Abe Alvarez

Abraham (Abe) Alvarez, (born October 17 1982 in Los Angeles, California), is a pitcher in Major League Baseball who currently plays for the Boston Red Sox organization. He bats and throws left handed.

College career

Alvarez attended Long Beach State University, where he posted a 23-5 record with a 2.56 ERA in three seasons. As a junior in 2003, he was named an All-American by Baseball America after going 11-2 with a 2.35 ERA in 18 starts.

Minor league career

Signed by the Boston Red Sox in 2003, Alvarez made his professional debut with short-season Single-A Lowell Spinners. He posted no record and did not allow an earned run in 19.0 innings over nine starts, struck out 19 and walked just two hitters. He limited opponents to a .138 batting average and did not walk a batter in his first six starts.

In 2004, Alvarez was named Pitcher of the Year for Double-A Portland Sea Dogs after going 10-9 with a 3.59 ERA in 26 starts in his first full pro season. He limited opposite hitters to a .252 average, posted a 3.4 strikeout-to-walk ratio (108-to-32), and was also named to the Eastern League's mid-season All-Star team.

Major league career

• July 22, 2004 - The Red Sox summoned Alvarez from Double-A Portland when a spot starter was needed for a doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles. Alvarez allowed five runs on eight hits, two strikeouts, and five walks over 5.0 innings of an 8-3 loss. He was sent back to the minors after the game, but the debut kept on giving.

• July 2, 2005 - Boston placed reliever Matt Mantei on the 15-day disabled list with a left ankle ligament sprain and recalled Alvarez from Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox. At the time of promotion, Alvarez was 7-3 with a 4.23 ERA in 16 starts for the PawSox, including wins in five of his past six decisions. He was expected to work out of Boston's bullpen, but was sent to Pawtucket the next day.

Fact

• Alvarez is legally blind in his right eye, and wears his hat somewhat off-center to adjust the lighting to his left eye, not as a fashion statement.

External links

• MLB page - biography and highlights
• ESPN - profile and daily updates
• Minor League News - FAB50 2005 Ones2Watch - interview & award
• Baseball Reference - career statistics and analysis