José Alvarado (baseball)

José Antonio Alvarado (born May 21, 1995) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). Alvarado previously played for the Tampa Bay Rays, having signed there as an international free agent, in March 2012. Alvarado made his major league debut in 2017.

José Alvarado
José Alvarado pitching with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018
Philadelphia Phillies – No. 46
Pitcher
Born: (1995-05-21) May 21, 1995
Maracaibo, Zulia, Venezuela
Bats: Left Throws: Left
MLB debut
May 3, 2017, for the Tampa Bay Rays
Career statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record2–15
Earned run average3.46
Strikeouts161
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Professional career

Minor leagues

Alvarado was signed as a pitcher out of his native Venezuela in 2012, when he was 16 years old. Alvarado pitched his first two seasons in the Venezuelan Summer League, where he was used as a starter, posting a 3–11 total record with an earned run average (ERA) of 1.97 in 2013. In 2014, Alvarado was on the Rays rookie league team, starting 11 games, going 1–5 with a 3.79 ERA.

In 2015, Alvarado still played in rookie league, and struggled mightily in 5 starts, posting an ERA of 9.53 as he walked 13 batters in 17 innings.[1] In 2016, Alvarado converted to the bullpen and improved dramatically, posting a 3.06 ERA between Low-A and High-A with an 85/55 K/BB ratio in ​70 2⁄3 innings, but walked 7.4 batters per nine innings.[2] The Rays added him to their 40-man roster after the 2016 season.[3] In 2017, he played for the Double-A Montgomery Biscuts, posting a 2–1 record in 9 games (​11 1⁄3 innings) with an ERA of 2.38.[4]

Tampa Bay Rays

On May 3, 2017, Alvarado was called up directly from Montgomery to give the Rays a left-handed option out of the bullpen, at 21 years of age. He made his debut the same day, getting hit hard and allowing 3 runs on 2 hits in his only inning of work. Alvarado calmed down after his debut, only allowing one run in his next 10 appearances.[5] On August 4, 2017, he pitched an immaculate inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in a game at Tropicana Field. Alvarado finished the season 0–3 with a 3.64 ERA in ​29 2⁄3 innings.

In 2018, Alvarado was a key contributor to the Rays bullpen, specifically in late, high leverage situations. Overall, he finished the season with a 2.39 ERA (ranking second on his team), 8 saves (third on team), 31 holds (tied for most in the American League (AL) with teammate Chaz Roe), an 11.3 strikeouts per nine IP (highest on team) in 64 innings over 70 games (second most on team).[6]

During the 2019 season, Alvarez struggled with inconsistency and injury, appearing in only 35 games after leaving the United States in June for family reasons,[7] being placed on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain, and spending the entire month of September on the injured list with left elbow inflammation. In 30 innings, Alvarado posted a 4.80 ERA, striking out 39 batters while walking 27 — nearly one an inning.[5]

Philadelphia Phillies

On December 29, 2020, Alvarado was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies as part of a three-team trade that sent Garrett Cleavinger from Philadelphia to the Los Angeles Dodgers and minor leaguer Dillon Paulson and a player to be named later from the Dodgers to the Rays.[8]

Scouting profile

Alvarado is 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall and weighs 245 pounds (111 kg). He throws a 2-seam fastball which consistently ranges from 96 to 99 mph, and a power curveball which is in the low to mid-80s. Alvarado has struggled to find control in the majors (4.8 walks per nine innings), as well as the minors (6.0 walks per nine innings),[2] which was a major reason in his switch from the rotation to the bullpen.

Personal life

Alvarado grew up in Venezuela. He likes to hunt 3-foot iguanas and paca, with a slingshot. Alvarado has two children, a daughter and a son.[9]

See also

References
  1. "Jose Alvarado Stats, Highlights". MiLB.com. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  2. "José Alvarado Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  3. Topkin, Marc (November 19, 2016). "Rays trade Motter and Shaffer to Mariners, add 8 prospects to roster". tampabay.com. Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  4. Sickels, John (May 5, 2017). "MLB Rookie Profile: José Alvarado, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays". minorleagueball.com. Minor League Ball. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  5. "Jose Alvarado Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  6. "2018 Tampa Bay Rays Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  7. "Rays' Alvarado pulled in 7th with oblique strain". ESPN.com. ESPN. July 6, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  8. Simon, Andrew (December 29, 2020). "LA nets prospect Cleavinger in 3-team trade". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  9. Topkin, Marc (May 18, 2017). "Rays turn to rookies Jose Alvarado, Ryne Stanek to turn up heat in bullpen". tampabay.com. Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
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