Houston Astros

Alcalá signed with the Houston Astros as an international free agent in December 2014. He made his professional debut in 2015 with the Dominican Summer League Astros, going 2–0 with a 3.06 ERA in 32.1 innings pitched. He played 2016 with the Gulf Coast Astros, Greeneville Astros and Tri-City ValleyCats, pitching to a combined 3–3 record with a 2.41 ERA in 15 games (ten starts) between the three teams. He played 2017 with the Quad Cities River Bandits and Buies Creek Astros, compiling a 7–6 record with a 3.05 ERA in 22 games (18 starts), and started 2018 with Buies Creek before being promoted to the Corpus Christi Hooks.^[1]

Minnesota Twins

On July 27, 2018, Alcalá and Gilberto Celestino were traded to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Ryan Pressly.^[2][3] He was assigned to the Chattanooga Lookouts. In 24 games (16 starts) between Buies Creek, Corpus Christi, and Chattanooga, he pitched to a 3–11 record with a 3.81 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP.^[4] He split the 2019 minor league season between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and the Rochester Red Wings, combining to go 6–7 with a 5.47 ERA over 109 innings.^[5][6]

On September 14, 2019, the Twins selected Alcalá's contract and promoted him to the major leagues.^[7] He made his major league debut on September 21 versus the Kansas City Royals, pitching +2⁄3 of an inning.^[8]

With the 2020 Minnesota Twins, Alcalá appeared in 16 games, compiling a 2–1 record with 2.63 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 24.0 innings pitched.^[9]

In 2021, Alcalá appeared in 59 games for the Twins. He ended the year with a 3–6 record, a 3.92 ERA, and 61 strikeouts across 59.2 innings.^[10]

Alcalá only appeared in 2 games during the 2022 season. Unfortunately, elbow inflammation essentially wiped out his entire season, as he was placed on the injured list 5 games into the year, before being shut down for the season in August.^[11] He pitched 2.1 innings, striking out 2 while walking 2 other batters.^[12]

On January 13, 2023, Alcalá agreed to a one-year, $790K contract with the Twins, avoiding salary arbitration.^[13] On May 16, Alcalá was placed on the injured list with a forearm injury;^[14] after undergoing an MRI, he was diagnosed with a radial stress fracture in his right forearm.^[15] He was transferred to the 60–day injured list on June 18.^[16] On September 10, Alcalá began a rehab assignment with the Low–A Fort Myers Miracle,^[17] and was activated from the injured list on October 1.^[18]