Imagine a swing so powerful, that scouts buzz for years. A player with raw talent, and a frame built for stardom. That’s Kevin Alcántara. But potential only goes so far. He knows it. The Cubs’ top prospect is revealing what’s holding him back from that “superstar” label.

It’s not a lack of drive, but a battle against his own raw abilities. “I see what you need to do to prepare your body. And I continue working on my body and come in early. The preparation is the first step in your career,” pointed out Kevin Alcántara. Prepping up his body is what matters to hit that superstar mark!

“On the hitting side, we’ve known that it’s going to take a little longer just because he was so raw,” says hitting coach Dustin Kelly. Alcántara, acquired from the Yankees, always had the tools. But those tools needed refining. His long, 6-foot-6 frame, while impressive, created swing-and-miss issues. And it’s no surprise that tall players struggle with control. Alcántara’s swing, once long and loose, needed tightening.

And how much time does it take?

“It just takes a little while longer,” Manager Craig Counsell explains. Patience is key.

Alcántara’s journey isn’t a sprint. It’s a process. He’s had slow starts and a shoulder injury. Yet, he always finds a way to produce. Last year’s 124 wRC+ across Double-A and Triple-A? Proof of his potential.

And it is not as easy as it looks. It needs sheer determination. “It’s awesome because I see a lot of guys do their routines,” Alcántara says. He’s learning. He’s watching. And more importantly, he’s working.

He added 18 pounds. His swing is tighter. He’s making better decisions. That’s what’s changing. He understands the need to prepare.

Alcántara’s journey to the top

Kevin Alcántara’s spring training performance shows his improvement. In 18 plate appearances in the Cactus League games, Alcántara got six hits, two of them were doubles, and walked twice. That’s a .333 batting average. More crucially, he’s exhibiting better plate discipline. His swing is compact. He’s thinking faster. He’s allowing the ball to drop deeper. And it’s not sheer coincidence. It’s the product of hard work.

But there’s a long way to go. Because for him to get that “superstar” tag, every part of his gameplay needs to be worked on. Kelly wants to improve his swing decisions as well. In 2023, Alcántara struck out 29% of the batters at Triple-A Iowa. That’s a red flag. By comparison, the average strikeout rate in Triple-A is about 22%. Quite a gap! 

But his progress is getting meticulously tracked. And the team thinks a good start to his spring training can boost his confidence.

Now, Cubs’ hitting coaches are focusing on increasing his hard-hit percentage, aiming for a 50% threshold, a benchmark for elite hitters. They’re also analyzing his swing plane, specifically his attack angle, to minimize swing-and-miss.

Alcántara’s not just swinging in a vacuum; he’s absorbing wisdom from the Cubs‘ experienced players. “I watch how [veteran outfielder] Ian Happ prepares every day,” Alcántara mentioned in a recent interview. As pointed out by Counsell, playing every day can improve Kevin Alcántara’s stretches.

And everything is dependent on the mental journey rather than the physical. It’s beyond muscles and swings. And Alacantra believes he can do special things. He faces pressure, slumps, and scrutiny. But most importantly, He’s learning to handle it all. And what makes him rare? It’s his confidence: “If I’m preparing my body in a good spot, I’m a superstar.”

Even though he is expected to be the 5th outfielder for the team, his entry to the big leagues is only looking bright. Isn’t it?