Adbert Marcelo Alzolay (/ˈælzəl/ AL-zə-ly;[1] born March 1, 1995) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He signed with the Cubs as an international free agent in 2013, and made his MLB debut with them in 2019.

Adbert Alzolay
Alzolay with the South Bend Cubs in 2016
Chicago Cubs
Pitcher
Born: (1995-03-01) March 1, 1995 (age 29)
San Felix, Venezuela
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 20, 2019, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record12–25
Earned run average4.04
Strikeouts269
Saves27
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Career

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Alzolay signed with the Chicago Cubs as an international free agent on March 8, 2013. He made his professional debut that year with the Venezuelan Summer League Cubs and spent the whole season there, posting a 5–3 record and 1.07 ERA in 15 games. He pitched with the Arizona League Cubs and Boise Hawks in 2014, going a combined 2–5 with a 7.90 ERA in ten total games between both teams, the Eugene Emeralds in 2015 where he went 6–2 with a 2.04 ERA, and the South Bend Cubs in 2016, pitching to a 9–4 record and 4.34 ERA in 22 games (twenty starts).

Alzolay spent 2017 with both the Myrtle Beach Pelicans and the Tennessee Smokies, posting a combined 7–4 record and 2.99 ERA in 22 starts.[2][3][4] After the season, he played in the Arizona Fall League and was selected to play in the Fall Stars Game.[5][6] The Cubs added him to their 40-man roster after the season.[7]

He appeared in 8 games for the Iowa Cubs in 2018, before suffering a strained lat muscle that ended his season.[8] Alzolay opened the 2019 season on the injured list with a recurrence of the injury.[8] Upon returning, he played one game with Myrtle Beach and then was assigned to Iowa.[8]

On June 20, 2019, Alzolay was called up to the major leagues for the first time.[9] He made his MLB debut that night versus the New York Mets, recording five strikeouts over four innings in relief.[10] Alzolay appeared in six games for the Cubs in 2020, pitching to a 1–1 record and 2.95 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 21+13 innings pitched.[11] In 2021, Alzolay made 29 appearances (21 starts) for Chicago, compiling a 5–13 record and 4.58 ERA with 128 strikeouts across 125+23 innings of work.[12]

Alzolay was placed on the 60-day injured list to start the 2022 on season on March 18, 2022, with a right shoulder strain.[13] He was activated from the injured list on September 17.[14] Alzolay made only six relief outings for the Cubs in 2022, compiling a 3.38 ERA with 19 strikeouts across 13+13 innings of work.

Alzolay began the 2024 season out of Chicago's bullpen, where he recorded a 4.67 ERA in 18 appearances. He was placed on the injured list with a forearm strain on May 13,[15] and was transferred to the 60–day injured list on June 2.[16] On August 7, manager Craig Counsell announced that Alzolay would be undergoing Tommy John surgery, ending his season.[17] He was designated for assignment on November 19.[18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Major League Baseball 2021 Player Name Presentation Preferences and Pronunciations. Archived April 26, 2021, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved April 27, 2021
  2. ^ "Adbert Alzolay Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  3. ^ "Adbert Alzolay Doesn't Want Hitters to Think | BaseballAmerica.com". Archived from the original on July 13, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  4. ^ "Smokies' Alzolay dazzles in Double-A debut". MiLB.com. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  5. ^ Gonzales, Mark. "Cubs' Adbert Alzolay leads prospects in Arizona Fall League". Chciagotribune.com. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  6. ^ Gonzales, Mark. "Prospects Adbert Alzolay, Jake Stinnett, David Bote named to Arizona Fall League's Stars Game". Chciagotribune.com. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  7. ^ Gonzales, Mark. "Cubs add pitching prospects Adbert Alzolay, Oscar De La Cruz to 40-man roster". Chciagotribune.com. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  8. ^ a b c Patrick Mooney (June 17, 2019). "Adbert Alzolay is the pitching prospect who can make Cubs fans forget about Dylan Cease". The Athletic. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  9. ^ "Cubs Top Pitching Prospect Adbert Alzolay to be Called Up". NBC Chicago. June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  10. ^ Gordon Wittenmyer (June 20, 2019). "Adbert Alzolay dazzles in big-league debut, pitches 4-plus innings to earn victory over Mets". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  11. ^ "Cubs face decision on Alzolay's development". MLB.com.
  12. ^ "Adbert Alzolay - Pitching Game Logs". fangraphs.com. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  13. ^ "Alzolay to 60-day IL to make room for Suzuki". nbcsports.com. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  14. ^ "Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Activated by Cubs". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  15. ^ "Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Goes on IL with forearm strain". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  16. ^ "Cubs Select David Bote, Option Nick Madrigal". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  17. ^ "Adbert Alzolay To Undergo Tommy John Surgery". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  18. ^ Rogers, Jesse (November 19, 2024). "Cubs designate Adbert Alzolay for assignment". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
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