Adbert Alzolay is no stranger to shining on a big stage, whether it was his electric Cubs debut or the red tuxedo jacket he rocked for CubsCon’s opening ceremony. He’s not flashy to the point of being ostentatious, it’s just a natural expression of a personality so big that he had to doff his cap while exiting the mound at Wrigley for the first time.
One of the first things you pick up when you sit down to talk with Alzolay is that he’s so…I think authentic is the right word. Maybe that’s a Freudian slip related to NBC Sports Chicago’s Authentic Fan promos, but it still feels accurate because the 24-year-old righty demonstrated the kind of candor and joy you don’t often find in a complete stranger.