Lanky Jaguar Spotted in Philly as Kevin Alcántara Flashes Athleticism in MLB Debut

Looking like a handful of bendy straws held together by marshmallows and masking tape, Kevin Alcántara unfolded his 6-foot-6 frame from the Cubs’ team bus and glided into Citizen’s Bank Park like a hungry jungle cat. A jaguar, to be exact. There had been some reluctance to call up any top prospects in the second half due to the team’s improved competitiveness and veteran-laden rosters, but postseason elimination and a few injuries changed the calculus.

“He finished strong,” Jed Hoyer told reporters in Philly. “It looks like there’s playing time, so it made sense to do it.”

For those who may be wondering why Owen Caissie and Matt Shaw aren’t likewise with the big club, it’s a simple matter of the 40-man roster. Alcántara is on it, those two aren’t. Neither is Moises Ballesteros, just in case that comes up. As unlikely — and utterly fruitless — as it is that the Cubs would need a spot over the next few days, the only thing this organization loves more than delaying IL designations is finding ways to manipulate the tail end of the roster.

This move wasn’t consequential in terms of this season beyond getting a few more folks to tune in to an otherwise meaningless game, though it could have long-term psychological benefits. Late though it may be, it’s another example of a reward promotion that gives a young player the opportunity to soak in a little big league experience sans external pressure.

“You’ve gotten your debut out of the way. You experience it,” Hoyer explained. “Maybe it motivates you going into the offseason. Maybe next year when you’re up, you have a little less butterflies, you have a little more understanding of what it’s all about.”

If Alcántara was feeling any of those butterflies, he didn’t show it. Or perhaps he just figured the best way to deal with them was not to give them time to flit around, which is why he pounced on the very first pitch he saw when leading off the 3rd inning. That deep fly to right was followed by a three-pitch strikeout and a first-pitch groundout to third in his subsequent plate appearances.

“If I see middle-middle, I’m swinging — I’m not shy,” the Cubs’ No. 6 prospect joked. “I need to show the people my nickname (The Jaguar), my everything.”

In his fourth trip to the plate, Alcantara once again swung at the first pitch he saw, a slider in the heart of the zone, and fouled it off. The next offering from Carlos Estévez was another slider, this one carrying down and away, and Alcántara pounced on it as his spirit animal would an opossum. The resultant rocket of a line drive ate up third baseman Kody Clemens, giving the young outfielder his first career hit.

Okay, maybe my description was a little generous.

First career hit for Kevin Alcántara.

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— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 26, 2024

This is more like a juvenile jaguar stumbling across a capybara and taking a tentative swipe at it, then running off in the other direction. But both the chopper above — the ball went 2 feet off the bat going 58.5 mph at a -52 degree launch angle — and a screaming liner over the third baseman’s head look the same in the scorebook, and this one gave Alcántara a chance to show off his wheels.

Much like Pete Crow-Armstrong, El Jaguar has the kind of speed that makes defenses keep their guard up. Clemens didn’t even attempt a throw after barehanding the ball, a decision made in part by that bundle of lines and sharp angles eating up the 90 feet to first base in like four strides. Alcantara later came all the way around to score on a Dansby Swanson double, his cleated claws languidly devouring the basepaths without even shifting into his highest gear.

The Cubs weren’t able to provide us with much joy this season, but this small glimpse of the future takes a little of the edge off. And even though that’s like having a perfectly cooked [insert your favorite side dish here] next to a cheap steak that’s been grilled to the consistency of a hockey puck, it’s better than watching someone who’s got no role with the team moving forward. Would we all prefer to have gotten even more of that down the stretch? Hell yeah, but there’s that whole thing about beggars not being choosers.

I have no idea what the Cubs are going to do this winter, but, while I have my concerns about the who/what/how, I know they’ve got several exciting young players ready to make an impact. Will that be as members of the Chicago Cubs or as a way to bring more established producers to the North Side? Jed Hoyer seems more inclined to make challenge trades or acquire prospects rather than moving youth for experience, though he’s in a much different position heading into 2025 than he has been previously.

All I know for certain is that MLB debuts are fun and that’s what matters for now since the Cubs have nothing else to offer. I suppose it’s also nice that Alcantara is ranked as the No. 69 overall prospect and he debuted in a 6-9 game. Hey, we take the small wins where we can get them. Only three games to go and we can officially chuck this season into the dumpster, which is where I’d wager a lot of you think Hoyer will do his offseason shopping.

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