Dodgers Prospect Yadier Alvarez in a Precarious Spot with Club in Spring Training
Longtime Dodgers pitching prospect Yadier Alvarez showed up to spring training as pitchers and catchers reported last week. However, it remains uncertain if he was expected to show.
The Cuban right-hander was placed on the restricted list last summer because of “multiple unexcused absences.” He had a similar issue late in the 2018 season as well, as covered by Jacob Rudner.
Some troubling news: Dodgers’ prosper Yadier Alvarez has reportedly left the team. There was some sort of disagreement in the clubhouse yesterday with him and the management and he left. Gathered all of his belongings as well.
— Jacob Rudner (@JacobRudner) September 2, 2018
Ken Gurnick had the latest on Alvarez in a blurb on dodgers.com.
The status of right-hander Yadier Álvarez remains fuzzy. He spent most of last year on the restricted list after leaving Double-A Tulsa. He reported to camp with the other pitchers, but apparently remains on the restricted list and hasn’t been allowed to work out on the field.
Alvarez was added to the 40-man roster last off-season along with Matt Beaty, Keibert Ruiz, and Edwin Rios. However, he made only two professional appearances (with Double-A Tulsa) in 2019, allowing 6 earned runs in 3.2 innings pitched.
The hard-throwing Alvarez — who once ranked as high as the 26th best prospect by Baseball Prospectus — can touch triple-digits with his fastball, but has long struggled with control issues.
He remains a member of the organization, but off the 40-man roster — similar to the Andrew Toles situation. However, Toles is not expected to show up to camp.
There’s a chance that Alvarez was welcomed to camp by the club but remains on the restricted list while a roster spot is once again created for him — however this is purely speculative.
NEXT: Dodgers Sign Pitcher Keiran Lovegrove to Minor League Contract
Time to move on from this guy. Can the team ever really trust him?