Chicago Cubs: After deadline moves, prospects are again the focus

Chicago Cubs Prospects: Alexander Vizcaino

Alexander Vizcaino came to the Cubs via the heartbreaking Anthony Rizzo trade with the New York Yankees, along with fellow prospect Kevin Alcantara.

At just 18 years old, the Yankees signed the international prospect back in 2016. Across five seasons between Rookie ball and High-A, Vizcaino has a career 4.95 ERA in a total of 265 1/3 innings pitched to go along with a 9.1 strikeouts per nine. He is another pitcher who you really want to see get his command down and learn to control his breaking pitches better.

He carries a plus fastball and plus change-up, both with a 65 grade on a 20-80 grading scale. Very promising in that department. His slider has lacked, although it’s shown some improvement as of late.

Vizcaino is a guy who, should he get his slider and control down, can definitely ascend the ranks of the minors as a starting pitcher with two great pitches and the makings of a third to keep hitters guessing. He’s already on Chicago’s 40-man and is the Cubs’ eighth-ranked prospect.

Chicago Cubs Prospects: Kevin Alcantara

Part two of the ever-so-devastating Rizzo trade comes an outfielder currently in Rookie ball in Kevin Alcantara. Between 2019 and 2021, his only two years in the minors, he has slashed .269/.325/.382. Though more importantly, it seems he is finding his stroke more this year and he is currently batting .360/.448/.520 in a small sample size of 25 at-bats.

Turning only 19 here in July, there isn’t much video on Alcantara. The .325 on base percentage is encouraging enough though again, in a small sample size of 203 total plate appearances. At 6’6″ and 188 pounds, Alcantara has a smaller frame than you would think. The power will increase over the years as he continues to find his swing. Alcantara has slid into the #11 prospect spot overall in the Cubs farm system.