Chicago Cubs Prospect Profile: Pablo Aliendo |
Looking at the Cubs organization as a whole, you will notice one distinct problem. One of the problems is that this is a team that has underachieved the past few seasons with a roster that hasn't seen much turnover. The Cubs know they have to get better in many areas, but with tons of untradeable players, things are difficult as they don't leave much flexibility.
One position that the Cubs would love to address is the catcher position, as Miguel Amaya and Matt Thaiss are the team's current options. Amaya showed massive improvement over the second half of the season, but Thaiss doesn't seem like an upgrade over Christian Bethancourt. Internally, the Cubs have Moises Ballesteros as someone expected to handle the catching duties in the future, but you have to consider his value as a potential trade chip. Should that happen, the Cubs will again be in a tough spot, but they have another promising young catcher who has steadily improved over the past few seasons. For those unfamiliar with him, Pablo Aliendo continues to gain plenty of recognition, which is why he has risen to No. 13 on the Cubs prospect list from No. 25. Another one of the many International Free Agent pickups, Aliendo has been around the Cubs organization for a long time and has been with them since 2018. Unlike most Cubs IFA prospects who take up most of their pool money, Aliendo was added for just $200K and was instantly viewed as a steal for the organization. Two years into his career, however, Aliendo struggled to hit and had a .183 average in 2018, followed by a .201 average in 2019, which led many scouts to wonder if he would be on this team long-term. Apparently, all it took for Aliendo to get on track was a lost season in 2020 due to COVID, as that gave him plenty of time to figure out the player he wanted to be as he batted a career-high .223 in 2021 with five homers and 30 RBIs. One year later, AAll as he raised his average to a career-best .267, hitting seven homers and driving in 35. The past two years have been a prime example of what patience can do for a young player, as Aliendo is what you would call a late bloomer. Even with his average falling back into the .230 and .240 range, you have started to see the power numbers increase, as he has connected for 26 homers and 94 RBIs in the past two seasons. That included his best season in 2023 when he belted 16 homers for AA Tennessee and drove in a career-best 61. In 2024, the overall numbers dropped to 10 homers and 33 RBIs, but Aliendo missed a large chunk of the season due to an injury. When healthy, Aliendo picked up right where he left off and will be looking to build on that in 2025. One of the best attributes a catcher can have is speed, as Aliendo is faster and quicker than most catchers. He also has soft hands behind the dish but could better block pitches in the dirt. Aliendo has arguably the best arm in the Cubs system, but considering how he has allowed 118 career stolen bases and has thrown out just 16%, there are concerns about how that will translate at the next level. What he lacks in overall defense right now is that he makes up for in-game calling. He is the best catcher at calling games in the Cubs system. That alone is crucial in developing many Cubs arms, as Aliendo knows how to get the most out of his teammates on the mound. After a slow start to the power numbers, Aliendo has started to fill out his wiry frame, and the power potential is beginning to show because of it. Aliendo has always had the raw power to hit 15 homers, which you're starting to see, but the more strength he adds, the more power will follow. After seemingly turning the corner in 2022, Aliendo has developed some bad habits at the plate over the past two seasons. He has started chasing too many breaking balls out of the zone and has taken a launch-happy approach, which has led to more swing-and-misses and a decrease in average. Seen as a backup catcher right now, Aliendo can become a starter should he improve on the things he needs to improve upon. Regardless, 2025 will be a massive year for him as the Cubs will need catcher help sooner rather than later.
