The Reds have announced that they’ve designated infielder/outfielder Arismendy Alcantara for assignment. The move clears space for righty Scott Feldman, who returns from the disabled list to start tonight against Milwaukee.
Alcantara was once a top prospect who showed good basestealing ability and burgeoning power in the minors, but his stock has fallen in recent years as he’s passed through the Cubs and Athletics organizations. The Reds claimed him from Oakland last October, and he’s batted a very poor .171/.187/.248 (including a 35.2 K% and 1.9 BB%) in 108 plate appearances while playing six positions in the big leagues this season. He’s also out of options, further complicating any hopes the Reds might have had of continuing to carry him on their roster. In parts of four big-league seasons, Alcantara has batted just .189/.235/.315 in 459 plate appearances.
I had real high hopes for him four years ago. I think I just really like his name though. Good luck Arismendy!
I still think he could be at least a very solid Major League backup, but he probably needs at least another few months or a year of everyday AAA playing time to develop.
He’s a solid defender but he doesn’t walk much and he doesn’t hit for power.
Its unfortunate but he’s been given plenty of opportunity. It’s not to say he’s a complete lost cause but I don’t care who you are, a 1.9% walk rate is putrid. He’ll never be more than a AAAA guy if that doesn’t improve. I like the ceiling but man, he just hasn’t been able to hit big league pitching.
If only someone could figure out how to steal firsst base.
“Was once a top prospect” Preller, don’t you even think about it buddy. We already wasted 5 years on a utility guy with the same skill set and the same initials ironically and thankfully we were able to rid ourselves of him this offseason.
Arismendy Alcantara showed some real promise as one of the Cubs top prospects in a loaded system 4-5 years ago. Unfortunately for him, most of his peers passed him by on the way to becoming important components of the Cubs present core.
Alcantara had his best success at the MLB level with the Cubs during his rookie season in 2014 under solid developmental manager Rick Renteria. Perhaps the White Sox will take a flyer on this out of option versatile player with Renteria now at the helm on the South Side of Chicago.
I would have loved to hear Harry Caray say this guy’s name, while holding a Budweiser in the other hand.
Or trying to pronounce it backwards as he was often prone to do with names of this sort. lol
Ryne Sanbone…I was only 11 and I even knew he was hammered
Mike Shannon does a ‘good’ enough job with a budweiser in both hands.
My guess is that his next stop is either Korea, Japan, or the Mexican League. His style would probably work better in Mexico or Japan though.
He’s had plenty of opportunities to stick, but the bottom line is that he’s simply not MLB material.
The fact that Alcantara can play 6 different positions with some degree of competency alone makes him “MLB material”. Add in his plus speed and a bat that showed some BA and SLG capability in the minors, along with the 10 HR’s, 2 triples and 11 doubles in 70 games with the Cubs in his rookie 2014 season, will surely afford him more big league opportunities. Did I mention that he is still just 25?
As a White Sox fan also, I witnessed a player who is 4 months older than Alcantara, one who possesses less overall tools and defensive versatility suddenly become an All-Star player on the South side of Chicago in 2017. His name is Avisail Garcia, a player who also had problems controlling the strike zone and had more opportunities to succeed at the MLB than what Alcantara has had.
Once again, I see a common denominator here in manager Rick Renteria who seems to have done wonders with another under-achieving but versatile player in Leury Garcia this season. Never say never with Alcantara!
Maybe the Pirates take a flyer on him can’t be any worse than their backup they run out now