Sergio Alcantara

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Detroit Tigers #21 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Alcantara was part of the three-infielder package the Tigers acquired from the D-backs in exchange for J.D. Martinez at the 2017 trade deadline. Alcantara repeated Double-A in 2019 and walked more while striking out less, but he also made less quality contact and hit for less power.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Alcantara is a plus defender at shortstop with easy actions in the field. He has soft hands and good footwork. A near top-of-the-scale arm allows him to project as an impact defender at the position. A thin, twitchy 5-foot-9, he has below-average power but has a chance to be an average hitter if he can start hitting the ball harder. Alcantara shows the ability to work the count and get on base via walk. He is an average runner and steals bases on occasion.
  
  THE FUTURE: After struggling for two seasons at Double-A with the bat, it's hard to see a ceiling higher than that of a utility role for Alcantara. His athleticism and fielding would be impactful off the bench.
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  Ranked Detroit Tigers #14 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Alcantara came to Detroit from Arizona as a part of a package of three infielders for J.D Martinez before the August 2017 trade deadline. Alcantara played in 120 games in his first stint in the upper minors with Double-A after spending all of 2017 at high Class A.
  
  Scouting Report: His profile is clearly defense-first because he is very fluid, athletic and gifted with a 70-grade throwing arm. He is a plus defender who will be an asset on defense at the shortstop position for Detroit. Alcantara’s hit tool projects as average and he has a willingness to be patient in the box and draw walks, but his power is well below-average.
  
  The Future: Alcantara has great defensive value and a solid hit tool, and that combination should bring him to the big leagues in a utility role. He is a trusted defender already, and should find himself playing in the majors within the next two seasons as he continues to get at-bats against advanced pitching.
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  Ranked Detroit Tigers #26 prospect in 2018
  The Tigers loaded up on shortstops in the J.D. Martinez trade. Of the three shortstops Detroit acquired, Alcantara is the best defensively but also has the least offensive potential. Alcantara is a true shortstop who could be an above-average defender with an above-average arm. Alcantara isn't a speedster--he turns in fringe-average run times, but he has a quick first step, good hands and enough range. Alcantara can handle shortstop defensively, but he'll have to prove he can hit enough for it to matter. He has a contact-oriented approach, but his swing doesn't really use his legs. Alcantara is not a home run threat at all, but he needs to get to the point where outfielders at least worry about him hitting it over their head. As a defense-first, light-hitting shortstop, Alcantara could develop into a second-division regular, but he's more likely to end up in a utility infielder role.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #31 prospect in 2017
  While he just completed his fourth season in the Diamondbacks organization, ranking in the top 30 previously, Alcantara is still young, small and physically underdeveloped. The report on him has consistently been a solid defender with a plus-plus arm at shortstop, but he needs to add strength in order to become more of an impact hitter. Alcantara has the frame to get stronger, and he spent the early part of the season in extended spring training working on his strength program before making the rounds in 2016. He wound up playing at four different levels in 2016, with a combined slash line of .284/.356/.347. The ingredients are there to hit, with a good feel for the barrel and good bat speed, and he's retained outstanding plate discipline throughout his career. He's an average runner but has never been much of a basestealer. Until he becomes more of a force offensively, Alcantara will have a ceiling as a utility infielder. He'll return to high Class A Visalia in 2017 after finishing the season with four games there.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #28 prospect in 2016
  Alcantara hit just .113 in 20 games at low Class A Kane County in 2015, earning a ticket to extended spring training and a June assignment to short-season Northwest League-champion Hillsboro. The switch-hitting shortstop's scouting report reads very similar to past years: he's an elite defender at shortstop with a double-plus arm, but he needs to build more upper-body strength in order to take advantage of his excellent plate discipline. Alcantara has a good feel for the barrel and good bat speed, with scouts noticing improvement at the plate during his time at Hillsboro. He is a slightly above-average runner but doesn't steal a lot of bases. He moved to second base in the latter half of Hillsboro's season in deference to No. 1 overall draft pick Dansby Swanson, and the pair of plus defenders worked well together. Alcantara's defense alone could be enough to get him to the big leagues in a utility role, and the 19-year-old will receive another chance at full-season ball in 2016.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #20 prospect in 2015
  Alcantara, the nephew of former big league infielder Anderson Hernandez, signed with Arizona for $700,000 in 2012 just after turning 16, and he has played above his age level in both of his pro seasons. He's already a plus defender at shortstop with a double-plus arm, and he drew raves from opposing managers at Rookie-level Missoula for his defensive play in 2014. Despite his youth and relative inexperience, Alcantara displays advanced plate discipline, for he led his league in walks in both of 2013 and 2014. He's still not fully developed physically, especially his upper half, which is reflected in his modest batting average (career .244) and high strikeout rate. A switch-hitter, Alcantara has a decent feel for the barrel, good bat speed and instincts. He projects as a gap-to-gap hitter with occasional power once his body fills out, and is an average runner who could improve with age. Alcantara will still be just 18 in spring training, so he'll probably head to short-season Hillsboro.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #13 prospect in 2014
  A nephew of former big league middle infielder Anderson Hernandez, Alcantara signed with the Diamondbacks for $700,000 in July 2012. Expected to spend his first pro season in the Dominican Summer League, he instead served as starting shortstop and leadoff hitter in the Rookie-level Arizona League following an eye-opening performance at the end of spring training. While he still has room to fill out, Alcantara more than held his own in the AZL, leading the league in walks (44) and turning on more fastballs later in the season. With good instincts and bat speed from both sides of the plate, he projects to develop gap power as he matures physically. He already has advanced skills in the field, with an accurate, double-plus throwing arm to pair with good hands and footwork. An average runner now, he could develop into a basestealer with experience and maturity. Alcantara probably will stay back in extended spring training in 2014 before reporting to short-season Hillsboro.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Pioneer League #9 prospect in 2014
  Alcantara signed with the Diamondbacks in 2012 for $700,000 and has since squared off with older competition in both of his pro seasons. His defense allows him to play up in age, for he's a plus defender with a double-plus arm who impressed PL observers with his skills and tools. "Unbelievable arm," said Billing manager Dick Schofield, a long-time major league shortstop. "I've seen him make every play. He's a guy who's very consistent." Despite his youth and relative inexperience, Alcantara shows advanced plate discipline, leading the league with 48 walks after performing the same feat last year in the Rookie-level Arizona League. He's still not fully developed physically, especially his upper half, but he continues to work on building strength. Alcantara projects to be a gap-to-gap hitter with occasional power, and he already shows the ability to work counts and wait for his pitch. He's an average runner who could improve as his body adds strength.
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  Ranked Arizona Complex League #4 prospect in 2013
  Alcantara, a nephew of former big league infielder Anderson Hernandez, signed with the Diamondbacks for $700,000 just after turning 16 last July. The organization decided to skip him over the DSL to the AZL during extended spring training. He quickly adapted and became the regular shortstop and leadoff hitter several weeks before turning 17. The switch-hitter showed advanced skills at the plate, leading the AZL in walks with 13 more than anyone else in the league. He is not yet physically strong in his upper half and not always able to catch up with fastballs, but started turning on more balls later in the season. With good instincts and bat speed from both sides of the plate, Alcantara projects to be a solid gap-to-gap hitter when he gets stronger. He?s already a plus defender with an accurate, plus-plus throwing arm and good hands and footwork. AZL D-backs manager Luis Urueta believes that Alcantara can get to the big leagues at a young age. ?We were looking for a leadoff hitter,? Urueta said, ?and he took it seriously. He was walking and getting on base . . . Because of his age and his powerful arm, he opens people?s eyes.?

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Originally signed by the D-backs in 2012, Alcantara arrived in Detroit as one of three players acquired for J.D. Martinez in 2017. The slick-fielding, light-hitting shortstop spent back-to-back seasons at Double-A Erie in 2018 and 2019 before jumping to Detroit for his big league debut in 2020.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: One of the most fluid infield defenders in Detroit's system, Alcantara mixes clean hands, easy footwork, quick-twitch reflexes and near-elite arm strength to handle the shortstop with ease. At the plate, Alcantara does a decent job of working counts but will need to produce louder contact if he hopes to project as an average hitter. Alcantara's size works against the notion of any more projectable power. He hit just .143/.217/.381 in his first taste of the majors.
  
  THE FUTURE: Alcantara is strictly a defensive replacement in the middle infield. He is ready to fill that role now and should return to the majors in 2021.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Alcantara was part of the three-infielder package the Tigers acquired from the D-backs in exchange for J.D. Martinez at the 2017 trade deadline. Alcantara repeated Double-A in 2019 and walked more while striking out less, but he also made less quality contact and hit for less power.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Alcantara is a plus defender at shortstop with easy actions in the field. He has soft hands and good footwork. A near top-of-the-scale arm allows him to project as an impact defender at the position. A thin, twitchy 5-foot-9, he has below-average power but has a chance to be an average hitter if he can start hitting the ball harder. Alcantara shows the ability to work the count and get on base via walk. He is an average runner and steals bases on occasion.
  
  THE FUTURE: After struggling for two seasons at Double-A with the bat, it’s hard to see a ceiling higher than that of a utility role for Alcantara. His athleticism and fielding would be impactful off the bench.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Alcantara was part of the three-infielder package the Tigers acquired from the D-backs in exchange for J.D. Martinez at the 2017 trade deadline. Alcantara repeated Double-A in 2019 and walked more while striking out less, but he also made less quality contact and hit for less power.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Alcantara is a plus defender at shortstop with easy actions in the field. He has soft hands and good footwork. A near top-of-the-scale arm allows him to project as an impact defender at the position. A thin, twitchy 5-foot-9, he has below-average power but has a chance to be an average hitter if he can start hitting the ball harder. Alcantara shows the ability to work the count and get on base via walk. He is an average runner and steals bases on occasion.
  
  THE FUTURE: After struggling for two seasons at Double-A with the bat, it's hard to see a ceiling higher than that of a utility role for Alcantara. His athleticism and fielding would be impactful off the bench.