Sandy Alcantara is The Sporting Page’s 2026 National League Comeback Player of the Year. The selection recognizes the return of his workload alongside his improved results, with Wednesday’s first career save providing an unusual example of what he has given Miami. This is TSP’s selection, not MLB’s official award.
Alcantara missed all of 2024 recovering from Tommy John surgery. In his first season back, he finished 11-12 with a 5.36 ERA across 174 2/3 innings in 2025. Returning to the rotation had not yet meant returning to his previous effectiveness.
Through September 16, he is 13-10 with a 3.84 ERA, 149 strikeouts and a 1.23 WHIP. His 206 innings lead the majors, and he has made 32 starts. He has also recorded 21 quality starts, up from 12 last season.
That is already 31 1/3 more innings than he threw in 2025, while his ERA has fallen by 1.52 runs. TSP’s choice rests on that sustained improvement, rather than treating one memorable relief appearance as the entire case.
On Wednesday at Chase Field, Alcantara protected a 4-3 lead against Arizona in the ninth inning. He had thrown 101 pitches over five innings against the same opponent Monday, leaving just one day of rest between appearances.
Miami had used eight pitchers in Tuesday’s 11-inning win. Alcantara told pitching coach Daniel Moskos he could work in relief, and manager Clayton McCullough gave him the ninth if a save opportunity developed.
Alcantara retired two batters on fly balls, walked Lars Nootbaar and finished the night when catcher Joe Mack threw out pinch-runner Jordan Lawlar attempting to steal second. He needed 13 pitches to secure his first major-league save in his first relief appearance since 2017.
“I want to compete. I want to win. So every time they give me this opportunity, I will take it,” Alcantara said.
The save does not erase the difficult outings that remain part of his season, nor does TSP’s selection claim he has been baseball’s best pitcher. It recognizes a starter whose return now means more than simply being available: Miami is receiving a substantially larger workload with better results, and on Wednesday that contribution extended beyond his regular turn in the rotation.