Chicago Cubs call up prospect Arismendy Alcantara

Arismendy Alcantara, ranked as one of the game's top 100 prospects by Baseball America, has been called up by the Chicago Cubs to replace second baseman Darwin Barney. Barney has been placed on the paternity leave and will miss the next two days. 

ESPN's Jesse Rogers reports that the club has already informed Alcantara that he'll only be up while Barney is away from the team, but Barney's name has been linked to trade rumors and it's possible he could get moved before the July 31 deadline. 

A second baseman by trade after sliding over from shortstop a year ago due to the presence of another of the team's top prospects, Javier Baez, Alcantara was widely viewed as one of the top prospects in baseball coming into the season. The 22-year-old is hitting .307 with 10 home runs, 25 doubles, 11 triples, and 21 stolen bases at Triple-A in 2014, and is expected to play in the Triple-A All Star Game next week. 

Barney is hitting .224 on the season with two home runs and 16 RBI, but is considered to be an elite defender. He still has two additional seasons of team control remaining after this one which could make him attractive to another club on the trade market in the coming weeks.

- Aaron Somers