outing for Triple-A Iowa and has made three starts there since being promoted on July 4.

If you recall, Alzolay was nearly called up last season to replace Yu Darvish but suffered a season-ending lat injury. Flash forward to 2019, Alzolay will likely be getting a significant amount of time to let his injury heal. The Cubs need to handle the Alzolay injury properly and only let him resume when he’s 100 percent.

So much rides on his health for next season otherwise, the Cubs might be finding themselves on the free agent market or trade deadline searching for a starting pitcher.