Cubs right-hander Adbert Alzolay will undergo Tommy John surgery, per manager Craig Counsell. Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times relayed the news on X. It was reported last week that the righty would be going under the knife but the specific nature of the procedure had not yet been determined. He’ll miss the remainder of this season and could miss all of 2025 as well.
It’s obviously an unfortunate blow for Alzolay and the Cubs. The righty seemed to unlock something last year after moving from a starting role to a full-time relief role. He tossed 64 innings over 58 appearances for the Cubs last year, allowing 2.67 earned runs per nine. He struck out 26.5% of batters faced, limited walks to a 5.1% clip and kept the ball on the ground 42.2% of the time. He even secured the closer’s job, nabbing 22 saves last year.
He did miss about two weeks in September with a right forearm strain, which now looks in hindsight like it was an omen of what was to come in 2024. He made 18 appearances to start this year but with less effectiveness. He only struck out 17.3% of batters faced and had an ERA of 4.67. The Cubs put him on the IL on May 13, announcing that he had a right forearm strain. The next day, they told reporters that imaging confirmed Alzolay had a right flexor strain, per Lee on X.
There was still some hope of him returning, as he started a rehab assignment in July. But he made just three appearances there before it was reported that he would require some type of surgery, which was a vague update until today’s developments.
Now that he’s slated for the worst-case scenario of Tommy John surgery, Alzolay’s entire 2025 season is in jeopardy. Pitchers usually require 14 months or more to come back from such a significant operation, a timeline that will make it possible he won’t see official game action until 2026. He’s currently 29 years old but will turn 31 in March of 2026.
He reached arbitration for the first time coming into this year and is making a salary of $2.11MM. Given how much time he has missed, the Cubs could retain him around that price for 2025 but likely wouldn’t get anything for that investment except the right to hold onto Alzolay’s rights for the 2026 campaign, the last before he’s slated for free agency. Teams and players in this situation will sometimes work out an extension to cover the rehab period and the pitcher’s planned return to the mound, so perhaps the Cubs will talk to Alzolay’s reps this winter about such an arrangement.
In the meantime, the club’s bullpen figures to be in flux, for this year and next. Héctor Neris is handling the closing duties this year but isn’t a guarantee to come back in 2025 as his one-year deal has a $9MM club option that converts to a player option if he makes 60 appearances this year. He’s currently at 42. Mark Leiter Jr. is leading the team in holds but he was traded to the Yankees prior to the deadline. Yency Almonte and Porter Hodge are tied for second in that category but Almonte is done for the year due to shoulder surgery. Tyson Miller and Drew Smyly are next on that list but Smyly is likely headed for the open market as his deal has a 2025 mutual option and those are almost never picked up by both sides.
I wish the cubs and Adbert didn’t even rehab it. Should’ve had TJS right away when it was a flexor injury. Now he won’t potch til at least 2026 and there’s a chance he won’t even be with the Cubs organization.
Respectfully, that’s easy to say when you’re not going under the knife and definitely puts you out of commission for ~18 months with an arduous rehab process as your near future. It’s a tough pill to swallow and not a band-aid that should be quickly removed — to get lost in cliches.
I’ve been under the knife several times. Nothing like an 18 month recovering. But after one in particular surgery I had learn to walk again.
I get what you’re saying. It just sucks they delayed it for so long.
People downplay Tommy John surgery too much. Yes, there are a lot of cases where guys recover, but there are many cases where guys never return to their previous level.
This may be a wild theory, but I wonder if the increase in forearm and elbow injuries across MLB and MiLB can be attributed partly to this generations propensity to use hand held electronic devices.
Ever scrolled through your social media or favorite sports trade rumors site for a couple hours and felt some fatigue in your elbows or forearms? What about typing or browsing on your laptop or pc?
I certainly have.
Hand held electronic devices like radar guns? In that case, I most certainly agree.
That would be carpal tunnel syndrome.
That would be” I’m from outer space and I just hatched from a pod” Theory.
They’re literally professional athletes, some of the most in shape people on the planet. I doubt “they’re on their phones too much” is why they’re getting TJ.
As John Kruk once said, “I ain’t an athlete. I’m a baseball player.”
Maybe the arthritis in the fingers of the people from my generation was caused by the books we held and the pages we were forced to turn for hours.
If put alongside grip strength decline and other in-game factors, maybe?
Carlos Zambrano knows what you’re talking about. From a May 22, 2005 ESPN article:
“Cubs right-hander Carlos Zambrano has been told to cut back on his computer time because the hours he’s spending typing could be contributing to his elbow problems.
Zambrano said he had been logging about four hours a day communicating via e-mail with his brother.
‘I have to spend one hour and take it easy,’ Zambrano said.”
Great find DDMBD, eloquently delivered.
I prefer to forget as much about the 2005 Cubs as possible. But other than Nomar Garciaparra’s nasty groin muscle tear early in the season, that story about Big Z’s computer-related elbow irritation is the one I remember the most.
It’s obvious when watching him at the start of the season something was off. He was struggling with lower velocity and location. Hopefully a full recovery and seeing him pitch sometime in 2026.
Yes, I too sort of felt this was coming. His lower velocity, plus the way the Cubs delayed his start-stop activity, a number of times.
Well this really bites…
Hoyer better get working on adding to the bullpen this offseason…
Hopefully that was already in the plans! But agree, now it may take priority.
Closer, LH setup man, and they could really use a proven front of the rotation RH SP.
No doubt bullpen needs are a priority heading into 2025. But if Jed is still running the front office don’t count on the Cubs making any big moves. Jed will try to get the best bargain, lighting in a bottle, bounce back candidates instead of the best available. No Tanner Scott or anyone who processes similar qualities.
At least now we know what we need up front. The Bulls haven’t acquired a legit point guard because they kept waiting on Lonzo to get right and rehab.
He might as well have the surgery, everyone else is.
Feel sorry for the kid. Looked like he turned a corner last year. Can’t say I’m surprised he’s been battling the old forearm tightness for years. By 2026 he’ll probably be in the rear view mirror for relief jobs at least on the Cubs. His arm should at least get him a job somewhere in 26. Best of luck.
Agree, but unless he gets that TJ velo spike he will likely find it difficult get another MLB contract.
The Cubs may just non tender him as well.
Trevor is waiting.
You should introduce him to your mama. So he can slap her for having you.
“He’ll miss the remainder of this season and could miss all of 2025 as well.”
Did you mean 2026? His 2025 is certainly over, without question.
2024 +1 = 2025. If recovery time is somewhere around a year or so (maybe 14 months) there is the possibility he could pitch late in 2025 if he beats that slightly, so it’s certainly not over at this time.
I’m sure there is no intent by the writer to mean miss any part of 2026.
If your reply is to me, It clearly says 2026. The chance he comes back in 2025 even late is pretty thin. It’s supposed to be a full reconstruction not a brace at least that’s what they said on Marquee.
It’s encouraging your math has improved quite significantly.
Everytime I hear forearm tightness always leads to TJ, too bad for him. He gone for 18 months now
I hope Adbert is able to resume his 2023 success in the future. He seems like a good guy.
A “Hoyer” lift is used to move people with extreme mobility issues. Just saying’.
He is a nice guy. Unfortunately nice guys. Finish last. Leo
Subtractbert 🙁
Manfred Surgery
this guy cost the Cubs 15 wins this year, see ya never
Well, 15 is probably a stretch by close to a dozen or so….but agreed—his Cub career is most likely over.
I strongly doubt his Cubs career is over, he’s not going to get much in arbitration next season and is still controllable for 26.
The Cubs, more likely, will use this to work out an extension or buy out his final season of arbitration this offseason.
Yeah bummer. Guess the Cubs might have to settle for the 4th wildcard
Prolly messed up his arm misspelling his name