The Oakland Athletics have signed corner infielder Armando Alvarez to a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to big-league spring training. Alvarez spent the 2023 season with the SF Giants organization, and was one of their most consistent contributors at Triple-A Sacramento. Alvarez was in the New York Yankees organization from 2016-2022 before inking a minor-league deal with San Francisco last offseason.
Alvarez was sidelined early in 2023 with an injury, but hit .313/.389/.569 with 18 doubles and 18 home runs in 82 games between Rookie Ball and Triple-A. He also posted impressive strikeout (15.8%) and (10.7%) walk rates. Alvarez appeared in a handful of games at second base, but primarily split his time between first base, third base, and designated hitter.
A right-handed hitter, Alvarez has long shown significant platoon splits. Given the Giants struggles against left-handed pitching last season, it seemed like Alvarez might finally receive a big-league call up. However, with a backlog of corner bats on the roster, he remained in the minors.
Alvarez was drafted by the Yankees out of Eastern Kentucky back in 2016 and was never able to emerge as a top prospect in the Bronx Bombers' farm system. In fact, he never ranked among Baseball America's ranking of the organization's top 30 prospects.
Alvarez had a solid pro debut but struggled mightily in his first full season between Single-A and High-A. Still, the Yankees promoted him to Double-A in 2018, and he held his own in the pitcher-friendly Eastern League with a .262/.314/.440 triple-slash with 31 doubles and 11 home runs.
The Miami, Florida native continued to be a solid but unexceptional performer in the upper minors the following season, reaching Triple-A. Alvarez returned to Triple-A following the pandemic-canceled 2020 minor-league season, but took until 2022 to take a step forward.
In 91 games that season, Alvarez hit .278/.319/.525 with a career-high 18 home runs. It's worth pointing out that the Yankees Triple-A affiliate is in a much more pitcher-friendly environment than the Pacific Coast League. Still, Alvarez's numbers were not impressive enough to be added to the 40-man roster.
Now on his third professional organization, Armando Alvarez will look to crack the Oakland Athletics Opening Day roster next spring. While he's on the older side for a prospect (29), Alvarez has nearly 1,300 career plate appearances at Triple-A with an OPS north of .800. Given the lack of proven hitters on the A's roster, he should have an opportunity to at least make his MLB debut.
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