Love Letters From Pronk is an ongoing series where Pronk shares his love for somebody connected to the Cubs. Sometimes funny, sometimes weird, Pronk likes to make 100% sure people know that they are loved, and best expresses that through gushing letters. Today's pick: Cubs Pitcher Adbert Azolay
Adbert Azolay is a starting pitcher prospect for the Chicago Cubs. In 2019, he made his major league debut at the age of 24. As a Venezuelan, he was signed as an international free agent back in 2012. He's put up solid numbers at the lower minor league levels. He's had a few bumps in the road at the AAA and MLB levels, but has shown plenty of poise and promise. He's begun to show us some bits of humor and respect he has for his teammates, and figures to be a part of the Cubs for years to come. I for one, am very excited to see what the future holds for Adbert.
Ona side note, our Cubs DNA internal nickname for him is "Bertie." Also known as "Little Bertie" at times (even though he's 6-1 208 lbs). He's also a fantastic actor:
Dear Adbert,
Congratulations on a successful 2020 season. A lot of guys work their way to the upper levels and flame out. This year, you showed the poise and development that makes me confident that you will be sticking around for years to come. You've got some nasty pitches, and I hope to see you striking out hitters in the rotation in 2021 and beyond.
From a fan's perspective, you seem like a great teammate. You didn't seem to make a huge disruptive splash on the active roster, but rather, blended right in with some of the other great personalities that are on the team already. You are very support of your teammates, and totally seem like the kind of guy that others can go to war with. Your positivity is infectious.
With the development of your slider and some of the improved control that we saw this year, I am really excited to see what the future holds for you. It was very obvious to me that while your pitching improved, your maturity has also taken large steps forward in 2020. Good pitching relies on being mentally sharp. You've got a great foundation to becoming a very special pitcher. Great things are in store for you. Keep it up!
XOXO,
Pronk