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Watch: Luke Little’s Slider, Kevin Alcántara’s Swag, Hoernsby Turns Two
Those of you who are active on Twitter may have already seen this stuff, but the rest of you who aren’t incrementally poisoning your soul on that hellsite may need to catch up. The early days of spring training are the best because we get to see various players and prospects in live action for the first time in months, or maybe ever. This spring is particularly interesting because the Cubs have so many new faces, most of whom arrived to camp more than a week before their report dates.
One of those prospects is Luke Little, an inappropriately-named lefty who rose from obscurity on the strength of a viral bullpen video that showed him lighting up the radar at 105 mph. The 6-foot-8 San Jacinto College product jumped up into the fourth round of the shortened 2020 draft but struggled a bit in his first professional action in the Arizona Complex League.
His 2022 season was a different story as he put up a 2.91 ERA over 20 appearances (19 starts) for Myrtle Beach. Little struck out 84 batters with 32 walks in 52.2 innings before a late-season promotion to South Bend, where he had a 0.69 ERA over four appearances (three starts). He managed “only” 17 strikeouts in 13 innings, but his six walks meant his K/BB rate was actually better.
Don’t be surprised at all to see Little shooting up prospect lists if he continues to display this kind of filth.
lol ew dude, look at this Luke Little slider pic.twitter.com/RxatJuE3I1
— Greg Huss (@OutOfTheVines) February 16, 2023
Kevin Alcántara isn’t flying under any radars and he appears to like it that way. He’s been wowing in BP so far and he talked to MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian about the new drip to match his “Jaguar” nickname.
https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/1626323597714415616?s=20
This one doesn’t need much of an explanation, it’s just the first look at the NL’s best double-play combo.
#cubs #Hoernsby pix (both Bruce and Rogers.) Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner. pic.twitter.com/mG48xsaUPJ
— John Antonoff (@baseballinfocus) February 15, 2023