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Pedro Alvarez signs autographs for fans before Friday’s game in Altoona. Jason Sipes/For The Tribune-Democrat
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Alvarez goes 0-for-5 at BCB
ALTOONA — Pedro Alvarez’s arrival in Altoona might have been the most hyped Curve debut since the Class AA team opened play at Blair County Ballpark
10 years ago.
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ top-ranked prospect already had played three games for the Curve since his promotion from Class A Lynchburg. But Friday was the
22-year-old third baseman’s first home game – a happening that attracted plenty of spectators, media and scouts.
Unfortunately for Alvarez and the Curve, the script didn’t unfold quite the way Altoona fans might have envisioned.
Alvarez went 0-for-5 and made his second error of the game in the ninth inning as the Bowie Baysox added two insurance runs in a 6-3 Curve loss.
Bowie right-hander Ryohei Tanaka struck out Alvarez with an 82-mile-an-hour curveball to end the game.
“Every hitter wants to be in that situation to get the clutch hit,” said Alvarez, who stranded six baserunners and made the inning’s final out four times. “It just so happened that I wasn’t fortunate enough to get it there. I’ve got to keep my head up (and) get the opportunity again.”
Curve manager Matt Walbeck believes that opportunity will come soon enough.
“He’ll make the adjustment. Good players always do,” Walbeck said. “He’s got a great swing. He has tremendous bat speed. Guys with that type of talent, it’s just a matter of time before they find it.”
The Pirates selected Vanderbilt’s Alvarez in the first round last year, second overall.
He signed a four-year, $6,355,000 contract. Pittsburgh hasn’t had this type of high-profile player in the system since Clemson pitcher Kris Benson was drafted first overall in 1996. Alvarez has been billed as the most eagerly anticipated hitting prospect since the Bucs took Arizona State’s Barry Bonds in the first round in 1985.
A day before he played his first game with the Curve on Tuesday in Erie, the Eastern League club held a press conference to enable local and Pittsburgh media to better cover the slugger’s promotion.
Alvarez then drew more attention in Erie, especially after hitting homers in consecutive games on Wednesday and Thursday, both Curve victories.
“Certainly it’s always exciting when you have a top prospect like this,” Curve GM Rob Egan said. “We haven’t really had one quite to this level, quite this hyped with all of the attention last year with the draft and the signing process involving Pedro. From an interest level, from the media perspective and the baseball community, interest is very high.”
A crowd of 5,125 attended Friday’s game against the Baysox. The Curve had averaged 3,942 fans in 28 home games prior to Friday.
In Alvarez’s first at-bat against Bowie he fouled two grounders on the first-base side, then swung and missed on a breaking ball for a strikeout. He flied to center on the first pitch of his second at-bat.
Alvarez followed with a foul pop out in his third trip.
With Alvarez in the on-deck circle in the seventh, the Baysox intentionally walked No. 3 hitter Jose Tabata to put runners on the corners with two outs.
Alvarez struck out.
“I’m pretty hard on myself and no one is going to be harder on me than myself,” Alvarez said prior to the game. “I think I do a pretty good job of staying focused. I know what I have to work on and I have to work hard every day. If I just keep my head in the game I should be fine.”
With Lynchburg, eight of Alvarez’s
14 home runs gave his team the lead and two others tied the game in the ninth inning. He also had 55 RBIs in 68 games.
“The thing that I’ve noticed is the game is a little quicker and the guys throw a little harder (in Double-A),” Alvarez said.
“The swing looks a little easier when they’re up there but the ball just jumps off their bat and on defense you have to be a little quicker. Pitching-wise, the guys have better stuff and better command. They’re around the plate a little bit more. The game is a little more refined. Everything is a little more magnified.”
With his Double-A debut and first home game out of the way, perhaps Alvarez will find a more normal routine.
“He’s definitely a draw, and for good reason,” Walbeck said.
“In batting practice he hit one close to the roller coaster (behind right field). That was something to be seen. We haven’t seen one hit quite that far.
“He’s a first-round draft pick for a reason,” Walbeck added.
“His attitude speaks for itself. He realizes that once he gets between the lines, he has a job to do. I guess it comes with the territory when you’re that good.”
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