Raúl Alcántara

Raúl Alcántara (born December 4, 1992) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, the KBO League for the KT Wiz and Doosan Bears, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hanshin Tigers.

Raúl Alcántara
Alcantara with the Hanshin Tigers
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1992-12-04) December 4, 1992 (age 31) Barahona, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: September 5, 2016, for the Oakland Athletics
KBO: March 30, 2019, for the KT Wiz
NPB: May 16, 2021, for the Hanshin Tigers
MLB statistics (through 2017 season)
Win–loss record	2–5
Earned run average	7.19
Strikeouts	26
KBO statistics (through 2024 season)
Win–loss record	46–24
Earned run average	3.21
Strikeouts	478
NPB statistics (through 2022 season)
Win–loss record	4–6
Earned run average	3.96
Strikeouts	77
Teams
Oakland Athletics (2016–2017) KT Wiz (2019) Doosan Bears (2020) Hanshin Tigers (2021–2022) Doosan Bears (2023–2024)
Career highlights and awards
KBO KBO Wins Leader (2020) KBO Golden Gloves Award (2020) Choi Dong-won Award (2020)[1] KBO Highest Win Rate Leader (2020)

Career

Boston Red Sox

Alcántara began his career in the Boston Red Sox organization playing for the Rookie Dominican Summer League Red Sox in 2010. He played for both the Rookie Gulf Coast League Red Sox and Class A Short Season Lowell Spinners in 2011.

Oakland Athletics

On December 28, 2011, Alcántara was traded with Josh Reddick and Miles Head to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for Andrew Bailey and Ryan Sweeney.^[2] He played the entirety of the 2012 season with the Class A Burlington Bees. He returned to Class A in 2013 with the Beloit Snappers, but was promoted to the Class A-Advanced Stockton Ports at mid-season. He was added to the Athletics' 40-man roster on November 20, 2013.^[3]

Alcántara began the 2014 season with the Double-A Midland RockHounds, but made only three starts before requiring season-ending Tommy John surgery.^[4] He returned to play in 2015, making 15 starts at Class A-Advanced Stockton. He played that off season with the Estrellas Orientales of the Dominican Winter League. He began the 2016 season at Double-A, but was promoted to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds on July 20.^[5] Alcántara was called up to the Athletics to make his major league debut on September 5 against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.^[6]

Alcántara started the 2017 season in Oakland, but was designated for assignment on April 25 after accumulating a 16.71 ERA in three appearances.^[7] His contract was selected from Nashville, and he was added to Oakland's active roster on September 5.^[8] He was cleared waivers and was sent outright to Nashville before the 2018 season. Alcantara elected free agency on October 5, 2018.

KT Wiz

On November 18, 2018, Alcántara signed with the KT Wiz of the KBO League. He became a free agent following the season.

Doosan Bears

Alcantara with the Doosan Bears

On December 23, 2019, Alcántara signed a one-year, $700,000 deal with the Doosan Bears of the KBO League.^[9] After the season, Alcántara was named the Choi Dong-won Award Winner, the equivalent to the Cy Young award in the KBO, after pitching to a 2.54 ERA with 8.2 K/9 and 1.4 BB/9 over 198.2 innings pitched.^[10] He became a free agent following the season.

Hanshin Tigers

On December 23, 2020, Alcántara signed with the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball.^[11] On May 16, 2021, Alcántara made his NPB debut.

Doosan Bears (second stint)

On December 11, 2022, Alcantara signed with the Doosan Bears.^[12] In 2023, he made 31 starts for Doosan, logging a 13–9 record and 2.67 ERA with 162 strikeouts across 192.0 innings of work.

On December 21, 2023, Alcántara re–signed with the Bears on a one–year, $1.3 million contract.^[13] In 12 starts, he compiled a 2–2 record and 4.76 ERA with 34 strikeouts across 64+1⁄3 innings pitched. Alcántara was released by Doosan on July 4, 2024.^[14]

References

1. "Bears' Raul Alcantara wins top pitching award in S. Korean baseball". November 11, 2020.
2. "A's ship Andrew Bailey to Boston". Espn.go.com. December 29, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
3. "A's add RHP Raul Alcantara to 40-man roster". Oakland.athletics.mlb.com. November 20, 2013. Archived from the original on December 4, 2013. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
4. Garcia, Jacob. "5 A's Prospects Who Billy Beane Should Not Trade". Bleacher Report. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
5. "Raul Alcantara Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
6. Slusser, Susan (September 4, 2016). "A's confirm Raul Alcantara, Jharel Cotton promotions". San Francisco Gate. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
7. Slusser, Susan (April 25, 2017). "Rajai Davis on A's DL; Raul Alcantara DFA'd". San Francisco Gate. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
8. @Athletics (September 5, 2017). "#Athletics recall Mengden, Nuñez and Wendle from Nashville; select Alcantara from Nashville; transfer Blackburn to the 60-day DL" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
9. "KBO Champs Doosan Bears sign pitcher Raul Alcantara from another S. Korean club". English.yonhapnews.co.kr. December 23, 2019. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
10. "NPB/KBO Notes: Ohno, Alcantara, Romero, Bour". November 11, 2020.
11. "阪神が韓国20勝右腕・アルカンタラを獲得 「常に全力でプレーすることを約束」". news.yahoo.co.jp. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
12. "Former Oakland A's pitcher Raul Alcantara heading back to KBO". December 11, 2022.
13. "Doosan Bears are fifth KBO team to reach foreign player max". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
14. "Doosan Bears Sign Jordan Balazovic, release ex-ace Raul Alcantara". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. Retrieved July 4, 2024.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
• Career statistics – NPB.jp