Prospect Profile: #16 Los Angeles Angels Alfonso (Victor) Alcantara

We’ve all heard how the Angels had a very limited international presence over the past few years. But that doesn’t mean that they’ve had no international presence. Take Alfonso Alcantara (pronounced Alcantra) for example.

Don’t be deceived by his numbers from last year. That was his first experience playing stateside. He was one of the younger players in the league (age 20).

Here’s what Alcantara has that makes him special: a fastball with good movement that regularly sits in the upper 90s and touched triple digits in Spring Training last year (several sources confirmed to us that he hit 102 mph!). He has a plus slider and a changeup. He throws all of his pitches from a ¾ angle and can throw his slider in any count. He needs to work a bit more on hiding the ball to make it a truly devastating pitch.

Some scouts see him as a future reliever with closer potential. Others see him as a middle or upper tiered starter. A lot of that depends on how well his changeup develops and how well he can maintain his mechanics through a start. The Angels may have him start off this year in Orem to see if he can regain his success and then move him from there.

Please click here for an interview with Los Angeles Angels pitcher Alfonso Alcantara.