Cubs Name Alexander Canario, Luke Little Minor League Player and Pitcher of Month for July

The Cubs announced Sunday that they have named Double-A Tennessee outfielder Alexander Canario as the organization’s Minor League Player of the Month for July. Low-A Myrtle Beach left-handed pitcher Luke Little was named the club’s Minor League Pitcher of the Month.

Canario was also named the Southern League Player of the Month after hitting .354 with seven home runs, eight doubles, 16 RBI, and 19 walks in 19 games. That was good for a .500 on-base percentage and a 1.300 OPS for Tennessee in July. His 26 home runs this season are the most by any Cubs minor leaguer and are tied for the seventh-most in all of minor league baseball.

This is Canario’s first full season in the Cubs organization after he was acquired from the Giants, along with right-hander Caleb Kilian, for Kris Bryant. Currently ranked as the Cubs’ No. 19 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, Canario owns a career .266 average with 86 doubles, 13 triples, 71 home runs, 244 RBI, 64 stolen bases and an .844 OPS in 369 minor league games.

Listed at an even 6 feet and a very stout 212 pounds, Canario already has power to spare and could still get stronger. Cubs fans may get a look at him this season because he’s already on the 40-man roster and might get a reward promotion in September.

Little, 21, posted a 1.15 ERA with 25 strikeouts and only five walks in five July starts for Myrtle Beach. The left-hander finished the month by tossing 13.2-straight scoreless innings over his last four outings. On the season, Little is 1-4 with a 3.12 ERA in 19 games (18 starts), holding opponents to a .186 average.

The 6-foot-8 southpaw is in his second professional season after the Cubs selected him in the fourth round of the 2020 draft out of San Jacinto College in Houston, Texas. You may recall him as the flamethrower who rose to viral fame when video circulated of him throwing 105 mph. Little has made 24 career minor league appearances (22 starts), going 1-5 with a 3.45 ERA and 98 strikeouts, good for an average of 14.7 K/9.

You know things are looking good in the organization when a guy with that kind of stuff isn’t even ranked in the top 30. The Cubs have some dudes down on the farm, my goodness.