Chicago Cubs Around the Farm 4/15/23: Kevin Alcántara Breaks Out

Kevin Alcántara has been struggling to start his South Bend career. My third-best Cubs prospect (soon to be second when Hayden Wesneski graduates) has been hitting under .200 and picked up his first-ever Biggest Yikes award earlier this year. In this one, Alcántara showed off his crazy potential.

Aside from a solo shot in the fifth inning, Alcántara had two doubles, was hit by a pitch, and scored three other runs. The Jaguar's paw prints were simply all over this game. All of his hits were lasers, and he kept crossing the plate. This may be the game we look back at as the start to Alcántara showing his true impact in High-A.

Biggest Yikes: Scott McKeon — 0/3, BB, 2 LOB

This may be the weakest case for a Biggest Yikes award we've seen. It just so happens that McKeon was the only Cubs position player who did not get a hit or knock in a run in a nine-run game. Throw in the fact that the Cubs' pitchers gave up just four hits and one run, and McKeon sort of got this award on principle. Sorry, Scott!

Low-A Myrtle Beach: 3-11 Loss to Lynchburg Hillcats

Biggest Yes: Christian Franklin — 2/5, 2B, 3 RBI (4)

In a game where the Pelicans didn't have much to write home about in the way of positives, Franklin — responsible for every Myrtle Beach run — stands out for the Biggest Yes award. The 23-year-old missed the entire 2022 season after being selected in the fourth round of the 2021 MLB Draft. So far in 2023, Franklin has been showcasing the mature approach at the plate that helped him get drafted by the Cubs a couple of years back.

In seven games, Franklin is slashing .296/.424/.481 with three doubles and a triple. I currently have Franklin as the 53rd-best prospect in the Cubs' farm system. If he continues flashing an advanced hit tool, he may just climb those rankings as well as get to South Bend sooner rather than later.

Biggest Yikes: Erian Rodriguez — 2.1 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 5 ER, 1 SO, 1 HR

The Pelicans didn't score in this game until the ninth inning. Still, despite the dry spell of offense, Rodriguez earns the Biggest Yikes here after getting decimated on the mound for 2.1 innings. This game had everything going wrong for the 21-year-old. Walks, a home run, a triple, a balk — Rodriguez pulled out all of the worst tricks, earning him his first-career Biggest Yikes award for his first appearance in this series.