St. Louis Claims Jorge Alcala Off Waivers
Last week, the St. Louis Cardinals made a bold move by claiming pitcher Jorge Alcala off waivers. The 24-year-old right-hander was previously with the Houston Astros, but now finds himself on a new team in the National League Central division.
Alcala, who hails from the Dominican Republic, was originally signed by the Astros as an international free agent in 2014. He made his major league debut in 2019 and has since appeared in 18 games, posting a 3.68 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 22 innings pitched.
The Cardinals were in need of some pitching depth and saw potential in Alcala, who has a fastball that can reach up to 100 mph. He also has a slider and changeup in his repertoire, making him a versatile option for the team’s bullpen.
While Alcala may not have been a household name before, he now has the opportunity to make a name for himself with the Cardinals. With their strong track record of developing young talent, St. Louis could be the perfect fit for the promising pitcher.
Only time will tell how Alcala will perform in his new home, but
Cardinals’ New Reliever Activated for Sunday’s Game vs. the Cubs
The St. Louis Cardinals have added a new arm to their bullpen for Sunday’s game against the Cubs. Jorge Alcala, who was recently acquired off waivers, will make his debut with the team. According to MLB.com’s John Denton, the right-hander was activated after being designated for assignment by the Boston Red Sox last week. In a corresponding move, Gordan Graceffo was optioned to Triple-A Memphis.
Alcala, a seven-year Major League veteran, had a 3.31 ERA over 19 appearances with the Red Sox before being let go. He has also played for the Twins earlier this season. However, his time with Minnesota was not as successful, as he accumulated an 8.88 ERA prompting the team to make a deal with the Red Sox for infielder Andy Lugo.
The 30-year-old Alcala, who hails from the Dominican Republic, has always looked up to Cardinals legend Albert Pujols. He has heard nothing but good things about the organization from Pujols himself, according to Denton. Alcala is set to earn $1.5 million this season and can be retained for 2026 through arbitration if he performs well.
Known for his four-seam fastball, which has an average velocity of 97.1 mph, Alcala is expected to provide a boost to the Cardinals’ bullpen. He is not the only reliever the team has added recently, as lefty Anthony Veneziano was also acquired off waivers from the Miami Marlins on August 4. Veneziano made his organizational debut on Saturday with Triple-A Memphis, pitching a scoreless 4th inning.
