José Alvarado (baseball)

José Antonio Alvarado (born May 21, 1995) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB).

José Alvarado
José Alvarado pitching with the Rays in 2018
Tampa Bay Rays – 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 2019 season)
Win–loss record2–15
Earned run average3.27
Strikeouts148
Teams
Career highlights and awards
  • Pitched an immaculate inning on August 4, 2017

Alvarado signed with the Tampa Bay Rays as an international free agent in March 2012. The Rays added him to their 40-man roster after the 2016 season.[1]

Professional career

Minor Leagues

Alvarado was signed as a pitcher out of Venezuela in 2012, when he was only 16 years old. He 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 ERA of 1.97 in 2013. In 2014, Alvarado was on the Rays rookie league team, he started 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.[2] In 2016 he converted to the bullpen and improved dramatically, posting a 3.06 ERA between Low-A and High-A with an 85/55 K/BB in 71 innings. In 2017, Alvarado played for the Montgomery Biscuts, where he posted a 2-1 record in 9 games (11.1 innings) with an ERA of 2.38.[3]

Tampa Bay Rays

On May 3, Alvarado was called up directly from Double-A Montgomery to give the Rays a left-handed option out of the bullpen. He was only 21 when he received the call up. Alvarado made his debut the same day, getting hit hard and allowing 3 runs on 2 hits in his only inning of work. He calmed down after his debut, only allowing one run in his next 10 appearances.[4] On August 4, 2017, Alvarado pitched an immaculate inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in a game at Tropicana Field. He 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, Alvarado finished the season with a 2.39 earned run average (second on team), 8 saves (third on team), 31 holds (tied with teammate Chaz Roe for most in the American League), an 11.3 strikeout per nine (highest on team) in 64 innings over 70 games (second most on team).[5] During the 2019 season, he struggled with inconsistency and injury, appearing in only 35 games after leaving the United States in June for family reasons,[6] 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.[4]

José Alvarado delivering a pitch on April 4, 2018 at Yankee Stadium

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, 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. He has two children, a daughter and a son.[7]

See also

References
  1. "Rays trade Motter and Shaffer to Mariners, add 8 prospects to roster". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  2. "Jose Alvarado Stats, Highlights, Bio | MiLB.com Stats | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  3. Sickels, John (May 5, 2017). "MLB Rookie Profile: Jose Alvarado, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays". Minor League Ball. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  4. "Jose Alvarado Stats, Fantasy & News". Tampa Bay Rays. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  5. "2018 Tampa Bay Rays Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  6. "Rays' Alvarado pulled in 7th with oblique strain". ESPN. July 6, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  7. "Rays turn to rookies Jose Alvarado, Ryne Stanek to turn up heat in bullpen". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
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