Position: RHP
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 183 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 02/23/1999
Country: Dominican Republic
Signed: International Free Agent, 2015 (Nationals)
How Acquired: Free Agent
Bonus: N/A
40-man Roster: Yes
Rule 5 Eligible: N/A
Minor League Free Agency: N/A
Options Left: 3
Overview
The Nationals originally signed Alvarado as an outfielder. After one season, though, they moved him to the mound, where he’s pitched almost exclusively in relief. He’s averaged 97 mph with his fastball but also relies a lot on a slider. He misses a lot of bats but also has control trouble. That’s apparently kept him moving up and down in the lower and middle levels of the minors — he started pitching in 2018 but didn’t reach AAA until 2024. He qualified for minor league free agency after both the 2023 and 2024 seasons. The Pirates signed him to a split contract after the latter, giving him a 40-man roster spot for the first time.
2017-20
Alvarado played the outfield in the DSL in 2017 and batted .139. The next year, Washington moved him to the mound and also up to the then-GCL. His numbers were bad, as you’d expect, mostly from poor control. In 2019, Alvarado returned to the GCL and continued to struggle, but at the end of July the Nationals sent him to the Mariners in a deadline deal. Seattle sent him to advanced rookie ball and he also appeared once in low A. He pitched much better after the trade. Overall on the season, he struck out 10.7 batters per nine innings overall, while walking six. He didn’t play in 2020.
2021-23
Alvarado spent 2021 in low A and had a rough time, getting hit hard and walking just one less than he struck out. After the season, Detroit claimed him in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft.
In 2022-23, Alvarado moved up and down both years between the two class A levels and AA. He pitched well in 2022, with a composite 2.72 ERA and 2.7 BB/9. The next season was different, as he had some trouble with injuries and gopher balls, putting up a composite ERA of 5.18 among the three levels. He still had good walk and K rates, at 3.8 and 10.9 per nine innings, respectively. He became a free agent after the season and Miami signed him to a minor league deal.
2024
In 2024, the Marlins sent Alvarado to AAA, where he spent the season apart from missing a month with an injury and making two rehab appearances in high A. He managed a 2.79 ERA in AAA despite a 1.47 WHIP and 7.1 BB/9. He missed a lot of bats, fanning 13.2 per nine innings.
The Pirates signed Alvarado to a split contract after he became a minor league free agent again. He’ll get a minor league salary while he’s in the minors and probably the major league minimum, or near it, while he’s with the Pirates. He has three options remaining.
Stats
TRANSACTIONS
July 16, 2015: Signed by the Washington Nationals as an international free agent.
July 31, 2019: Traded by the Washington Nationals with Aaron Fletcher and Taylor Guilbeau to the Seattle Mariners for Hunter Strickland and Roenis Elias.
December 8, 2021: Claimed by the Detroit Tigers in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft from the Seattle Mariners.
November 6, 2023: Became a free agent.
January 25, 2024: Signed by the Miami Marlins as a minor league free agent.
November 4, 2024: Became a free agent.
December 28, 2024: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a free agent.