Yency Almonte set high expectations for himself heading into the 2023 season after a breakout in 2022 that saw him become one of the most trusted arms in the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen.
Almonte was of course on the Opening Day roster, but March and April proved to be a struggle for him as he pitched 11.2 innings with a 8.49 ERA. During that stretch, opponents hit .327/.421/.449 against Almonte.
Following that stretch, Almonte started to pitch better in May as he limited hitters to a .175/.250/.425 line, but he still allowed seven runs in 11.1 innings during the month.
He carried that momentum into the middle of the season where it looked like Almonte had his issues figured out. In June, he posted a 2.31 ERA, and in July held a 3.24 ERA.
That success was short-lived as he struggled in August before being placed on the 15-day injured list with a right knee strain.
The injury effectively shut down his season despite beginning a rehab assignment in late September with the hopes of returning later in the postseason. That never came to fruition as the Dodgers were swept in the National League Division Series.
The 29-year-old finished the 2023 season throwing 48 innings with a 5.06 ERA, 4.59 FIP and 1.40 WHIP while striking out 23.6% of hitters and walking 11.5%.
The Dodgers agreed to a contract with Almonte for the 2024 season to avoid arbitration, but he was later traded to the Chicago Cubs, ending his time with L.A.
Yency Almonte 2023 highlight
Almonte had three perfect appearances where he struck out the side in 2023, but only the one against the Atlanta Braves on May 23 also included a Dodgers’ victory.
Almonte struck out Sean Murphy, Austin Riley and Eddie Rosario in the sixth inning with the Dodgers leading by 4-1. L.A. went on to win the game, 8-1.
2024 outlook
Now with the Cubs, Almonte is looking to rebound from his inconsistent 2023 season.
He will likely serve as a middle reliever for Chicago, but if he bounces back, he has the opportunity to move into a higher-leverage role.
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