Miami native Alvarez impresses in bid for roster
Ask Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly what he likes about Eddy Alvarez, and you’ll get a pretty sizable list.
He’s a switch-hitter. He plays multiple positions on defense. He’s a sound hitter. He’s aggressive on the basepaths.
“I like the kid,” Mattingly concludes. “I think he’s got a chance to help us depending on what happens during this camp.”
Making it on an MLB roster is the next goal for Alvarez, a 30-year-old Miami native and Columbus High graduate whose athletic resume already includes a 2014 Winter Olympics silver medal in speedskating.
And while there’s no guarantee that he plays for the Marlins this season — he’s a non-roster invitee on a minor-league deal — the fact that he’s part of the team’s 60-player roster pool and that he’s at Marlins Park is telling about how the Marlins feel about him.
“Obviously, he’s a guy that we thought that could help us over the course of the season,” Mattingly said, “or he wouldn’t be on this roster.”
Alvarez made a valuable first impression to the organization in 2019, posting a .323 batting average with 18 doubles, 12 home runs, 43 RBI and 48 runs scored in 66 Triple A games. He was steady during spring training as well before the coronavirus pandemic put the sport on hold for three-plus months.
“We’re pieces of the puzzle,” Alvarez said during spring training. “If I fit in a certain algorithm, then it’ll be time for me to go. It’s tough as a baseball player, it really is, not knowing much, but you just have to play.”
Now, he’s starting to turn heads again. Alvarez has been one of the better hitters since the team began scrimmaging last week.
“This guy’s a good little player,” Mattingly said.
MARLINS TAKING COVID-19 SERIOUSLY
South Florida continues to be a hotbed for the novel coronavirus, with Miami-Dade County accounting for 67,713 of the state’s 282,435 confirmed positive cases — or just under 25 percent.
Mattingly said the Marlins understand the gravity of the pandemic and reaffirmed that the organization is taking every possible precaution to ensure the team’s safety.
“It’s a serious situation,” Mattingly said. “We’re taking it serious, but it’s been serious the whole time down here and I feel like we’ve been pretty consistent with it.”
Teams are required to undergo COVID-19 testing every other day. The Marlins have had four players test positive — one during the team’s initial intake screening and three prior to that.
MONDAY OBSERVATIONS
After 10 days of stretching, batting practice and abbreviated scrimmages, the Marlins held their first true simulated game on Monday.
Full lineups. Full defense. Full action. Five innings worth of it.
The final score: 0-0. Some players took additional live batting practice afterward.
Some notables from the outing:
The Away Marlins, wearing white, starting lineup was second baseman Isan Diaz, third baseman Brian Anderson,
first baseman Jesus Aguilar, catcher Jorge Alfaro,
shortstop Miguel Rojas,
left fielder Monte Harrison, right fielder Jesus Sanchez, designated hitter Chad Wallach and center fielder Magneuris Sierra. Nick Neidert was the starting pitcher.
The Home Marlins, wearing their spring training blue, had a lineup of center fielder Jonathan Villar, shortstop Jon Berti,
left fielder Corey Dickerson,
right fielder Harold Ramirez, first baseman Garrett Cooper, catcher Francisco Cervelli, designated hitter
Lewin Diaz, third baseman Sean Rodriguez and second baseman Alvarez. Robert Dugger started on the mound.
Neidert and Dugger each lasted four innings. Neidert gave up three hits and two walks while striking out three. Dugger gave up two hits and struck out two.
Alfaro, Dickerson and Rodriguez each hit a double.
Players were allowed to steal bases for the first time since simulated games began. Both Alfaro and Cervelli sailed their first throws to second attempting to get runners, but Alfaro rebounded in the fourth when he nabbed Dickerson attempting to steal second.
Sterling Sharp and
Aaron Northcraft threw the fifth inning of the scrimmage and each worked himself out of a jam. Sharp loaded the bases with two outs on a Rodriguez double, Alvarez walk and Berti walk but got Dickerson to fly out to shallow left-center. Northcraft had Wallach at third base and Sierra at first base. A double-steal attempt ended with Wallach tagged out at home.