Pitching prospect Alzolay excited about his first call-up to the Cubs
Adbert Alzolay got the call to the manager's office every minor-league prospect wants to get.
In Alzolay's case, it was Marty Pevey, manager of the Cubs' Class AAA Iowa affiliate who gave him the good news.
"It's just been crazy," the 24-year-old Alzolay said Thursday after being promoted. "We were in Sacramento. The manager called me to the office and told me, 'Hey, kid, you're going to the big leagues.' Just a lot of feelings coming together. I called my dad, my mom, all my family. They were super excited, crying. I started crying with them. Just a lot of things."
Right-hander Alzolay joined the Cubs ranked as the No. 4 prospect in the organization by mlb.com. He went 2-1 with an 0.94 WHIP and a 3.09 ERA in 6 starts with Iowa this season with 46 strikeouts and 6 walks in 32 innings pitched while limiting batters to a .203 average.
The Cubs signed Alzolay out of Venezuela as a nondrafted free agent in 2012. He reached Class AAA last year but his season was cut short by a right-lat strain.
He is up because starter Kyle Hendricks is on the injured list, perhaps until the all-star break. The Cubs had him available out of the bullpen Thursday, but he also could get a start in the near future.
"He's going to be a very good major-league pitcher for a long time because he's good, and I think his makeup really plays, also," said manager Joe Maddon. "So I'm eager to watch this."
To make room on the roster, the Cubs designated left-handed reliever Tim Collins for assignment.
Never too old:
The New York Mets, in town for a four-game series, added another former Cub to their pitching staff. Phil Regan was named pitching coach Thursday. He joins former Cubs manager Jim Riggleman (bench coach) and former Cubs hitting coach Chili Davis on the staff.
The surprise? Regan is 82 years old. Known in his playing days as "The Vulture," he pitched for the fabled 1969 Cubs team and later served as Cubs pitching coach. "I like it because that will put me there in about 17 years," said the 65-year-old Joe Maddon. "Under the circumstances, he gives us all hope.
"There's a difference between being old and being contemporary. I think if you're able to understand the moment and not get caught up in the past all the time, and I don't want to say accept change but understand change and then work your way through it, you can do this as long as you want. I really believe that. It's not as much an age-related situation as much as it is a contemporary-related situation."
North and south:
Joe Maddon managed the Tampa Bay Rays, so he was intrigued by reports saying the Rays were considering splitting home games between Tampa Bay and Montreal.
"Love it," he said. "Wouldn't that be kind of cool? Let's do a little European vacation in the middle of summer, head north of the border. It sounds really groovy, actually. I've never been to Montreal, but I've heard so many wonderful things about it. I don't see it ever happening."