| Alexander Canario | |
| Team: | Chicago Cubs |
| Number: | 4 |
| Position: | Outfielder |
| Birth Date: | 7 May 2000 |
| Birth Place: | Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | September 6 |
| Debutyear: | 2023 |
| Debutteam: | Chicago Cubs |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Statyear: | April 25, 2024 |
| Stat1label: | Batting average |
| Stat1value: | .270 |
| Stat2label: | Home runs |
| Stat2value: | 2 |
| Stat3label: | Runs batted in |
| Stat3value: | 8 |
| Teams: |
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Alexander Canario (born May 7, 2000) is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.
Canario signed with the Giants as an international free agent in 2016.[1] [2] In 2017, playing for the DSL Giants in the Dominican Summer League, he batted .294/.391/.464 with 17 doubles (3rd in the league), 5 home runs (3rd), and 45 RBIs (2nd).[3] He was a Baseball America DSL All-Star.[4]
In 2019, playing for the Class A- Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, he batted .301/.365/.539 (4th in the Northwest League) with 38 runs (6th), 17 doubles (leading the league), 9 home runs (2nd), and 40 RBIs (3rd).[5] In 43 at bats for the 2019 ACL Giants Orange in the Arizona League, he batted .395/.435/1.000 with 7 home runs (8th in the league).[6] He was an MiLB.com Organization All-Star, a Baseball America Short-Season All-Star, and a Northwest League Post-Season All-Star.[4]
The Giants added him to their 40-man roster after the 2020 season.[7]
On July 30, 2021, the San Francisco Giants traded Canario along with Caleb Kilian to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Kris Bryant.[8] Canario appeared in 42 games for the High-A South Bend Cubs to close out the year, hitting .224/.264/.429 with nine home runs, 28 RBI, and six stolen bases. In 2022, he appeared in 125 games split between South Bend, the Double-A Tennessee Smokies, and the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, posting a cumulative .252/.343/.556 with career-highs in home runs (37), RBI (97), and stolen bases (23).
While playing in the Dominican Winter League in the 2022/23 offseason, Canario suffered a fractured left ankle and dislocated left shoulder, and was optioned to Triple-A Iowa to begin the 2023 season.[9]
On September 1, Canario was recalled to Chicago during September call-ups.[10] Canario finished his Triple-A season slashing .276/.342/.524 with nine home runs, 47 RBIs, 33 runs, and two stolen bases in 36 games.[11] His first MLB career at bat on September 6, 2023, resulted in a strikeout.[12]
On September 11, Canario was optioned to Triple-A Iowa, after only one plate appearance, to make room for Pete Crow-Armstrong's call-up.[13] The next day, he was called back up to the Cubs as a replacement for Jeimer Candelario who was placed on the 10-day IL.[14] Canario made his first career start on September 19, 2023, at designated hitter. He recorded his first career hit in the sixth inning, an RBI double. He would follow up with a grand slam in the eighth inning, for his first career home run. In total, he went two-for-four, with five RBIs.[15] [16]
Canario was optioned to Triple–A Iowa to begin the 2024 season.[17]