Cubs Pitching Prospect Adbert Alzolay Leaves Perfect Game with Grade 1 Lat Strain

Adbert Alzolay, the unanimous top pitching prospect in the Cubs system, was removed from Tuesday’s game after throwing four perfect innings. The move spurred quite a bit of speculation, particularly with Yu Darvish on the DL, but Cubs fans are going to have to keep waiting to see Alzolay at Wrigley.

It was announced after the game that he had to leave due to a Grade 1 lat strain.

https://twitter.com/carriemuskat/status/1001546843568959488?s=21

Before Tuesday’s outing, Alzolay had pitched 35 2/3 innings to the tune of a 5.30 ERA and 5.03 FIP at AAA Iowa. He had also recorded a modest 6.06 K/9 and respectable 3.28 BB/9.

Even though his AAA numbers don’t jump out at you, Chris Gimenez sang the young pitcher’s praise shortly after being called up to Chicago.

“That’s a special human being there, my goodness,” Gimenez exclaimed. “Tremendous young man. Very personable kid. Works his tail off, no doubt about that. I think we can see the arm is electric. Now it’s just a little more of a consistency thing and cleaning up some things mechanically.”

Though his injury is not severe, the Cubs will likely exercise extreme caution with their 23-year-old pitcher, understandably so. Those lat injuries are nothing to mess around with.