On Saturday, Meghan Monetemurro of the Chicago Tribune reported that the Chicago Cubs are sending eight prospects to compete in the Arizona Fall League (AFL).
The AFL begins the day after the 2023 regular season starts on October 2nd. The month-long season will finish with a Championship on Saturday, Nov. 11. Here is a breakdown of each Cubs player set to appear.
1. OF Kevin Alcantara
Probably the most prominent Cubs prospect heading to the Arizona Fall League is outfielder Kevin Alcantara. The 21-year-old is currently ranked the Cubs' no. 4 prospect according to MLB. With a 6'6 frame, Alcantara is projected to be a solid power hitter but the 21-year-old will have to fill out his large frame since he's listed at only 188 pounds.
Alcantara was acquired by the Cubs at the 2021 trade deadline in the Anthony Rizzo trade. This year, he made his way to the Double-A Tennessee Smokies and his estimated time of arrival in MLB is 2024. Across three levels in 2023, Alcantara has a .284/.345/.465 slash line with 13 home runs and 71 RBIs.
2. IF James Triantos
Another Double-A Tennessee Smokies farmhand playing in the AFL is James Triantos, a second-round draft pick from 2021. Triantos has an uncertain path to the majors since he is a natural shortstop who struggled to transition to third base. Although he has been fine a second base, there isn't really a positional need there at the big league level. There are also major disagreements on whether Triantos can handle playing anywhere but first base in the long term.
Even though his bat is thought to be his strongest weapon, Triantos sports marginal power numbers with just four home runs and 15 doubles this year. But MLB ranks him as the Cubs' no. 9 prospect in the system so maybe he can be packaged in a trade in the future.