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With Alexander Canario out of the picture, the Cubs have a new top outfield prospect set to serve as the fifth outfielder behind the team's core four. Image courtesy of Chris Coduto/Getty Images In 2021, the Cubs sold off much of their World Series-winning 2016 team knowing that they were going to have to rebuild from the ground up. And, as all of us around here know all too well, that’s what they have done, spending the past three seasons overhauling their farm system. The organization currently has seven top-100 prospects according to MLB Pipeline, showcasing the depth they've worked so hard to accrue. In the past four drafts, the Cubs drafted three players that can now be found on that list — plus Cam Smith (No. 59), who was traded to the Houston Astros in the Kyle Tucker deal — one of those being Matt Shaw (No. 19), the non-roster invitee to spring training who has a chance to earn the starting third base job on Opening Day. A couple more of those top prospects were acquired via the international signing period. Just two — Owen Caissie and Kevin Alcántara — were brought in from other organizations. Like Alcántara, in 2021, the Cubs acquired Pete Crow-Armstrong via trade. Looking at it now, the Cubs won both those trades (the Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baéz trades), with Crow-Armstrong in position to start in center field all season, along with Alcántara backing him up. As the Cubs head into the 2025 season, they appear to be the presumptive favorites to win the NL Central, but they need just a few more things to fall into place to really deserve that distinction—one being another outfielder. While fans are still reeling from the loss of Alexander Canario, “The Jaguar” represents the team's best in-house option for quality outfield depth. In 2018, the Yankees signed outfielder Kevin Alcánatara as an international free agent, and his development got off to a rocky start thanks to the canceled minor league season in 2020. In 2021, he started with the FCL Yankees, but was later traded at the deadline to Chicago. Alcantara made an impact on every team that he was on and has rarely had bad numbers. He is nearly a five-tool player and while he is still finding his consistency, his combination of power, speed, athleticism, and good fielding ability make him an outstanding prospect. A little look back at what Alcantara brings with him: when he was with Single–A Myrtle Beach Pelicans in 2022, he hit .273/.360/.451 with 15 home runs, 85 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases. In his 2023 season with High–A South Bend Cubs he improved even more, as in 95 games for South Bend, he batted .286/.341/.466 with 12 home runs, 66 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases. In 2024, he was placed on the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, Alcantara split time with Double-A Tennessee (.271/.342/.409) and Triple-A Iowa (.292/.378/.469) where his numbers continued to showcase his potential. Defensively, he is fast and has a great arm. His coaches have said that his speed helps him cover a lot of the field, and it should make him malleable enough to play all three outfield positions. His defense is a large reason why he could establish himself on the major league roster as soon as this season. “He himself is entertainment,” Myrtle Beach hitting coach Steven Pollakov told MLB.com. “Every time he’s on the field, you expect something spectacular. It’s that simple. Whether it’s hitting balls off scoreboards, whether it’s making a diving catch or whether it’s empowering his teammates or interacting with the fans, this kid is everything fans are going to want to see at Wrigley on a daily basis.” The main concern for Alcántara: is there a place for him on the roster? Right now, the Cubs have a full roster, so expect the 22-year-old to start the season in Triple-A. With Seiya Suzuki serving as the full-time DH and fourth outfielder, it would take an injury for the young star to see meaningful playing time in the big leagues. It is worth noting this is his final option year, so the Cubs would be smart to get him enough reps to know whether he's ready for a starting job next season. Following spring training, he needs to showcase consistency to go along with his potential. We've seen that, when everything is clicking, he is everything the Cubs need and want him to be. He is an excellent fit for the club, and assuming they plan on keeping PCA as the starter in center field, there is no reason that Alcántara shouldn't be next in line for one of the corner outfield gigs. If everything breaks the right way, he, Caissie, and Crow-Armstrong could form the foundation of the next great Cubs team. View full article