Cubs Minor League Report Card: Outfield |
With so many outfielders patrolling the Cubs Minor League system, it could take a week to break them down individually. Instead of doing that, we have elected to highlight the top six outfielders in the Cubs system this year and break them into two separate three-player installments.
The first part will come from the players everyone follows, as these are the guys expected to make some impact for the Cubs long-term. The second part will be filled with players who not only had a strong showing this season but could put themselves in a position to make some noise next season. Here are our Minor League Report cards for the Cubs Outfield.
A part from when Kris Bryant was in AAA during the 2015 season, no player in the Cubs system has come with as much buzz as Owen Caissie. Acquired in 2021 as part of the Yu Darvish deal with the San Diego Padres, the 22-year-old Canadian-born OF went from a middle-of-the-road prospect to a top-100 guy and is now knocking on the door of an MLB shot. Some thought he did enough to earn that opportunity this season, coming off a 22 homer and an 84 RBI showing for AA Tennessee in 2023, all while hitting close to .290. However, with a ton of swing and miss in his game, the Cubs wanted to see what he could at AAA before ultimately giving him his shot. It's safe to say that Caissie not only proved he could hit AAA pitching but had it not been for the year of Matt Shaw, this would be the prospect everyone is talking about. Despite declining overall numbers across the board, Caissie still put together a great season, as he hit .273 with 19 homers and 75 RBIs. He did that while cutting down on his strikeouts 156 and working 71 walks. Depending on the roster makeup, he will now be allowed to earn a job this spring. Season Grade A-: Although the numbers were a bit down this season, it was another impressive showing from Caissie, as he has proven to be the steal of the Darvish trade. Sure, there is still a ton of swing and miss in his game, but he has also shown the ability to make hard contact and has been able to take walks. This player could step into the Cubs lineup next season and produce if there is a spot for him.
While most of the attention went to Shaw, Caissie, and Moises Ballesteros this season, Kevin Alcantara is still a name to pay attention to. He was seen as the prospect with the highest upside entering 2023. Acquired via a trade with the New York Yankees in 2021, Alcantara reminds many scouts of Alfonso Soriano when you look at his body makeup and how he goes about his game. You can also see those comparisons from a production side, as he has consistently hit around 15 homers per season and driven in close to 65 runs. This season was different as Alcantara began the season in AA, battled through an early injury before reaching AAA, and was called up to the Majors in the final week of the season, where he picked up his first hit. Looking back on his Minor League season, Alcantara combined to hit .278 with 14 homers, 61 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases. That includes an impressive .292 with AAA Iowa across 34 games this season, hitting five homers and driving in 22. He is one of those players who got better with better competition, a positive sign heading into 2025. Season Grade B+: Alcantara didn't have a bad season by any means, but you have to wonder if there is still more out there that he still needs to reach. He has some of the best tools in the system and is extremely raw as a player, and yet he still has found a way to be one of the organization's better hitters the past two seasons. Once he figures things out and unleashes his true potential, he has a chance to be a special player, one the Cubs could count on for a decade.
Injuries are part of baseball, but you have to feel for Alexander Canario. Like Brennen Davis, the Cubs' former top prospect, Canario has had a tough time staying healthy, and that has prevented him from making the impact he would've liked since being acquired in the Kris Bryant trade in 2021. From day one with the Cubs, you could see the potential Canario had as he led the Cubs organization in 2022 with 37 homers, driving in 97 runs that season. One year later, Canario was at it again despite playing just 53 games due to a severe injury in Winter Ball. In those 53 games, Canario continued to impress as he hit .273 with nine homers and 47 RBIs. He eventually reached the majors that season, picking up a Grand Slam in limited playing time. The 2024 season was supposed to be one in which Canario would take that next step as a player and prove to the Cubs that he is worth playing as a DH. Once again, the power was on display as he connected for 18 homers and 47 RBIs in just 63 games while hitting .243. That alone earned him another call-up early in the season, but like last time, he never saw the field and was thus optioned back down, where his season ended in August with another Injury. Season Grade B: No one wants to lose a player due to injuries, but you have to wonder what the Cubs patience level with Canario is right now. From an offensive side, Canario is one of the most gifted power hitters in the Cubs organization, as one swing can change the game. However, with the Cubs outfield being accounted for and his inability to stay healthy, you have to wonder if he is trade bait this season. If that is the case, the Cubs should get something for him, as he will make some other organization very happy.Owen Caissie
Kevin Alcantara
Alexander Canario
