Cubs' Kevin Alcantara: Added to major-league roster
Rotowire
The Cubs recalled Alcantara from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Alcantara, 22, has slashed .278/.353/.428 with 14 home runs and 14 stolen bases between Double-A Tennessee and Iowa this season. He's one of the Cubs' most physically-gifted prospects, although questions remain as to how much he'll ultimately hit. It's not clear how frequently Alcantara will play this week, but there could be a path to at-bats if Seiya Suzuki's ankle injury Tuesday forces him to miss some time.
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Cubs' Kevin Alcantara: Moves up to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Cubs promoted Alcantara from Double-A Tennessee to Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, Tommy Birch of The Des Moines Register reports.
Alcantara batted .271 with nine home runs, 39 RBI, 38 runs scored and seven stolen bases over 76 games with Tennessee. Along with Alcantara, infielders Matt Shaw and James Triantos were also bumped up from Tennessee to Iowa.
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Cubs' Kevin Alcantara: Starting season at Double-A
Rotowire
The Cubs optioned Alcantara to Double-A Tennessee on Friday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
The 21-year-old finished last season at Double-A, but it's not a surprise he'll return there to begin 2024 since he played just five games for the affiliate. Alcantara spent most of the campaign at High-A South Bend, where he posted a .275/.333/.453 slash line with 12 homers and 15 steals in 95 contests.
Alcantara is slashing .317/.391/.532 with six home runs, three steals and a 24.4 percent strikeout rate in his last 37 games for High-A South Bend.
Alcantara has really caught fire at the dish since the weather warmed up in the Midwest League. He hasn't rocketed through the minors, but Alcantara has been at least 19 percent better than the average hitter at every league he has played in since 2021. Given that he is already on the 40-man roster, Alcantara could get a taste of Double-A before the end of his age-20/21 season.
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Cubs' Kevin Alcantara: Optioned to High-A
Rotowire
Alcantara was optioned to High-A South Bend on Friday.
This will be the highest level Alcantara has reached so far. Despite not turning 20 until July of last year, he posted a .269/.357/.439 slash line in Single-A last season with 14 homers and 15 steals in 112 games as he continues to try and turn his physical tools into on-field production.
Alcantara was added to the Cubs' 40-man roster Tuesday.
The 20-year-old Alcantara still has yet to play beyond the Single-A level, but his .269/.357/.439 slash line with Single-A Myrtle Beach shows promise for Alcantara to crack the majors in a few seasons.
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Cubs' Kevin Alcantara: Can't shake lengthy slump
Rotowire
Alcantara has hit .206/.275/.349 with two homers and 20 strikeouts over his last 16 games for Single-A Myrtle Beach.
It's been the same story for Alcantara for much of the season -- lengthy skids with a few big games interspersed. He's put a pair of three-hit games together over the aforementioned period, accounting for nearly half of his base knocks in that span. On the season, Alcantara has five three-hit games and two four-hit efforts -- and 35 hitless appearances. Those big games have served to keep his batting line at an acceptable .256/.348/.435, and his raw talent isn't in question, but the inconsistency means Alcantara has a lot of work to do before he sniffs the major leagues.
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Cubs' Kevin Alcantara: Massive game Sunday
Rotowire
Alcantara went 4-for-6 with two homers, a triple, eight RBI and three runs for Single-A Myrtle Beach against Carolina on Sunday.
The huge effort gave him a six-game hitting streak and lifted his season line to .281/.372/.526. Alcantara had a cool start to the season, batting just .234/.331/.422 with a 16:42 BB:K across his first 33 games. However, he's lit on fire over his last 17, putting together a .375/.449/.734 line with five homers, three steals and a far more respectable 11:18 BB:K. The 19-year-old looks like a future franchise building block for the Cubs.
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Cubs' Kevin Alcantara: Still in extended spring training
Rotowire
Alcantara is spending a few extra days in extended spring training before moving to Low-A Myrtle Beach, Jim Callis of MLB.com reports.
According to Callis, Alcantara is not injured, so he may just be working on some things in a controlled environment before making his full-season debut. He has an exciting blend of power, speed and patience.
