Manny Alvarez
| IP | 255 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.635 |
| WHIP | 1.329 |
| BB/9 | 3.424 |
| SO/9 | 7.376 |
- Full name Manuel Alejandro Alvarez
- Born 12/18/1985 in Caracas, Venezuela
- Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R
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Organization Prospect Rankings
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The Mets added Alvarez to the 40-man roster in early November, preventing him from leaving the organization as a minor league free agent. He would have generated interest from other teams after leading all minor league pure relievers in WHIP (0.85) and ranking fourth in K-BB ratio (7.0) last season. The definition of a late bloomer, Alvarez signed with the Expos in February 2004 but never made it to full-season ball in three seasons before earning his release. The Mets signed him in January 2007, in part because international scouting director Ismael Cruz knew him from their days together in the Montreal organization. Given a new lease on his career, Alvarez still languished in short-season leagues for two more seasons before graduating to full-season ball in 2009. Things began to come together for him last season when he ascended to closing games for Binghamton before finishing the year in Triple-A. Alvarez began to sit more comfortably at 91-92 mph and touch 93 with his sinker, while mixing in a cutter to give him something hard to throw to his glove side. His average slider sweeps late off the barrel of righthanders, and he'll mix in an occasional below-average changeup. With a burly build, Alvarez hides the ball well, but improved command has made the biggest difference. He doesn't project as a bullpen anchor, but he now throws enough strikes with conviction to fit in middle relief. He'll probably begin 2011 back in Buffalo.
