Yency Almonte hasn’t pitched since Could 7 because of a proper shoulder pressure, and continued discomfort in his shoulder has led to a attainable 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 acquired a less-than-positive second opinion on his ailing shoulder and is “interested by what to do right here” in presumably pursuing surgical procedure. 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 identified. Nonetheless, it will virtually definitely appear that Almonte would miss the remainder of the 2024 season and will probably be going through an absence of as much as a 12 months based mostly on timelines of extra critical shoulder-related procedures undergone by different pitchers prior to now. Regardless of the case, it’s a tricky final result for Almonte, who posted strong numbers earlier than occurring 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 facet, and Almonte benefited 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 used his sinker and sweeper in kind of equal measure this season, which additionally helped arrange his 94mph fastball.
Analytics apart, Almonte’s 2024 success may’ve been inevitable as a result of it’s an excellent 12 months. The suitable-hander has yo-yo’d between good and dangerous 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 a 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 appears to have thrown a wrench into Almonte’s standard profession sample. He was 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. Whereas a non-tender is definitely attainable, Chicago would possibly nonetheless challenge him a contract relying on his well being standing since Almonte would obtain solely a minimal increase on his $1.9M wage for 2024.
Almonte is considered one of 5 relievers on the Cubs’ injured checklist, and aid pitching was already a difficulty for Chicago even earlier than such an enormous chunk of the bullpen was sidelined. On the optimistic facet, Counsell and pitching coach Tommy Hottovy just lately advised MLB.com and different media that Julian Merryweather is nearing a minor league rehab project, and Mark Leiter Jr. threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Wednesday and would possibly be capable to return subsequent week with out occurring a rehab stint.
