Chicago Cubs No. 5 Prospect And Outfielder Has Successful Core Surgery

Cubs team president Jed Hoyer commented to the media this week regarding players and their current status now that Chicago's 2025 MLB season has wrapped up. "We have a medical meeting [today], actually, so I’ll have a better feel for that," said Hoyer.

Hoyer also added that "[Swanson and Hoerner’s] were pretty high profile, and I sort of knew about those at this point, so I don’t expect anything quite that high profile, but there may well be some surgeries that come out of it, or recommended surgeries or second opinions... We can get you that information later."

Why Alcantara's surgery is a big deal for the Cubs

Though the young outfielder played most of the season with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, Alcantara showed some pop as he recorded his first and only RBI in MLB. His run was a part of a 12-1 blowout at Wrigley Field in a weekend series opener against NL Central rival the St. Louis Cardinals.

In seven games for Chicago this year, Alcantara had four hits in 11 at-bats, good for a .364 batting average. The native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic also posted a 0.780 on-base percentage.

One of the Cubs' players in right field may not be with the team in 2026. Former Houston Astros and veteran outfielder Kyle Tucker is not only a free agent now, but he will be fairly expensive for Chicago if he returns.

Seiya Suzuki is another right fielder, but he is on the wrong side of 30. Suzuki and Cubs left fielder Ian Happ are both 31 years old. Alcantara is just 23.

A pair of other young players, Owen Caissie and Moises Ballesteros, were also vying for playing time and at-bats during the 2025 MLB season. The trio of outfielders was forced to remain with Triple-A Iowa unless injuries, like the one to Tucker, plagued the team down the stretch.

Alcantara was the better hitter of the three Cubs players. His batting average was higher than Ballesteros (.298) and Caissie's (.191) this season.

Should an opening come about in Chicago's outfield during free agency, Alcantara's name will be called upon. Thus, it's a good thing he is predicted to be healthy before the start of next season.