Speculation swirled when the Cubs unexpectedly pulled top prospect from a Triple-A game. The 22-year-old outfielder, who had hit two home runs the day before, was removed in the sixth inning after going 1-for-2 with a walk and two RBIs. He was replaced by veteran Greg Allen with the Iowa Cubs holding a big lead over Columbus.
No official reason has been given for his removal, sparking rumors ranging from a potential trade to an injury or even a call-up to replace an injured player on the major league roster. Some fans have wondered if it could be tied to Seiya Suzuki, who recently took a tumble in the dugout, though he returned to the lineup and played well afterward.
Alcántara, currently the Cubs’ No. 5 prospect and ranked No. 74 overall by MLB Pipeline, had a slow start to the season but has been heating up lately, batting .250/.333/.500 over his last 63 plate appearances before Thursday. With the Cubs in need of pitching help and Jed Hoyer downplaying the chances of a major deal happening soon, Alcántara’s removal has only added fuel to the fire of trade rumors or roster shakeups. Stay tuned.