Well, the Chicago Cubs don’t necessarily look like a team that will make it to the playoffs right now, but eight Cubs prospects are reportedly headed to the Arizona Fall League to play some October baseball.
According to Chicago Tribune reporter Meghan Montemurro, eight Cubs prospects, three position players and five pitchers, are going to be playing for the Mesa Solar Sox, the team’s affiliate down in Arizona.
The Arizona Fall League begins play on Oct. 2, and runs through Nov. 11, when the championship game is played.
Kevin Alcántara
Kevin Alcántara had a slow start in the first half, but the 21-year-old center fielder turned it around and even after missing time with a leg injury he ended his time with the South Bend Cubs on fire.
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But he’s done. The Cubs promoted Alcántara to the Double-A Tennessee Smokies and in his first five games at the new level, the right-handed hitter has reached base in every game, while hitting a home run and two doubles.
Overall in 2023, Alcántara has a slash line of .284/.345/.465, with 13 home runs and a 125 wRC+ in 102 games.
James Triantos
James Triantos underwent knee surgery back in the spring and didn’t make his season debut until May 9. The 2021 second round pick began the year at Advanced A-Ball with the South Bend Cubs. As a 20-year-old, he’s made it up to Double-A, getting the bump in mid-September.
The infielder has great contact skills, posting a strikeout rate of 10.7 percent while recording a slash line of .287/.364/.391, in 83 games.
Alexander Canario
I think we all hope that Alexander Canario is at least enjoying the MLB lifestyle in September because the outfielder has a total of one plate appearance since he was promoted to the big leagues at the beginning of the month.
Nevertheless, this season has been pretty damn good for Canario, considering he returned from two offseason surgeries after a freak accident last October led to shoulder and ankle injuries. Canario has played in 53 games this season and after settling back in after his long layoff, Canario reminded everyone why he was one of the best prospects in the Cubs system last year.
Canario posted an .844 OPS in 233 plate appearances prior to his call up in September.
Nick Hull
The Cubs drafted right-handed starting pitcher Nick Hull in the seventh round out of Grand Canyon University in 2022, and he’s been one of several pitchers developing nicely in 2023 in the Cubs farm system. He started the year at low-A with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans before a promotion to the South Bend Cubs in the middle of August.
Overall this season, Hull has posted a 4.11 ERA in 92 innings, striking out 88, while walking 39 in 23 total appearances that includes 16 starts.
José Romero
The Cubs signed José Romero as an international free agent in 2020 and in 2023 the right-hander had great results in low A-Ball. The 22-year-old struck out 68 batters in 48.2 innings, recording a 2.77 ERA in 28 relief outings with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
Tyler Santana
The Cubs signed Tyler Santana as un-drafted free agent back in 2021. He had limited experience that year, but in 2022 the righty had good numbers in low-A Ball, which earned him a bump up to South Bend to start the 2023 season.
In 2023, Santana has made nine starts and 30 total outings at advanced A-Ball. He has a 4.07 ERA, with 78 strikeouts in 90.2 innings.
Adam Laskey
The Cubs selected Adam Laskey out of Duke in the 19th round of the 2019 draft. The left-handed reliever put up good numbers with South Bend this season, recording a 3.14 ERA in 48.2 innings and was then promoted to Double-A. The 25-year-old has a total of 149 innings pitched in the minors since joining the Cubs organization.
Chris Kachmar
Chris Kachmar is another older pitcher who is going to get some extra time in October. The 27-year-old was taken in the 28th round of the 2019 draft. Kachmar has made 11 starts and 25 appearances overall at Double-A in 2023, and has put up a 4.84 ERA in 67 innings.
Franklin Added to Arizona Fall League, Canario to Winter Ball
The Chicago Cubs have replaced outfield prospect Alexander Canario with fellow outfielder Christian Franklin in the Arizona Fall League.
Franklin, now 23-years-old, was taken in the fourth round of the 2021 draft. He’s missed a lot of time because of injuries the last few seasons, only playing in 24 minor league games heading into 2023 after missing all of last season. The right-handed hitting outfielder ended 2023 at Double-A and certainly changed his trajectory with a good year.
Franklin played in 99 games in 2023, finishing the year with a slash line of .254/.384/.444, with a 133 wRC+ in 381 plate appearances.
Meanwhile, Canario will get more playing time in the offseason, but it won’t be in the Arizona Fall League. The Cubs granted him permission to play in Winter Ball in the Dominican Republic.
Canario ended his 2023 season up with the Cubs, but only received four total starts, going 5-for-17, with a home run, triple and double.
