4 pitching injuries that derailed the 2024 Chicago Cubs season

2. Adbert Alzolay

I've heard the argument that Adbert Alzolay is "not a real closer," but the fact is he handled the job fairly well in 2023. In 58 games that year, Alzolay converted 22 saves out of 25 opportunities, struck out 67 batters and posted a 2.67 ERA. This performance cemented Alzolay as the everyday closer down the stretch and as a cornerstone of the bullpen.

Unfortunately, Alzolay only tossed 17.1 innings for the Cubs in 2024 before suffering a forearm injury in May that sidelined him for the rest of the season. The 29-year-old also did not look sharp in his 2024 outings. He posted a 4.67 ERA and gave up more home runs in those 17 innings (6) than he did in 64 frames in 2023 (5). Admittedly, he may have been trying to pitch through the injury which eventually resulted in Tommy John surgery.

Although Alzolay's injury was a major blow, where the Cubs went wrong was when they failed to acquire adequate depth for Alzolay's role as closer. The most significant bullpen acquisition last year was Hector Neris, who was extremely wild as a ninth-inning man. Neris seemingly never failed to put runners on base in his high-leverage outings, resulting in an ugly 1.52 WHIP.

Hoyer admitted in his after-season press conference that he did not do a good job shoring up the bullpen last offseason. Hopefully, he will learn from his mistakes this time around and financially invest in his relief corps.