How patience is helping 'The Jaguar' become a top prospect for the Chicago Cubs

SOUTH BEND — There’s been a jaguar on the loose in South Bend for the last month.

Nobody is complaining about it, either.

Kevin Alcántara, a.k.a. “The Jaguar,” has been on a tear since June 1 for the South Bend Cubs. It’s helped revitalize his stock as one of the better prospects in all of minor league baseball.

“It’s from my friends,” said Alcántara of his nickname. “I am the jaguar, you know? When you tell someone your nickname at first, they’re not going to believe you. But I’m showing off my nickname now.”

It hasn’t always been smooth sailing this season for the No. 4-ranked prospect in the Chicago Cubs system. After a solid start in April, Alcántara struggled in May. In 85 at-bats that month, the Dominican Republic native batted a measly .200. More concerning was the power numbers, as the 6-foot-6 slugger did not hit a single home run that month. He only had a .282 slugging percentage because of that.

A light bulb seemed to then go off for Alcántara in June. He had his best month as a prospect so far, recording 26 hits and 44 total bases in the same number of at-bats he had in June, good for a plus-9 and plus-20 difference in those categories, respectively, compared to May.

The power also returned, as he slugged four doubles and four home runs. He added 18 RBIs, with his June batting average finishing at .306. His slugging percentage was also an impressive .518.

“I had lost some confidence in my swing,” Alcántara admitted. “I was swinging at a lot of first pitches, and now I’m trying to wait to find my pitch that’s elevated and in the zone. Now, I’m more comfortable at the plate because I’m swinging at my pitch.”

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Patience has been a key for Alcántara. After recording a combined six walks in the first two months of the season — including just one in May — Alcántara drew 10 walks in June.

“It’s a lot of practice in the cage,” Alcántara said. “If you feel good, you’ll hit good. Sometimes, the pitcher throws a slider in the corner, you swing, and you miss because that’s not you’re pitch. I’m working a lot on my eyes, taking a lot of pitches and seeing a lot of pitches.”

Alcántara’s offensive tear has continued into July. Heading into Sunday’s contest with Peoria, Alcántara was batting .500 in the month, recording 10 hits in 20 at-bats. He already has two doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs in the month as well.

He was also riding a 13-game hitting streak into Sunday’s contest.

“He’s been hot for us right now,” South Bend Cubs manager Lance Rymel said. “He’s our four-hole hitter for a reason. … Dan Puente, our hitting coach, has done a really nice job with him. He’s made a couple of tweaks here and there, mechanically, with his swing. And he’s driving the ball to all fields now mainly; he’s going line-to-line.”

While his offense continues to heat up, Alcántara’s defensive efforts have also been impressive. They were on display in-full July 7 against Peoria when the centerfielder made two spectacular catches, crashing up against wall twice — once in left-center field in the fourth inning, and the other in right-center in the eighth — to make hit-stealing plays.

“He saves a lot of runs out there for us, defensively,” Rymel said. “I’ve been really blessed to have (Pete Crow-Armstrong) last year in centerfield and Alcántara this year. A lot of hits taken away there from those two.”

With the way he’s been playing for the last five weeks, Alcántara could soon be moving on from South Bend and up to the Double-A affiliate for the Chicago Cubs in Tennessee. The 20-year-old isn’t focused on that right now, though.

“I’m not thinking about going up, you know?” Alcántara said. “I’m thinking about enjoying my day and enjoying the game. The future is for the coaches to worry about; it’s not my problem. I’m just enjoying each day and keep working every day.”

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Alcántara leading SB Cubs with offensive, defensive ability