Sergio Alcántara

Sergio Junior Alcántara Hernández (born July 10, 1996) is a Dominican professional baseball infielder in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs, and San Diego Padres.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Alcántara signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks as an international free agent in July 2012 for a $700,000 signing bonus. He made his professional debut in 2013 with the AZL Diamondbacks and spent the whole season there, slashing .243/.398/.320 with 16 RBIs in 48 games. In 2014, he played for the Missoula Osprey where he batted .244 with one home run and 18 RBIs in 70 games, and in 2015, he played for the Kane County Cougars and Hillsboro Hops where he posted a combined .223 batting average with one home run and 28 RBIs in 91 total games between the two teams. He spent 2016 with the AZL Diamondbacks, Hillsboro, Kane County and the Visalia Rawhide, compiling a .284 batting average with one home run and 26 RBIs in 76 total games. He began 2017 back with Visalia.

Detroit Tigers
On July 18, 2017, the Diamondbacks traded Alcántara along with Dawel Lugo and Jose King to the Detroit Tigers for J. D. Martinez. Detroit assigned him to the Lakeland Flying Tigers and he finished the season there. In 121 total games between Visalia and Lakeland, he slashed .266/.334/.339 with three home runs, 35 RBIs, and a .673 OPS.

The Tigers added Alcántara to their 40-man roster after the 2017 season. In 2018, he spent the full season with the Double-A Erie SeaWolves, where he hit .271 with a home run, 37 RBIs, and eighteen doubles. For the second straight season, Alcantara would remain at the Double-A level for the full season during the 2019 season. Playing in 102 games (18 fewer than in 2018) he finished the season with a .247 average and .346 OBP. He hit two home runs, had 27 RBIs, but walked 48 times, six times more than in 2018. Alcántara was invited to spring training for the 2020 season but it was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When the league started but up in the summer, Alcántara missed the beginning of summer camp when he tested positive for COVID-19.

On September 4, 2020, the Tigers called up Alcántara as the 29th man for a doubleheader against the Minnesota Twins but was sent back down to the alternate training site afterwards without getting a chance to play. He was called up again the next day and made his major league debut on September 6. Alcántara hit a home run in his first at-bat with the Tigers, becoming the eighth Tiger player to accomplish this feat, and the first position player for the Tigers to do since Reggie Sanders in 1974. Overall with the 2020 Detroit Tigers, Alcántara batted .143 with one home run and 1 RBI in 10 games.

On January 29, 2021, Alcántara was designated for assignment by the Tigers following the signing of Wilson Ramos.

Chicago Cubs
On February 5, 2021, Alcántara was claimed by the Chicago Cubs off waivers from the Tigers. On February 18, 2021, Alcántara was designated for assignment after the signing of Brandon Workman was made official. On February 20, Alcántara was outrighted and invited to Spring Training as a non-roster invitee. On May 30, Alcántara was selected to the active roster. He was designated for assignment on March 23, 2022, to make room on the roster for Mychal Givens.

Arizona Diamondbacks (second stint)
On March 27, 2022, Alcántara was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for cash considerations. He was named to Arizona's opening day roster on April 7. He was designated for assignment on May 6.

San Diego Padres
On May 9, 2022, the San Diego Padres claimed him off waivers from the Diamondbacks. He was designated for assignment on June 30.

Arizona Diamondbacks (third stint)
On July 5, 2022, the Arizona Diamondbacks claimed him off waivers from the Padres. On November 15, Alcántara was designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks after they protected multiple prospects from the Rule 5 draft. On November 18, Alcántara was non–tendered by Arizona and became a free agent.

Chicago Cubs (second stint)
On December 20, 2022, Alcántara signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs. In 64 games for the Triple–A Iowa Cubs, he batted .270/.364/.419 with 6 home runs and 32 RBI. On July 25, 2023, Alcántara was released by the Cubs organization.

Arizona Diamondbacks (fourth stint)
On August 1, 2023, Alcántara signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. In 34 games for the Triple–A Reno Aces, he hit .265/.392/.372 with 2 home runs and 19 RBI. Alcántara elected free agency following the season on November 6.

Pittsburgh Pirates
On December 9, 2023, Alcántara signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 11 games for the Triple–A Indianapolis Indians, he went 6–for–33 (.182) with no home runs and one RBI.

Arizona Diamondbacks (fifth stint)
On April 23, 2024, Alcántara was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for cash considerations.