The Chicago Cubs are officially losing a valuable pitcher for the remainder of the season.
The Cubs entered Saturday with a 41-48 record (last in the National League Central), and they are playing with the slimmest margin of error imaginable as they look to salvage their season over the next week or two.
Chicago's bullpen has been a sore spot all season, and things aren't getting any easier in that regard.
Reliever Yency Almonte is done for the year, the Cubs announced Saturday ahead of their matchup with the Los Angeles Angels. Almonte has chosen to undergo surgery for a tear in his right labrum, which the 30-year-old hurler has been recently attempting to rehab.
Almonte was transferred to the 60-day injured list at the end of June, and Chicago was waiting to see if Almonte would continue to rehab into July or elect for surgery. Almonte's decision to go under the knife has now been confirmed.
According to a report from Brian Sandalow of the Chicago Sun-Times, there is no timetable for Almonte's recovery, but he has been effectively ruled out for the rest of Chicago's 2024 campaign.
“It’s upsetting,” Almonte said, per Sandalow. “I came in here with a positive mindset from the trade, ready to go, dominate. I feel like I threw well and was in a good place mentally. Building [new relationships], trying to fit in and be that source for young guys.”
Cubs manager Craig Counsell also discussed the disappointing news of Almonte's surgery while expressing that he expects a full recovery from the right-hander.
“It’s been tough because he tried the rehab, it didn’t go in a good direction for a while and then it started to go in the wrong direction and that’s when he had to seek some other opinions and answers,” Counsell said, per Sandalow. “We ended up in a place that this is what he has to do to get his career back on track, his arm back on track.”
Almonte exits the season with a 1-0 record, 3.45 ERA, and 20 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings pitched. He is under club control for one more year.
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