Cubs Announce Resolution on No. 6 Prospect Earlier than Reds Recreation

The Cubs face the Cincinnati Reds in a Wrigley Area day recreation Friday, as Chicago tries to solidify its lead within the Nationwide League wild-card race.

The Cubs maintain the highest Wild Card place within the NL, simply two video games up on the Philadelphia Phillies and 4 in entrance of the San Diego Padres with 28 video games left on the common season schedule.

Earlier than dealing with the Reds, the Cubs decided on the fast way forward for the No. 6 prospect of their system, who has principally struggled on the plate throughout his call-up with the massive league membership.

The Cubs determined to choice lanky, 6-foot-6, 188-pound outfielder Kevin Alcántara to Triple-A Iowa on Friday, clearing a roster spot for Matt Shaw’s return from a two-month hand harm, in line with a workforce announcement Friday morning.

It’s the fifth time this season Chicago has despatched Alcántara down, and the sample is fairly revealing about the place the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, native stands in a crowded outfield image. The 24-year-old was simply recalled on August 17, giving him barely two weeks again within the huge leagues earlier than the demotion.

Chicago Reinstates Matt Shaw, Alcántara Pays Worth

Shaw, the Cubs’ versatile infielder-outfielder, had been out since June 29 with a sprained left hand in his second injured checklist stint of the 12 months after an earlier bout of mid-back tightness. He hit .316, going 6-for-19 with 4 RBI throughout 5 rehab video games at Iowa, in line with Cubs Insider. Chicago activated him forward of Friday’s collection opener in opposition to Cincinnati at Wrigley.

Alcántara’s newest stint produced little to vary his standing within the group’s eyes. He batted .240, with six hits in 25 at-bats, one house run and 6 RBI over 24 video games this season. He’s additionally been optioned in March, June, July and early August, used principally as a pinch-runner and defensive substitute.

Kevin Alcántara’s Path From the Bronx to Wrigley

Alcántara, born July 12, 2002, in Santo Domingo, signed with the New York Yankees in 2018 as a 16-year-old worldwide free agent for a $1 million bonus, in line with Spotrac’s contract database. New York shipped him to Chicago on July 29, 2021, together with right-hander Alexander Vizcaíno, within the commerce that despatched Anthony Rizzo to the Yankees.

Nicknamed “Jaguar,” Alcántara spent his early years within the Cubs group wrestling with extra than simply pitching. Alcántara has described feeling remoted after touchdown in Arizona, unable to order meals or talk with teammates. He leaned on English classes the Cubs supplied to show that round.

“There’s recommendation that you could’t get since you don’t know English as a result of the American coaches can’t talk with you,” Alcántara stated, as quoted by Marquee Sports activities Community’s Andy Martinez. “It’s actually powerful, truthfully. It’s a course that you need to be taught.”

The event paid off in flashes. He hit .266 with 17 house runs at Iowa in 2025 regardless of offseason surgical procedure for a sports activities hernia, and he ranked as excessive because the Cubs’ No. 6 prospect coming into final season, in line with MLB Pipeline’s organizational rankings.

Alcántara now heads again to Iowa to maintain hitting and preserve ready. He stays below Cubs management for years to return, however the clock in Chicago retains ticking.

The Cubs’ entrance workplace nonetheless views his uncooked energy and pace as belongings value creating, whilst youthful prospects climb previous him on the depth chart. Whether or not that endurance turns right into a commerce, a bench position or one other September look, the following choice on Alcántara possible arrives quickly.

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