Right-handed starting pitcher Adbert Alzolay is hoping for another big year in the minors, but the beginning of his 2018 season will be slightly delayed.
According to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune, Alzolay won’t be ready for the start of the 2018 minor-league season that begins this week. Nothing to be worried about, though, as the 23-year-old is simply trying to build up arm strength.
Alzolay, who was one of the Cubs’ first cuts after not pitching in a spring training game, is about two weeks behind in building up arm strength, Jaron Madison, the Cubs’ director of player development, said. Alzolay, 23, who was 7-4 with a 2.99 ERA in 22 starts at high Class A Myrtle Beach and Double-A Tennessee last season, will be assigned to an affiliate once he’s ready.
Alzolay is the No. 1 prospect in the Cubs system that includes 21 pitchers ranked in the top-30 on MLB Pipeline’s list.
After posting a 2.98 ERA in 15 starts at Myrtle Beach in 2017, Alzolay went to Double-A Tennessee, where he kept his impressive year going. The righty made seven more starts at the Double-A level, recording a 3.03 ERA, in 32.2 innings, while striking out 30 and walking 12.
Theo Epstein praised the young pitcher during the offseason, saying he viewed Alzolay as a possible top-of-the-rotation starter down the road. There is a chance Alzolay could get called up when rosters expand in September.
As far as other top Cubs pitching prospects go, here’s where fans will see them at the start of 2018.
- Oscar De La Cruz | RHP – Double-A Tennessee (ranked No. 3)
- Jose Albertos | RHP – Low Class A South Bend (ranked No. 4)
- Alex Lange | RHP – Myrtle Beach (ranked No. 5)
- Brendon Little | LHP – Low Class A South Bend (ranked No. 6)
- Thomas Hatch | RHP – Double-A Tennessee (ranked No. 7)
The minor-league season starts Thursday.
Check out the schedules below for all the Cubs affiliates.
