Chicago Cubs prospect Alexander Canario provides injury update

There was an early gaffe for a Spring Training Broadcast for the Chicago Cubs when they faced the Arizona Diamondbacks last month as Bally Sports Arizona believed that Cubs' outfielder prospect Jordan Nwogu was actually fellow outfielder prospect Alexander Canario.

What made the gaffe comical was that Canario has yet to be cleared for baseball activities after suffering shoulder and ankle injuries during a freak incident while running to first base during a Winter League game last fall. Shortly after that broadcast mistake, there was a buzz on Twitter that Canario had been cleared for baseball activities and was returning to the case.

That buzz was premature but while speaking with Andy Martinez of the Marquee Sports Network, Canario did offer an encouraging update.

"The power-hitting outfield prospect has begun running in the pool and in anti-gravity machine and has begun lifting weights and doing exercises in the gym. “Everything is coming out like the team and I want, so thanks to God, I’m recovering well,” Canario said. But he’s not yet cleared for baseball activities. “But I hope that’ll be soon; in a week or so,” Canario said."

- Andy Martinez via Marquee Sports Network

It remains a near certainty that Canario will not be appearing in his Cactus League game for the Cubs during Spring Training but the news of him being cleared for baseball activity within the next week is certainly a step forward in his recovery.

Canario hit 37 home runs across three levels of the Cubs' minor-league system last season and prior to the injury, there was a belief that the prospect would play an important role for the Major League roster heading into 2023 as either trade chip or as a power boost for the Major League team.

Canario likely will remain in Arizona for extended Spring Training once the season starts but a minor-league assignment shouldn't be far behind with the likely landing spot being at Triple-A Iowa.