Adbert Alzolay Leaves I-Cubs Game with Apparent Arm Injury
Top pitching prospect Adbert Alzolay dazzled in his debut and ended up making two starts for the Cubs before being optioned back to Triple-A Iowa when Kyle Hendricks returned from the IL. The hard-throwing righty was still in the big club’s plans for the second half, maybe even in something of a David Price-like bullpen role down the stretch.
Those plans may be put on hold, though, as Alzolay made an early exit from his Wednesday start with an apparent injury. He was getting rocked by Gavin Lux and the Oklahoma City Dodgers, allowing five earned runs on six hits — including a pair of Lux homers — and five walks(!) over just 3.2 innings. And that’s when the coaches and trainer came to get him.
Gavin Lux has hit 2 homers off Adbert Alzolay tonight. Alzolay has given up 5 runs in 3.1 innings of work so far. Lux has done all the damage.
— Tommy Birch (@TommyBirch) July 18, 2019
Uh oh. Iowa manger Marty Pevey, pitching coach Rod Nichols and the team's athletic trainer is out to look at Adbert Alzolay who is coming out of the game. #Cubs
— Tommy Birch (@TommyBirch) July 18, 2019
Here in the fourth inning, RHP Adbert Alzolay gets removed from the game with an apparent injury. Heading off the field right now with Athletic Trainer Mike McNulty.
— Alex Cohen (@voiceofcohen) July 18, 2019
Now, it’s possible this is simply a bruised ego or minor pride impingement, neither of which will require more than his typical between-starts rest. If it’s anything worse than that, however, Alzolay’s progress could be set back. As you may recall, he missed a huge chunk of last season and got a late start this year after suffering a lat injury.
Here’s to hoping for the best as news comes out of Iowa.
Good news/bad news update
First, the bad news: Alzolay’s velocity was way down in his final inning, which can be a precursor of arm injuries.
Adbert Alzolay’s fastballs in the fourth inning: 92, 92, 92, 91, 91, 91. Then gave up a home run on a curveball to Gavin Lux. Then 88 mph on a first pitch ball, Taylor Davis jumped up to visit him. Next pitch was 86, and Alzolay was pulled mid-AB. (H/t @thats_so_cub).
— Cubs Prospects – Bryan Smith (@cubprospects) July 18, 2019
Now for the good news: Maybe it was just a cramp or some other relatively innocuous leg issue, though the source of that hope may be the result of grasping for straws. But hey, I’m happy to grasp away as well.
If I’m being optimistic, and I’ll tell you right now that I’m looking for reasons to not be devastated about a potential arm injury, I’ll tell you I thought I saw Alzolay motion to his left thigh to Davis in the mound visit 1 pitch before his exit. Truly let’s hope it’s that.
— Cubs Prospects – Bryan Smith (@cubprospects) July 18, 2019
Bad news update
“He came out and he said his arm just didn’t feel right,” Iowa manager Marty Pevey said after the game. “That’s all I know at this point.”
