Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 45 | Run: 40 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40

After signing for $200,000 out of Venezuela in 2018, Aliendo showed little with the bat during two years in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League and didn't reach full-season ball until 2021. A key part of championship clubs the past two seasons at High-A South Bend in 2022 and Double-A Tennessee in 2023, he's also something of an enigma. His 16 homers last year exceeded his total of 13 from his first four pro seasons but he also batted just .231, and he hasn't gotten the most out of his defensive tools.

Quicker and more agile than most catchers, Aliendo is very flexible and has soft hands, yet his receiving and blocking skills remain inconsistent. He has plus arm strength yet surrendered 118 stolen bases in 86 starts last year and erased just 16 percent of basestealers. He does earn praise for his game calling and leadership but needs to improve his focus behind the plate.

The wiry Aliendo is doing a better job of tapping into his solid raw power as he gets stronger and drives the ball in the air more frequently, giving him at least 15-homer upside. His approach needs refinement, however, as his right-handed stroke gets too long and he chases too many non-fastballs while shooting for the fences. There's a potential starting catcher in here if he can make adjustments on both sides of the ball.

Scouting grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 45 | Run: 40 | Arm: 55 | Field: 60 | Overall: 40 

Signed for $200,000 out of Venezuela in 2018, Aliendo did little offensively in two years in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League before losing the 2020 season to the pandemic shutdown. He has made some gradual improvements at the plate while establishing himself as the best defensive catcher in the system during his first two seasons in the United States. He helped High-A South Bend win the Midwest League championship while batting a career-best .267/.336/.390 in 2022.  

Aliendo is quicker and more agile than most catchers. He's very flexible, has soft hands and should develop into a plus receiver and blocker once he's a finished product. He also has solid arm strength and earns praise for his game-calling and leadership ability. 

A right-handed hitter, Aliendo puts the bat on the ball but needs to make better swing decisions and produce a higher quality of contact. He has some wiry strength that could turn into 12-15 home run power if he can drive the ball in the air more consistently. His ability to make further adjustments will determine whether he can be a big league regular versus a defensive-minded backup. 

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 40 | Run: 40 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 40 

After signing for $200,000 out of Venezuela in 2018, Aliendo scuffled offensively in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League for two years before losing the 2020 season to the pandemic shutdown. He made his U.S. and full-season debuts in 2021, advancing to High-A and impressing with his athleticism and his defense. Though he still has plenty of work to do at the plate, he ranks as the Cubs' top catching prospect. 

Quicker and more agile than most catchers, Aliendo actually saw brief action at shortstop and third base last season. He's extremely flexible and has soft hands, which should allow him to develop into a quality receiver with more experience. His solid arm strength adds to his defensive package. 

Aliendo has added muscle and improved his plate discipline since signing and if he can continue to do so, he could hit enough to become an everyday player. He shows some promising bat-to-ball skills from the right side of the plate, though he needs to improve his swing decisions. He has some deceptive wiry strength that might turn into 15-homer power if he makes some adjustments to launch more balls in the air.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 40 | Run: 40 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 40

Though the Cubs invested significantly more money in Ronnier Quintero ($2.9 million) and Ethan Hearn ($950,000), Aliendo has surpassed both to rank as the system's top catching prospect. Signed out of Venezuela for $200,000 in 2018, he did little offensively in two seasons in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League and was limited to instructional league development last year. He has made strides at the plate while continuing to show promise behind it during his U.S. debut in Low-A in 2021.

Aliendo stands out most with his athleticism, which has allowed him to see brief action at shortstop and third base this season. He's very flexible and agile for a catcher and projects as a quality receiver as he gains more experience. He possesses solid arm strength as well.

Aliendo held his own as a 19-year-old against older competition in Low-A, leading to hope that he'll hit enough to become an everyday player. He has added strength and improved his plate discipline since turning pro and he's learning to use the entire field. A right-handed hitter, he has average to solid raw power and below-average speed.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	10/11/2024	C Pablo Aliendo assigned to Navegantes del Magallanes.
	08/06/2024	Tennessee Smokies activated C Pablo Aliendo.
	03/07/2024	Chicago Cubs Prospects activated C Pablo Aliendo.
	02/09/2024	Chicago Cubs invited non-roster C Pablo Aliendo to spring training.
	05/30/2023	Tennessee Smokies placed C Pablo Aliendo on the 7-day injured list.
	04/04/2023	C Pablo Aliendo and assigned to Tennessee Smokies from South Bend Cubs.
	02/27/2023	C Pablo Aliendo roster status changed by Chicago Cubs.
	02/27/2023	C Pablo Aliendo assigned to Chicago Cubs.
	03/17/2022	C Pablo Aliendo assigned to Chicago Cubs.
	03/17/2022	C Pablo Aliendo roster status changed by Chicago Cubs.
	08/24/2021	C Pablo Aliendo assigned to South Bend Cubs from Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
	05/02/2021	C Pablo Aliendo assigned to Myrtle Beach Pelicans from AZL Cubs Red.
	09/20/2019	C Pablo Aliendo assigned to AZL Cubs 2 from DSL Cubs2.
	08/17/2018	C Pablo Aliendo assigned to DSL Cubs2 from DSL Cubs1.
	06/03/2018	C Pablo Aliendo assigned to DSL Cubs1.
	05/05/2018	Chicago Cubs signed free agent C Pablo Aliendo to a minor league contract.