There were plenty of storylines throughout the first half of the Iowa Cubs season.

Addison Russell worked his way back from a suspension with a short stint in Iowa. Craig Kimbrel got ready for the season with Chicago with four outings in Triple-A. Ian Happ tried to rediscover his swing in Des Moines. And the Iowa Cubs produced their best first half of the season in over a decade.

The second half of the Pacific Coast League season starts for Iowa on Thursday with a trip to Round Rock. And like the first half, the second should produce plenty of interesting storylines for fans to follow.

Here are five.

1. What’s next for Adbert Alzolay?

The right-handed pitcher finally got a taste of big-league action this season, appearing in three games with Chicago and making two starts. Alzolay pitched great out of the bullpen in his debut and threw well during his first start. But he was roughed up in his final outing, and when Kyle Hendricks came back from the injured list, Alzolay was sent back to the minors. But it won’t be the last the Cubs see of Alzolay, who was given assurances by the team that they plan to use him again in the second half of the season. That could begin as a spot starter and transition into a role into the bullpen. Since Alzolay has dealt with injuries over the last few seasons, the Cubs want to get his innings up. But at some point, he could move to the bullpen in Iowa. Alzolay said he’s willing to pitch in either role.

2. The wait for Ben Zobrist

The uber utilityman's career may not be over quite yet. According to the Chicago Tribune, Theo Epstein, the Cubs’ president of baseball operations, said the team “expects him back later this year.” Epstein wouldn’t say when that would be. But whenever it is, Zobrist will inevitably need some time in the minors to get ready for a return. Zobrist, who has been going through a divorce, was granted a leave of absence due to personal reasons and placed on the restricted list. He hasn’t played in a game since May 6 and was hitting .241 (20-for-83) with a double and 10 RBI in 26 games with Chicago this season. So Zobrist may need a substantial amount of time in the minors before he’s ready. And that could come with Iowa.

3. Will Ian Happ ever return to Chicago?

That’s one of the biggest questions surrounding Iowa this season. Happ, who had a strong rookie season in 2017, struggled in the second half of the 2018 season and struggled again during spring training this year. All the struggles led the Cubs to send Happ back to the minors to cut down on his strikeouts and regain his form. It’s taken some time. During the first half of the season, Happ hit just .234 and struck out 100 times in 312 at-bats. But he finished it on a strong note, hitting .325 with a pair of homers in his last 10 games. Happ has shown signs that he’s turned the corner but followed several strong stretches with slumps. The Cubs still want to see more consistency from him. But if they do, then what? Happ can still generate interest on the trade block and some have been watching him in Iowa this season. If the Cubs do keep him, he’ll likely be back in Chicago in September so the big-league team can utilize his speed, versatility and power for the stretch run.

4. A possibly playoff push

Iowa hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2008. But that could change this season. Iowa finished the first half of the season with a 52-38 mark, tops in the Pacific Coast League’s American Northern Division. It owns a 10-game lead over the second place Omaha Storm Chasers. Iowa finished the first half on a high note, winning its final four games. The 52 wins by Iowa heading into the All-Star break are the most since, coincidentally, 2008. Can the Cubs keep it up? Roster moves are sure to reshuffle the roster and with the trade deadline also coming up, Iowa could also see some changes coming that could impact that run.

5. The impact of the trade deadline

Major League Baseball’s trade deadline on July 31 is rapidly approaching. Plenty of scouts from other organizations have been in Des Moines all summer keeping close tabs on Iowa’s roster. And for good reason. If the Cubs are indeed buying at the deadline, they should have some things to offer other teams. Outfielder Mark Zagunis, who started the season in Chicago, has played well in Iowa since his demotion. His name has been in trade talks for several years. Happ, who was once expected to play a prominent role in the big leagues with the Cubs, hasn’t been in the majors this season and could be expendable with what many still consider to be a bright looking future ahead for him. So could right-handed reliever Dillon Maples who has been up and down this season but has arguably the best stuff of any pitcher in the system.