It was supposed to last for two days only, but it may last the rest of the season and beyond. On Wednesday, July 9, the Chicago Cubs called up prospect Arismendy Alcantara to fill in at second base for two days while Darwin Barney took a paternity leave to watch his new baby enter the world. Alcantara, though, made such an impression on manager Rick Renteria that he stayed on the active roster and has a chance to earn a regular job in the starting lineup.
Alcantara has played in only three games so far, but he has five hits, a stolen base, and 3 RBI in 13 at bats. This performance plus his versatility won him a chance to stay in the Majors when Barney returned. With regular center fielder Emilio Bonifacio on the disabled list, the Cubs have had a revolving door in center field. Alcantara will take his turn in center as the Cubs play the Atlanta Braves on Saturday.
Alcantara earned his call-up by combining speed and power. At Triple-A Iowa, he hit .307/.353/.537 with 10 HR, 41 RBI, 25 2B, 11 3B, and 21 SB in 89 games. With the Cubs out of contention and in dire need of offense, the call-up was just right. Alcantara made sure that it lasted for more than the two days the Cubs management told him it would last.
Alcantara (#100) is one of seven Cubs prospects ranked in Baseball America’s Top 100 as of February. Now that he is on the Major League roster, the Cubs can begin to build that winning team that team president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer have promised Cub fans since coming to Chicago in December of 2011.
The other six Top 100 prospects include SS Javier Baez (#5), 3B Kris Bryant (#8), RHP C.J. Edwards (#28), OF Albert Almora (#36), OF Jorge Soler (#41), and RHP Pierce Johnson (#87). In addition, 2014 draft pick C/OF Kyle Schwarber is already making his name known in the Cubs’ system as is newly-acquired Addison Russell. Expect to see these players come up gradually and stake their claims in the starting lineup with 1B Anthony Rizzo, SS Starlin Castro, C Welington Castillo, OF Junior Lake, and RHP Jake Arrieta from now through the end of 2015.
Alcantara has taken advantage of his opportunity early on. He will have his struggles, but he will learn to play at the Major-League level as will his upcoming teammates. The Cubs will not win much now, but judging from this list of prospects, the future looks much better in Wrigley Field.