Former Sox prospect makes Olympic history
Here’s what Alvarez, Jackson, Frazier had to say after US baseball won silver
YOKOHAMA — Former White Sox prospect Eddy Alvarez made history Saturday, becoming the third U.S. athlete to win a medal in both the Summer and Winter games.
The Sox signed Alvarez to a minor-league contract in June 2014, just a few months after he won silver as part of the 5,000-meter short-track speedskating relay team in Sochi. He tucked the medal away in a safety deposit box at the bank when he got home — “My mom is a safe keeper,” he said — and assumed he would never compete in another Olympics.
Alvarez, who also was the co-U.S. flag bearer in the opening ceremony, spent five seasons in the Sox farm system. He is now in Triple A with the Miami Marlins after playing in 12 major-league games for the team in 2020. His appearance in the majors made him the first non-baseball Olympian to play Major League Baseball since Jim Thorpe in 1913.
He joins boxer/ bobsledder Eddie Egan and sprinter/ bobsledder Lauryn Williams as the only U.S. athletes to medal in both Olympics.
Alvarez cried after winning the semifinal game that assured him a medal of some color. He was less emotional Saturday following the U.S. team’s 2-0 loss to Japan.
“It’s a tough pill to swallow when you’re so close to winning and you fall short,” he said. “It’s one of those things that will hit me eventually how blessed I am to be a part of this.”
Here’s what Alvarez and other former White Sox players had to say about their podium finish.
Eddy Alvarez, former Sox infielder
On his silver medal
It feels like déjà vu. It’s just as heavy as the other one. Same color, little different design, but it’s still an incredible journey and a great group of guys.
On competing in the both Games
Once I retired from skating, never in my wildest dream did I think I would have a chance to come back to the Olympics. To not ever be part of this movement again? It was a tough one. Then I got a second chance and, boy, was I happy.
Edwin Jackson, former Sox and Cubs pitcher
On being an Olympian
This has been an amazing experience. Obviously we fell short of the main goal we had, but to even be here and be able to have a silver medal is lifetime experience. It’s something I will never forget.
I’m definitely grateful to call myself a silver medalist. It’s something I never would have imagined.
On the Japanese team’s victory
They executed. Baseball is a game of execution. They came out and played well tonight. Sometimes you have to tip your cap to the other team when they come out an play that well.
On the doubts about the Team USA roster
Nobody thought we would get this far. I looked at some posts on social media as we were putting the team together and they called it a ‘throwback’ team, which I thought was kinda humorous. But with that throwback you’ve got a lot of experience, a lot of leadership within that clubhouse.
We were able to come together with the young guys and make it here. And not only make it here, but come out and get a medal. We fell short of what we wanted, but I think we exceeded a lot of other people’s expectations.
On where he’ll keep his medal
I don’t know yet. I’ll let my kids play around with it for a little bit, then I’ll find some place to build a shrine for it.
Todd Frazier, former Sox infielder
On giving credit to Japan’s pitchers
They pitched a hell of a game. They got first-pitch strikes. It just wasn’t our day at the plate. No other way around it. No excuses. We did not have many opportunities with men in scoring position with less than two outs. Hard to win games that way.
On falling short
They got us today. Today was the day we needed to win, and unfortunately it didn’t happen.
On baseball’s future in the Olympics
I hope they understand that the passion in sport deserves to be in the Olympics every four years.”