Cubs Top 30 Prospect Wraps: Alexander Canario

InsidetheCubs.com will review each of the Chicago Cubs’ Top 30 prospects, as ranked by MLB.com at the end of the 2023 season.

No. 14: OF Alexander Canario, Iowa Cubs (Triple-A), South Bend Cubs (High-A), Arizona Complex League (Rookie)

Statistics for 2023: (53 games at three affiliates): .273/.356/.488/.844 with 33 runs, 15 doubles, one triple, nine home runs, 47 RBI, 25 walks, 54 strikeouts and two stolen bases.

Season Transactions: Canario started the season on the Iowa Cubs 7-day injured list and then was transferred to the 60-day injured list on April 13. On June 15 he started a rehab assignment with the ACL Cubs, and on June 28 he continued that rehab assignment with the South Bend Cubs. He was activated at South Bend on July 5 and promoted to Iowa on July 14. The Chicago Cubs called him up on Sept. 1, optioned him back to Iowa on Sept. 11, recalled him on Sept. 12 and then assigned him to the Arizona Fall League at the end of the season.

Season Summary: He played in the Dominican Winter League last year and broke his left ankle, which halted his progress for the 2023 season, which saw him potentially pointed toward a call-up with the Cubs. It took nearly the entire season, but the Cubs called him up on Sept. 1 after he put together a solid season at the plate at three different affiliates after his injury. He didn’t get much playing time with the Cubs in September, but it could be a taste of things to come for him and the fans at Wrigley.

Journey Through the Organization: It’s been a long path for Canario to get to this point. The San Francisco Giants signed him for $60,000 in 2016 out of the Dominican Republic, but he never played a full season of pro baseball until 2021. He was part of the payoff for the Kris Bryant trade in 2021, and he hit 55 home runs in the span of two seasons in the minors (2021-22). He’s one of several solid outfield prospects in the system that will be pushing for playing time in the Majors soon.

What’s next: Once Canario is done with the AFL, it sounds like he’s headed for winter ball in the Dominican Republic, as his MiLB.com page says he’s been assigned to Aguilas Cibaenas. With his promotion to the Cubs, Canario is now an outfielder to watch in the system. If top prospect Peter Crow-Armstrong can earn a job coming out of Spring Training in 2024, Canario is likely the first outfielder called up due to injury or bad performance — if he doesn’t make the team himself. He’s a power-hitting prospect with solid fielding ability.

2023 Chicago Cubs Top 30 Prospect Wraps:

No. 30: Christian Franklin | No. 29: Brody McCullough | No. 28: Kohl Franklin | No. 27: Pablo Aliendo | No. 26: Porter Hodge | No. 25: Luke Little | No. 24: Jaxon Wiggins | No. 23: Caleb Kilian | No. 22: Josh Rivera | No. 21: Luis Vazquez | No. 20: Cristian Hernandez | No. 19: Brennen Davis | No. 18: B.J. Murray Jr. | No. 17: Haydn McGeary | No. 16: Derniche Valdez | No. 15: Drew Gray |