Prospect Alzolay preparing for '19 during rehab

MESA, Ariz. -- It was 100 degrees at the Cubs' complex early Monday when Adbert Alzolay played catch. If the season had gone the way the right-hander wanted, he would've been preparing for the Cubs' series opener against the D-backs at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix.

Ranked No. 2 on MLB Pipeline's list of the Cubs' top 30 prospects, Alzolay has not been on a mound since May 29 when he threw four perfect innings for Triple-A Iowa.

View Full Game Coverage

"That was the craziest thing ever," Alzolay said Monday. "I was warming up and everything was great. My first pitch [in the fourth] was a fastball, and I felt like my velo wasn't there -- it was 90, 91 [mph]. I was like, 'OK, something is…