Chicago Cubs Triple-A outfielder Alexander Canario is headed to Baltimore on Thursday to join the big-league roster, which could mean that outfielder Cody Bellinger (finger) is heading to the 10-day injured list after getting hit by a pitch on his hand on Wednesday. An injured-list stint for Bellinger would surely complicate his trade market with the July 30 trade deadline quickly approaching. The 24-year-old Canario made his big-league debut in 2023 and played in 13 games earlier this year before being sent to Iowa. He's hit .282 (11-for-39) with two home runs and eight RBI in 19 career games for the Cubs but will likely operate as outfield depth if Bellinger goes on the IL. Rookie Pete Crow-Armstrong figures to serve as the team's everyday center fielder if Bellinger needs time to rest his injured finger.
Alexander Canario Posts Second Multi-Home Run Game Of The Week
Chicago Cubs outfielder Alexander Canario launched two home runs on Thursday evening, a feat he has accomplished twice this week. The 24-year-old has been swinging a hot bat lately with Triple-A and is nearing a return to the major leagues. Since May 18, the young outfielder has posted a .326/404/.826 line with six home runs, 13 RBI, one stolen base, and a 6:12 BB:K ratio. Canario has gotten a small taste of the majors earlier this spring and last season and held an overall .282/.333/.538 line with two home runs. While he should be back in Chicago later this summer, the Cubs have a surplus of outfielders, which could limit his playing time once again. For now, Canario should be left on waiver wires but could be worth stashing if he is eventually given a full-time role.
Alexander Canario Launches Two Home Runs On Thursday
Chicago Cubs outfielder Alexander Canario launched his fifth and sixth long balls of the season on Thursday evening. Through 24 games with Triple-A Iowa, the 24-year-old has posted a strong .286/.375/.571 slash line. Canario spent 13 games in the major leagues this spring and performed quite well in his limited opportunities with a .273 average. Since returning to Triple-A on May 9, Canario has been swinging an awfully hot bat with a .304/.373/.674 line with four home runs and one swiped bag. The young outfielder should get another shot in the majors later this summer but may have to wait for an injury to occur, as the Cubs have four capable starting outfielders on their roster in Cody Bellinger, Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ, and Mike Tauchman. Canario could be worth an addition in NL-only formats if/when he rejoins Chicago.
The Chicago Cubs are reportedly calling up outfield prospect Alexander Canario from Triple-A Iowa on Monday, according to a source. The team's No. 10 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, was off to a good start in Iowa before the promotion, going 14-for-52 (.269) with two home runs and seven RBI in 61 plate appearances over his first 13 games. The 23-year-old Dominican outfielder made his major-league debut with the Cubs in 2023 and went 5-for-17 with a home run and six RBI in just six games in 2023 and will now presumably serve in a reserve outfield role for the Cubs now that he's back in the big leagues for now. The right-handed hitter has plus power but probably won't hit for a high average in the majors because of his swing-and-miss potential. Canario has played all three outfield positions but has below-average speed and is merely an average defender.
The Chicago Cubs are sending outfield prospect Alexander Canario down to Triple-A Iowa to begin the 2024 season. Canario, the team's No. 14 prospect per MLB Pipeline, won't open the season in the big leagues for the first time in his career, but we expect to see the 23-year-old make at the major-league level at some point in 2024. He missed most of last season after having multiple surgeries but was called up to the big leagues in Chicago, going 5-for-17 with a homer and six RBI in six games played. Canario should eventually gain outfield eligibility for fantasy managers in NL-only and dynasty/keeper leagues, but it's hard to envision him finding much playing time in Chicago unless an injury or two strikes. He can be avoided in mixed leagues for now.
The Chicago Cubs have called up outfield prospect Alexander Canario from Triple-A Iowa with rosters expanding to 28 players on Friday. The Cubs' No. 14 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, is not in the starting lineup for Game 1 of a doubleheader on Friday against the Cincinnati Reds. The 23-year-old Dominican has only played in 53 games with High-A South Bend and Iowa this year due to injury, and he's hit .273/.356/.488 with an .844 OPS, nine home runs, 15 doubles, a triple, 47 RBI and 33 runs scored in 233 plate appearances. The right-handed hitter has impressive raw power, but he'll need to cut down on his strikeouts if he's going to have success at the next level. With the Cubs in the middle of a run for a wild-card spot in September, it's unlikely that Canario will see much playing time in the big leagues.
Chicago Cubs outfielder Alexander Canario went 1-for-4 with a solo home run for Triple-A Iowa on Thursday. Canario opened the season with High-A South Bend, but spent the bulk of his season for Double-A Tennessee and has spent the last 15 games with Iowa. The 22-year-old was one of the prospects the Cubs received for Kris Bryant during last years trade deadline and he has impressed in his first full year with the Cubs franchise. Never playing above High-A with the Giants organization, Canario has ascended throughout the minor leagues with the Cubs. Between all three stops this season, the outfielder has shown plenty of power with 35 homers to go along with 92 RBI, 22 stolen bases and a .255 batting average. The Cubs have plenty of holes on their roster and Canario could have a true shot at competing for a corner outfield spot entering 2023. With his power display this year and his body continuing to mature, Canario is someone that dynasty managers should consider targeting entering next season.
Chicago Cubs outfield prospect Alexander Canario will look to go yard for his fifth straight game on Friday for High-A South Bend. The 21-year-old out of the Dominican Republic was one of the pieces in the Kris Bryant during last years trade deadline and has been off to an impressive start. Homering in four straight games, Canario is hitting .289 with seven home runs, 22 RBI and three stolen bases. He has also hit six doubles and has a .980 OPS over his first 22 games. Canario is showing impressive power and electric bat speed, but he has struggled with his patience at the plate and has 34 strikeouts on the season versus nine walks. Still developing, Canario needs to learn to have more persistence at the plate and not chase every pitch thrown at him. As long as he can improve on that, he will have a chance to help the Cubs and future fantasy managers. Canario remains far away from making the show, but improved plate discipline could make a big difference for the young outfielder.
Chicago Cubs outfield prospect Alexander Canario impressed at High-A this past week. He went 13-for-26 with four homers, nine RBI, and a pair of stolen bases. This impressive line from the last seven days provides evidence that Canario is capable of putting the ball in play with his loud bat. MLB Pipeline ranks Canario 18th among Cubs prospects heading into the 2022 season. Signed by the Giants in 2016, Canario was traded to Chicago in last summer's deadline-day swap headlined by Kris Bryant. The 21-year-old outfielder has impressive raw power and bat speed, though he's had a tendency to get over-aggressive and whiff as a result. He's an impressive athlete with good speed out of the box and a strong arm that bodes well for his future in right field. Although he's still a couple of years removed from a potential MLB debut, it's not hard to imagine a scenario in which Canario has fantasy value as soon as 2024.
Cubs Receive Alexander Canario, Caleb Kilian For Bryant
Updating a previous report, the Chicago Cubs have acquired outfielder Alexander Canario and pitcher Caleb Kilian from the San Francisco Giants for third baseman/outfielder Kris Bryant, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB Network. Canario is ranked the No. 9 prospect in the Giants' system according to MLB Pipeline, while Kilian is ranked the No. 30 prospect. Over 65 games at Single-A this year, Canario is slashing .235/.325/.433 with nine homers, 15 steals, 29 RBI and 43 runs scored. Meanwhile, Kilian has been having a great season between High-A and Double-A, going 6-2 with a 2.13 ERA, 0.815 WHIP and 30.1 percent strikeout rate over 84 2/3 innings of work.
