Former Cubs prospect, 18, ‘wanted by Dominican police in the shooting death of a 26-year-old man for a $2,750 debt’: Outfielder was handed a $500,000 signing bonus in 2022, but has since been released by Chicago
- Josefrailin Alcantara is charged with killing a 26-year-old man over a $2,750 debt
- A Cubs spokesperson told DailyMail.com he was released before the incident
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
A former Chicago Cubs prospect is wanted in connection with a shooting death in his native Dominican Republic.
Josefrailin Alcantara, an 18-year-old outfielder, is accused of shooting and killing Darwin Diaz Valero, 26, for a debt of $2,750, according to the main Dominican newspaper free diary.
Police in the capital of Santiago are believed to be looking for Alcantara, who allegedly shot Diaz twice from the back of a Hyundai Sonata last Friday, killing the man.
The car is in custody and officers reportedly found bloodstains and a 9mm projectile inside the vehicle.
Alcantara happens to be pictured in front of a similar car model in his Facebook profile picture.
Alcantara seen in front of a gray Hyundai, which may be the car where the shooting took place
Alcantara received a $500,000 signing bonus in January 2022, but has since been cut
Alcantara’s cousin, Diego Aníbal Rodríguez Martínez, was reportedly in the car when the shooting took place and is currently in police custody.
However, Alcantara is believed to be still at large after fleeing a local medical center, where he was treated after the altercation.
The Cubs spokesperson released a statement to DailyMail.com following the report, saying, “We have been made aware of a death investigation involving one of our recently released Minor League players.” We cannot provide further comment until we have additional details.
The Dominican National Police did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for further information.
Alcantara received a signing bonus of $500,000 in January 2022, which was the fourth-largest sum the team has given to an international prospect last year.
He struggled in 40 games in the Dominican Summer League last year, hitting two home runs and hitting just .136.
Alcantara isn’t the first Cubs prospect to run into legal trouble in the Dominican Republic. In 2015, shortstop Luis Henríquez Acosta was arrested for membership in a gang that assassinated former deputy energy and mines minister Victoriano Santos Hilario and his son Víctor Manuel Santos Gutiérrez, according to Diario. Free.
