Chicago Cubs get a concerning update on once promising reliever

Jordan Campbell

Chicago Cubs v Cincinnati Reds / Jason Mowry/GettyImages

Of everything that has gone wrong during the Chicago Cubs' 2024 season, at the top of the list may be the ineffectiveness and cosequent, injury to closer Adbert Alzolay.

During the 2023 season, Alzolay showed promise while serving as the team's closer, completing a two-month stretch during the second half of the seaon where he did not blow a save.

While it is fair to have some pushback on the idea that the Cubs used that two-month stretch to cement Alzolay as the team's closer in 2024, no one could have forecasted his season derailing in the way that it has.

Over the course of the past month, Alzolay had been rehabbing with the Cubs' rookie team in the Arizona Complex League but has since suffered a setback. In expanding upon that setback earlier this week, Cubs' manager Craig Counsell told reports that Alzolay will be undergoing surgery that will end his season officially.

Adbert Alzolay (right flexor strain) is going to have surgery, but he is seeking a second opinion on what the surgery will entail. Final details should be known early next week.
— Jared Wyllys (@jwyllys) August 1, 2024

The frustrating part of the news that Alzolay will be undergoing surgery is that this is a diagnosis that was speculated at the beginning of June. Meaning, it would seem that the Cubs were trying to avoid surgery as long as possible, as a way to potentially bring bing back Alzolay to help in a contending bullpen during the second half of the season.

Where it becomes cloudy for Alzolay's future role in the bullpen for the Cubs is on the type of surgery he will gave. Generally, if a second opinion is needed, the surgery likely will involve a lenghty recovery process.

All this to say that there is not a scenario that exists where the Cubs can depend on Alzolay being a legitimate contributor in the bullpen next season. While the Cubs are keen on the idea of their young arms taking meaningful spots in the bullpen, Alzolay's imminent surgery should push the club to adding a legitimate external solution this winter.

Jordan Campbell

For nearly 15 years, Jordan has been a workhorse across the FanSided network - including being the inaugural site expert for Cubbies Crib, as well as a stop at Da Windy City as the site expert. In addition to returning to be a Co-Site Expert at Cubbies Crib, Jordan was previously the Site Expert at Bear Goggles On. In the years since, Jordan has joined FanSided's full-time team, serving as a staff writer for the MLB division. Jordan's work can be seen across the MLB division, including a consistent presence on our Cubs, Twins, Astros, and Tigers sites. Since 2010, Jordan has dedicated his craft to providing insightful commentary on all things Chicago sports, and he has enjoyed his venture into all things Major League Baseball.