Cubs Release Prospect Wanted in Dominican Murder Case – NBC Chicago

Cubs release prospect wanted in Dominican murder case originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

Police in the Dominican Republic are on the hunt for a former Chicago Cubs minor league player suspected of fatally shooting a man in a financial dispute.

Josefrailin Alcántara, an 18-year-old outfielder who signed with the Cubs for a $500,000 bonus in January 2022, is wanted for the murder of Darwin Díaz Valerio.

Alcántara was released by the Cubs on Wednesday.

A spokesman for the Caribbean country’s police, Capt. Fernando Pérez Valerio, said Thursday the suspicions were based on testimony from Diego Aníbal Rodríguez Martínez, a cousin of the baseball player. Martínez said he was with Alcántara when he approached the victim.

Pérez Valerio said there was an altercation between Alcántara and Díaz Valerio, which resulted in a gunshot wounding Alcántara’s hand. The outfielder then fired two shots at the victim, Pérez Valerio said.

Alcántara spent 2022 with the Dominican Summer League Cubs and did not play this season.

Cubs spokesman Julian Green said in a statement to The Associated Press that Alcántara “was absent from the team due to suspension and was later released following notification from Republic authorities. Dominican”.

Díaz Valerio was reported missing by his family on Sunday. His body was found the next day in a forest in the north of the country.

Alcántara hit .136 with two homers, 10 RBIs and 21 interceptions last year for the DSL Cubs.