An addition to the Cubs pitching staff may be on the way.
But Yency Almonte probably won’t be one of them.
The right-handed relief pitcher saw a doctor for a tight right shoulder but “didn’t get any good news about him continuing to pitch,” manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday.
“So now he’s figuring out what to do here,” Counsell said, “whether to strengthen it or consider surgery.”
Counsell did not give a timeline for his return, but since he stopped pitching in early July, it is likely to be a lengthy recovery for Almonte.
The 30-year-old Almonte was injured in early May just as he was beginning to emerge as Counsell’s reliable reliever. After giving up four runs in two innings in his first four starts, he has posted a 1.32 ERA and .089 batting average over 13.2 innings over 13 appearances.
Almonte began his recovery in June, throwing some competitive bullpen sessions in South Bend, but was not well enough to proceed to a rehab assignment. The Cubs tried to slow his recovery by having him throw bullpen sessions in a controlled environment, but the injury persisted.
The second opinion made the situation clear for Almonte and the Cubs.
“He’s going to have to stop pitching, get some more rest and then decide what to do next,” Counsell said.
The right-hander remains under team control for one more season.
