Santo Domingo – Dominican star pitcher Sandy Alcántara finished his participation in spring training with a performance that reaffirms his preparation for the 2026 Major League Baseball season.
Alcántara demonstrated his dominance by striking out his compatriot Juan Soto twice, in a duel that captured the attention of the fans.
Star Showdown in Spring Training
The two players, who recently represented the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, now faced each other as rivals in Spring Training. This matchup was one of the highlights of the day.
In 4.2 innings pitched, Alcántara allowed five hits and three runs, while accumulating six strikeouts in the Marlins’ 4-3 victory. A key aspect was the recovery of his ability to strike out, adding 16 strikeouts in 12.2 innings during the preseason.
The face-off with Soto unfolded in three innings. In the first, Alcántara took Soto to a full count (3-2) before dominating him with an 84.6 mph sweeper. In his second turn, Soto hit a single to center field on a 2-2 count. However, in the fifth inning, Alcántara prevailed again, retiring him with an 86.5 mph cutter, sealing his sixth strikeout of the game.
As the 2022 Cy Young Award winner, Alcántara will take on the responsibility of opening the Inaugural Day for the Marlins, facing Colorado this Friday at 7:10 PM.
