Kevin Alcantara battles for a roster spot, but a slow spring and lingering swing adjustments cast doubt on his Opening Day chances. Time is running out.
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Video Transcript
What is up, Cubs fans?
What is up, Cubs fans?
And welcome back to Cubs Roundtable.
And welcome back to Cubs Roundtable.
I’m Joey Polizzi, talking about all things Cubs.
I’m Joey Polizzi, talking about all things Cubs.
And obviously, a lot of the talk on Cubs Roundtable here is who’s gonna win that fourth outfield job.
And obviously, a lot of the talk on Cubs Roundtable here is who’s gonna win that fourth outfield job.
Is it going to be someone like Dylan Carlson?
Is it going to be someone like Dylan Carlson?
Is it gonna be someone like Chase McCormick or Michael Conforto, Justin Dean, Kevin Alcantara?
Is it gonna be someone like Chase McCormick or Michael Conforto, Justin Dean, Kevin Alcantara?
Those guys are all fighting for that fourth outfield spot.
Those guys are all fighting for that fourth outfield spot.
And while Tyler Austin’s knee injury does open up an additional roster spot, which means two of those players can make the opening day roster, it doesn’t look like Alcantara is going to be one of those players, at least not right now.
And while Tyler Austin’s knee injury does open up an additional roster spot, which means two of those players can make the opening day roster, it doesn’t look like Alcantara is going to be one of those players, at least not right now.
Alcantara is off to a struggling start here in the spring.
Alcantara is off to a struggling start here in the spring.
Remember, he got a slow, slowly brought along in camp this year.
Remember, he got a slow, slowly brought along in camp this year.
Didn’t play in the Cubs’ first eight spring training games, as he kinda was, you know, building back up from off-season sports hernia surgery, which means, you know, the Cubs are bringing him along slowly.
Didn’t play in the Cubs’ first eight spring training games, as he kinda was, you know, building back up from off-season sports hernia surgery, which means, you know, the Cubs are bringing him along slowly.
But he did, you know, appear in his first game on February 28th, and it’s been, been kind of rough for Alcantara in his first eight or so MLB spring training games.
But he did, you know, appear in his first game on February 28th, and it’s been, been kind of rough for Alcantara in his first eight or so MLB spring training games.
Obviously, he only has two hits out of 16 plate appearances, a .125 batting average, one double, and the big one here is the eight strikeouts.
Obviously, he only has two hits out of 16 plate appearances, a .125 batting average, one double, and the big one here is the eight strikeouts.
Eight of his 17 plate appearances have come, have resulted in a strikeout.
Eight of his 17 plate appearances have come, have resulted in a strikeout.
So that, that part of his game, obviously, needs to be worked on.
So that, that part of his game, obviously, needs to be worked on.
That’s been a major problem for Alcantara dating back to last year in the minors.
That’s been a major problem for Alcantara dating back to last year in the minors.
He had a high strikeout rate, high WHIP rate, and both of those things are, are very similar here in the early portion of the spring for Alcantara.
He had a high strikeout rate, high WHIP rate, and both of those things are, are very similar here in the early portion of the spring for Alcantara.
And I know Alcantara said that he switched up his swing a little bit to find more consistency at the plate, but it looks like he might need more time to craft down the, the new approach at the plate just to, just to get better timing and obviously work on the timing.
And I know Alcantara said that he switched up his swing a little bit to find more consistency at the plate, but it looks like he might need more time to craft down the, the new approach at the plate just to, just to get better timing and obviously work on the timing.
And with spring training, you know, still, still going and opening day in over, in, you know, the next two, two and a half weeks, there’s not much time for Alcantara to, to figure things out.
And with spring training, you know, still, still going and opening day in over, in, you know, the next two, two and a half weeks, there’s not much time for Alcantara to, to figure things out.
So obviously he still has more to prove and still can, but it looks like right now it might be better for Alcantara and the Cubs to start the season down in Triple-A and may work his way up and potentially, you know, find his way onto the roster at some point in 2026.
So obviously he still has more to prove and still can, but it looks like right now it might be better for Alcantara and the Cubs to start the season down in Triple-A and may work his way up and potentially, you know, find his way onto the roster at some point in 2026.
Let me know what you guys think about Alcantara’s spring.
Let me know what you guys think about Alcantara’s spring.
And as always, guys, go Cubs go.
And as always, guys, go Cubs go.