Yency Almonte hasn’t pitched since Could 7 on account of a proper shoulder pressure, and continued discomfort in his shoulder has led to a potential crossroads in how the Cubs right-hander plans to cope with the damage. Supervisor Craig Counsell advised reporters (together with Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune) that Almonte just lately obtained a less-than-positive second opinion on his ailing shoulder, and is “desirous about what to do right here” in presumably pursuing surgical procedure. For now, Almonte has been shut down from throwing whereas he recovers and decides on his subsequent step.
The precise nature of the surgical procedure isn’t but recognized, however it could nearly actually appear that Almonte would miss the remainder of the 2024 season, and will doubtlessly be dealing with an absence of as much as a 12 months, based mostly on timelines of extra critical shoulder-related procedures undergone by different pitchers previously. Regardless of the case, it’s a troublesome final result for Almonte, who was posting some stable numbers earlier than happening the IL.
Acquired from the Dodgers alongside Michael Busch final January, Almonte had a 3.45 ERA over 15 2/3 innings and 17 appearances for the Cubs. His 11.9% stroll price was on the excessive aspect and Almonte was benefiting from a .222 BABIP, however a 29.9% strikeout price and only one homer allowed in these 15 2/3 frames. After relying closely on a sweeper in 2022-23, Almonte was utilizing his sinker and sweeper in kind of equal measure this season, which additionally helped arrange his 94mph fastball.
Analytics apart, Almonte’s 2024 success might’ve additionally maybe been inevitable as a result of it’s an excellent 12 months. The fitting-hander has yo-yo’d between good and unhealthy years all through his seven MLB seasons, with the pattern of high quality numbers within the even years and struggles within the odd years. Living proof, Almonte’s Dodgers tenure included an 1.02 ERA in 35 1/3 innings in 2022, adopted up by a 5.06 ERA over 48 innings with Los Angeles in 2023 earlier than a knee sprain ended his season in mid-August.
Sadly, the damage bug now appears to have thrown a wrench into Almonte’s traditional profession sample. He has already been moved off the Dodgers’ 40-man roster when he was shifted to the 60-day IL final week. The Cubs have one other 12 months of arbitration management over Almonte for the 2025 season, and whereas a non-tender is actually potential relying on his well being standing, Chicago would possibly nonetheless problem him a contract since Almonte would obtain solely a minimal increase on his $1.9MM wage for 2024.
Almonte is certainly one of 5 relievers on the Cubs’ injured checklist, and reduction pitching was already a difficulty for Chicago even earlier than such an enormous chunk of the bullpen was sidelined. On the optimistic aspect, Counsell and pitching coach Tommy Hottovy just lately advised MLB.com and different media that Julian Merryweather is nearing a minor league rehab task, and Mark Leiter Jr. threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Wednesday and would possibly be capable to return subsequent week with out happening a rehab stint.
