Two-time Olympic medalist announces his retirement from Braves

Alvarez found a niche early on the ice, competing in speed skating competitions. He was so enamored with the sport that he turned down a collegiate scholarship at St. Thomas University in Miami to train for a chance at making the U.S. Olympic team. 

An illness contributed to Alvarez falling short of making the 2010 team and he wound up enrolling at Salt Lake Community College so he could remain in Utah to train. He'd attend an open tryout for the baseball team and make the roster, where he'd start at shortstop. 

Alvarez was able to earn a spot on the 2014 Olympic team heading to Sochi, Russia. He'd officially compete in four races, helping the men's relay team to win a silver medal in the 5000 meters. 

That June, Alvarez also signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox after going undrafted. 

He'd work his way up through Chicago's minor league system over the next four years, before being traded to the Miami Marlins in 2019 (for cash considerations). The Marlins would call him up for his MLB debut in August 2020 and he'd get into just 12 games before the team designated him for assignment and off the 40-man roster. 

The next summer, Alvarez missed a portion of the Triple-A season to join the roster for the 2020 Olympics (which were held in the summer of 2021 thanks to the COVID pandemic). Alvarez even drew the honor of being one of the United States' flag bearers at the Olympics' opening ceremonies (alongside women's basketball legend Sue Bird). 

The U.S. baseball team would lose in the finals to Japan, taking home the silver medal. 

Alvarez became the 135th athlete to compete in both the Winter and Summer Olympics and was just the sixth to medal at both. 

His professional career on the diamond has been less impactful. Alvarez played in just 62 games in the major leagues during his career, batting .170/.257/.244 (39 OPS+) with a single home run over 153 plate appearances. 

The 11 seasons he played in the minor leagues, including a stint this year with the Atlanta Braves' Triple-A affiliate, the numbers are much better as he was a .274/.378/.429 hitter in 3714 PA.