PHILADELPHIA — In some ways, Chicago Cubs prospect Kevin Alcántara wasn’t surprised when he learned he would be ending his 2024 season in the majors.
Alcántara earned his first big-league call-up Wednesday and made his debut with a start in right field during the Cubs’ 9-6 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.
“Because I’m working for that,” Alcántara said Wednesday. “I think I did a really good job in Triple A. I’m waiting for that, you know?”
And yet chilling on his bed playing video games wasn’t the moment he anticipated receiving a call from assistant general manager Jared Banner, who informed the 22-year-old outfielder he would be joining the team in Philadelphia.
The Cubs didn’t want to bring up Alcántara if playing time was limited, believing that scenario wouldn’t make much sense for the player or team. But once Seiya Suzuki sprained his right ankle during the sixth inning Tuesday, it created a possibility for at-bats. The Cubs optioned infielder Miles Mastrobuoni as the corresponding move.
Suzuki’s ankle kept him out of the lineup for the series finale, but the Cubs aren’t declaring his season over as indicated by not putting him on the injured list Wednesday. They will see how he feels when he reports to Wrigley Field on Friday following an off day on Thursday.
Alcántara didn’t have to wait long to make his MLB debut, batting ninth as the Cubs’ right fielder against the Phillies. The lanky 6-foot-6 Alcántara hoped to tally his first hit during his first at-bat and jumped the first big-league pitch he saw for a fly out to deep right field off Phillies lefty starter Christopher Sánchez.
“If I see middle-middle, I’m swinging — I’m not shy,” Alcántara said with a smile. “I need to show the people what is my nickname (‘The Jaguar’), my everything.”
First career hit for Kevin Alcántara.
Welcome to The Show! pic.twitter.com/SAfoe4Sqej
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 26, 2024
Alcántara collected his first MLB hit on an infield single to third base in the ninth inning. His elite speed and athleticism were on display when he came around to score on Dansby Swanson’s two-out double.
Alcántara’s spot on the 40-man roster played a role in his promotion. While fellow outfield prospect Owen Caissie had a stellar season at Triple A, he is not on their 40-man, though the Cubs will add him to it in November to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. In the meantime, the organization maintains flexibility if other roster moves, such as waiver claims, are needed.
“It was something we discussed, but now it kind of made sense to do it,” president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said of bringing up Alcántara.
Alcántara is ranked the organization’s No. 6 prospect by Baseball America and MLB.com and is listed among both publications’ top 100 prospects. After beginning the year at Double-A Tennessee, Alcántara hit .292 with a .378 on-base percentage and .848 OPS in 35 games at Triple-A Iowa, his first taste of that level. He bounced back well following a slow start at Tennessee where he went 0-for-26 with 11 strikeouts to open the season.
“With him, you have to look at his whole game,” Hoyer said. “He’s a really good defender, wherever you put him, he’s a really good all-around players. He had a really good year, and it’s nice to go give him a little taste of it at the end of the year.”
Although his promotion came with just four games left in the Cubs’ season, there is some value in this brief opportunity for Alcántara. He gets the debut, and any nerves that might come with it, out of the way. It perhaps motivates him going into the offseason and when he gets a chance next year to return to the majors these few days can help reduce the butterflies and help Alcántara understand what the majors are all about.
“He has been a streaky player, but he’s super talented,” Hoyer said.
Alcántara was the main piece the Cubs received when they traded first baseman Anthony Rizzo to the New York Yankees at the 2021 trade deadline.
“You realize it takes time,” Hoyer said. “His development path has not been slow. This was a kid in A-ball that was really talented, and he’s got physically more mature, and he’s continued to get better. It’s fun to give him a reward at the end of the season.”
