Adbert Alzolay

Adbert Alzolay

29-Year-Old PitcherRP
Chicago Cubs
60-Day IL
Injury Elbow
Est. Return 2/1/2026
2024 Fantasy Outlook
2023 finally offered some clarity on Alzolay's role, as he was healthy for much of the season and made a career-high 58 appearances - all in relief. Many were multi-inning outings, especially early on, but Alzolay quickly established himself as Chicago's best reliever and took over closing duties in June. The right-hander secured 21 of the Cubs' 23 saves from June through August, but he suffered a forearm strain in September that required an IL stint. It wasn't serious, but Alzolay has missed time during each of the past 3 seasons with various injuries. Drafting him carries plenty of risk, but he's certainly been effective when healthy. Alzolay features a 6-pitch arsenal headlined by a slider that produced a 40.6% whiff rate. His 26.5% strikeout rate wasn't elite, but still above average, while his ratios and walk rate were excellent. Yet, Alzolay is not guaranteed to open 2024 as the Cubs closer with the team expected to be active in the relief market. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Rest of Season
From Preseason
#156
ADP
$Signed a one-year, $2.11 million contract with the Cubs in January of 2024.
Will have Tommy John surgery
PChicago Cubs
Elbow
August 7, 2024
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that Alzolay will undergo Tommy John surgery on his injured right elbow, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.
ANALYSIS
Prior reports had suggested that Alzolay would need some type of procedure on his pitching arm, and Counsell revealed that the right-hander would need a full UCL reconstruction. While no timetable for Alzolay's return has been established, there's a good chance he won't be ready to pitch in the majors again until 2026.
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Pitching Stats
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2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2024 MLB Game Log
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2023 MLB Game Log
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Pitching Appearances Breakdown
Average Pitch Count
18
Last 10 Games
20
Last 5 Games
20
How many pitches does Adbert Alzolay generally throw?
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
What part of the game does Adbert Alzolay generally pitch?
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
% Games Reaching Innings Threshold
% Games By Number of Innings Pitched
Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2022
 
 
-21%
BAA vs RHP
2024
 
 
-15%
BAA vs RHP
2023
 
 
-24%
BAA vs RHP
2022
 
 
-6%
BAA vs LHP
BAA Batters K BB H 2B 3B HR
Since 2022vs Left .262 157 42 8 38 5 1 8
Since 2022vs Right .207 223 57 13 42 7 1 4
2024vs Left .303 37 5 4 10 1 0 3
2024vs Right .257 38 8 2 9 0 0 3
2023vs Left .263 102 30 4 25 3 0 4
2023vs Right .199 151 37 9 27 5 1 1
2022vs Left .176 18 7 0 3 1 1 1
2022vs Right .188 34 12 2 6 2 0 0
More Splits View More Split Stats
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2022
 
 
-6%
ERA at Home
2024
 
 
-37%
ERA on Road
2023
 
 
-19%
ERA at Home
2022
 
 
-18%
ERA at Home
ERA WHIP IP W L SV K/9 BB/9 HR/9
Since 2022Home 3.04 1.04 47.1 2 5 11 8.0 1.9 0.6
Since 2022Away 3.23 1.10 47.1 3 5 15 10.8 2.1 1.7
2024Home 5.87 1.57 7.2 1 2 1 4.7 2.3 1.2
2024Away 3.72 1.34 9.2 0 2 3 8.4 3.7 4.7
2023Home 2.41 0.95 33.2 1 2 10 7.2 1.9 0.5
2023Away 2.97 1.09 30.1 1 3 12 11.9 1.8 0.9
2022Home 3.00 0.83 6.0 0 1 0 16.5 1.5 0.0
2022Away 3.68 0.82 7.1 2 0 0 9.8 1.2 1.2
More Splits View More Split Stats
Stat Review
How does Adbert Alzolay compare to other relievers?
This section compares his stats with all relief pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 30 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.

* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 30 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
  • K/BB
    Strikeout to walk ratio.
  • K/9
    Average strikeouts per nine innings.
  • BB/9
    Average walks per nine innings.
  • HR/9
    Average home runs allowed per nine innings.
  • Fastball
    Average fastball velocity.
  • ERA
    Earned run average. The average earned runs allowed per nine innings.
  • WHIP
    Walks plus hits per inning pitched.
  • BABIP
    Batting average on balls in play. Measures how many balls in play against a pitcher go for hits.
  • GB/FB
    Groundball to flyball ratio. The higher the number, the more likely a pitcher is to induce groundballs.
  • Left On Base
    The percentage of base runners that a pitcher strands on base over the course of a season.
  • Exit Velocity
    The speed of the baseball as it comes off the bat, immediately after a batter makes contact.
  • Barrels/BBE
    The percentage of batted ball events resulting in a Barrel. A Barrel is a batted ball with similar exit velocity and launch angle to past ones that led to a minimum .500 batting average and 1.500 slugging percentage.
  • Spin Rate
    Spin Rate is the rate of spin on a baseball after it is released. It is measured in revolutions per minute (rpm).
  • Balls Hit 95+ MPH
    The percentage of batted balls hit that met or exceeded the 95 MPH threshold.
  • Swinging Strike
    The percentage of pitches that result in a swing and a miss.
K/BB
2.17
 
K/9
6.8
 
BB/9
3.1
 
HR/9
3.1
 
Fastball
94.5 mph
 
ERA
4.67
 
WHIP
1.44
 
BABIP
.266
 
GB/FB
1.10
 
Left On Base
72.3%
 
Exit Velocity
81.0 mph
 
Barrels/BBE
8.3%
 
Spin Rate
2360 rpm
 
Balls Hit 95+ MPH
21.7%
 
Swinging Strike
9.7%
 
Prospect Rankings History
Advanced Pitching Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2021
2020
2018
A lat strain sidelined Alzolay for much of the 2022 season, limiting him to just 25.2 innings between the majors and minors. He didn't join the Cubs until mid-September and made six appearances in long relief. Alzolay was effective in his limited sample, generating an astounding 70.4% whiff rate on 63 sliders thrown (33% pitch usage). He struck out 19 over 13.1 innings for a 36.5% strikeout rate, while walking only two (3.8% BB%). If Alzolay maintains improved control, he could blossom in 2023, though his role is yet to be defined. Whether that's as a starter, reliever, or combination of the two in a more flexible capacity, Chicago will carefully manage Alzolay's workload throughout the season in order to get as many innings as possible from the young hurler. He's worth a late pick in NL-only or deep mixed league drafts as long as you're comfortable with the innings risk.
After he pitched only 21.1 innings in 2020, the Cubs aimed to manage Alzolay's workload last season. In April, they took advantage of a fourth option year by sending him to the alternate training site when a fifth starter wasn't needed. An IL stint for a blister and later for a hamstring helped limit Alzolay's innings, but the Cubs still used him as a reliever after he was activated Sept. 1. He finished with 125.2 innings, so assuming Alzolay is reinserted into the rotation, he should be restriction free. Alzolay posted an 18.1 K-BB%, ranking 38th among pitchers with at least 120 innings. Homers were an issue, with 22 of his 29 yielded coming from a lefty swinger. Alzolay's 94-mph fastball is just a bit above average, but compared to the rest of the Cubs' rotation, it seems like triple-digits. Fewer walks and an out pitch against left-handers would be welcome, but as is, Alzolay has streaming appeal.
Alzolay didn't crack the Cubs' Opening Day 30-man roster. After a month at the alternate site, he bounced back and forth between South Bend and the North Side the final month, making four starts in six appearances. Alzolay's 2.95 ERA and 1.17 WHIP were deflated by a .256 BABIP, but a 33.3 K% is encouraging. Alzolay's 14.9% walk rate is dangerously high, especially once he experiences a BABIP correction. That said, a 4.15 SIERA and 3.62 xFIP offer encouragement. Alzolay features a four-seam fastball, hard sinker and a slider, mixing in some changeups against left-handers. His slider is his primary strikeout pitch. This is a starter's repertoire, and Alzolay may still be a rotation mainstay, but with a little tweaking, he could be a dominant reliever. He'll likely have an innings limit, but Alzolay should be given a chance to break camp in the Cubs' rotation.
Alzolay reached the big leagues for the first time at age 24 but didn't look great in 12.1 innings, allowing 10 runs and walking nine batters. His 4.41 ERA in 15 starts for Triple-A Iowa isn't too exciting either, but his 32.3 K% in those starts provides some reason to be excited for Alzolay's future. Whether that future comes in the rotation or the bullpen remains to be seen. Alzolay's smaller frame and lack of a strong third pitch to complement his fastball and curve would seem to point in the latter direction. He has the tools to become a strong late-inning option for a team that has lacked stability in that area, though relieving won't give him much fantasy value unless he's in the closer conversation. If he does get a run in the rotation, Alzolay has a bit of upside as a potential high-strikeout streamer, but it would probably take an injury for an opportunity to open up.
If Alzolay were in a better farm system, he would blend in, but he will be ranked near the top of the Cubs' system by most outlets, and unnecessary dynasty-league hype will follow. He is the only pitcher in that system with some upside who is also relatively close to the majors. Indeed, proximity to the big leagues may be his most appealing trait. His plus fastball sits at 93-94 mph, and he has a quality breaking ball, but his changeup is a distant third pitch, and his curveball is by no means a hammer. Alzolay has above-average command, which allowed him to hold his own in the lower levels before he experienced a velocity bump last season. With only seven starts at Double-A, he may head back to the Southern League, but it's possible he is assigned straight to Triple-A after spring training. The Cubs could call upon Alzolay during his age-23 season, whether to plug a hole in the rotation or work in middle relief. Unless his changeup really comes along, he profiles as a No. 4 starter or setup man.
More Fantasy News
Will undergo surgery
PChicago Cubs
Forearm
August 1, 2024
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Thursday that Alzolay will undergo surgery on his right forearm, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Getting examined after setback
PChicago Cubs
Forearm
July 29, 2024
Alzolay (forearm) has been pulled off his rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa and sent to Chicago to be examined following a setback, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
ANALYSIS
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Rehab moved to Triple-A
PChicago Cubs
Forearm
July 27, 2024
Alzolay's (forearm) rehab assignment was transferred to Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Tommy Birch of USA Today reports.
ANALYSIS
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Cleared to begin rehab assignment
PChicago Cubs
Forearm
July 19, 2024
Alzolay (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment with the Cubs' Arizona Complex League affiliate Friday, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
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Facing hitters Friday
PChicago Cubs
Forearm
July 12, 2024
Alzolay (forearm) will throw live batting practice Friday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Pitching in relief
PChicago Cubs
September 14, 2022
Alzolay is expected to return this weekend from a shoulder injury and pitch out of the bullpen, reports Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune.
ANALYSIS
Alzolay has been unavailable for the entire season due to a lat strain in his pitching shoulder but is expected to return this weekend. He's made five rehab appearances, totaling 12.1 innings and allowing eight runs, and will likely serve in a multi-inning relief role when he returns. The 27-year-old has had stretches of being a quality big-league starter but his kryptonite has always been left-handed hitters, as they have a .268/.345/.558 slash line with 22 homers in 322 plate appearances against him in his career.
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