The Main Event
- Jose Alvarado (born 1995) – In his six seasons, Alvarado has had a roller coaster ride coming out of the Phillies bullpen.
Few relief pitchers in recent Philadelphia Phillies history have produced as many highs and lows as José Alvarado. The hard-throwing Venezuelan left-hander has been one of the most electric arms in the bullpen — and one of the most complicated stories in the organization.
Alvarado made his MLB debut on May 3, 2017, with the Tampa Bay Rays, arriving quickly after being added to the Rays’ 40-man roster despite never having pitched above High-A. The Rays believed in the raw talent they had signed out of Venezuela in 2012, and the gamble paid off almost immediately. In his first full season with Tampa Bay in 2018, Alvarado threw 64 innings with a 2.39 ERA and a 2.27 FIP, finishing eighth among all MLB relievers in fWAR. He was a legitimate weapon in a Rays bullpen that leaned heavily on its relief corps. However, the follow-up seasons were inconsistent, and after appearing in just nine games during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season with a 6.00 ERA, his time in Tampa Bay came to an end.
A Three-Team Deal and a Fresh Start
The Phillies acquired Alvarado via a three-team trade involving the Rays and the Los Angeles Dodgers following the 2020 season. He came to Philadelphia with obvious talent and obvious questions. The Phillies got answers quickly. Alvarado settled into a key setup role and posted three excellent seasons from 2021 to 2023. He went 7-1 with a 4.20 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 64 games in 2021, then improved with a 3.18 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 51 innings in 2022.
The 2022 postseason run cemented Alvarado as a fixture in the Phillies bullpen. He pitched 12 times in the postseason, picking up a win and a save while striking out 14 batters in 11.1 innings as Philadelphia reached the World Series. His 2023 campaign may have been his best as a Phillie. Among NL relievers that year, he ranked first in strikeouts per nine innings at 13.94 and second in strikeout percentage and FIP. He also went 18 consecutive games without issuing a walk — the longest streak by a Phillies reliever since Jonathan Papelbon in 2014.
Just as Alvarado appeared to be rounding into top form in 2025, the season was upended. On May 18, 2025, MLB announced that Alvarado had received an 80-game suspension without pay after testing positive for exogenous testosterone, a violation of baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Alvarado accepted the suspension without an appeal. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski indicated the positive test was tied to a weight-loss supplement Alvarado had taken in the offseason, saying, “It’s not something he did knowingly.” At the time of his suspension, Alvarado had been off to a solid start with seven saves, a 2.70 ERA, and 25 strikeouts across 20 appearances. The suspension also rendered him ineligible for the 2025 postseason. He was eventually reinstated on August 19, 2025, but could only pitch out the final weeks of the regular season.
Where Alvarado Stands Today
Alvarado remains as a bullpen option for interim manager Don Mattingly, but the early returns have been rocky. His career trajectory is a reminder of how fragile a reliever’s standing can be — moments of dominance interrupted by inconsistency, injury, and now a suspension that will follow his legacy. Whether he can recapture his 2023 form remains the central question surrounding one of Philadelphia’s most talented and turbulent arms. Alvarado is making $9-million this season and is scheduled to hit free agency after the season.
Philadelphia Baseball Events for May 21
- May 21, 1906 – An 11-game win streak by the Philadelphia Athletics is stopped with a 2-1 loss to Cleveland in 13 innings. The Athletics, Cleveland Naps, and New York Highlanders are all battling for the top spot in the American League.
- May 21, 1925 – A’s rookie Mickey Cochrane hits three homers to lead Philadelphia to a 20-4 rout over the Browns. His first two clouts come off Milt Gaston, and the third off George Blaeholder. He will two more home runs the rest of the season.
- May 21, 1950 – The Phils are caught in a triple-play without making contact with the ball. With Richie Ashburn and Granny Hamner on base, Eddie Waitkus looks at a called third strike for the first out. Cardinals catcher Joe Garagiola then threw to third, where Ashburn was caught in a rundown. The ball was relayed to Stan Musial at first, who caught Hamner off the bag.
- May 21, 1967 – The Phils beat the Reds 2-1 in 18 innings at Connie Mack Stadium when Don Lock singled in Dick Allen.
- May 21, 1970 – The Phillies fan 17 times — 16 against future teammate Steve Carlton — but still manage a 4-3 win over St. Louis. Three Phillies — Byron Brown, Larry Hisle, and Deron Johnson — each struck out three times.
- May 21, 1974 – The Phils’ Ed Farmer, in just his second National League start, beats the Cardinals 4-2. Both teams record just four hits, but the visiting Phils do all their scoring in the first off John Curtis. Philadelphia now leads the NL East by 1 1/2 games.
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Philadelphia Baseball Birthdays for May 21
- Eddie Grant (born 1883) – An infielder, Grant played with the Phillies from 1907-1910. He led the league in games (154), plate appearances (700), and at-bats (631) in 1909, while hitting .269. In 1908, he led the league in at-bats (598).
- Neb Stewart (born 1918) – Played just one season – 1940 – but it was with the Phillies. In 10 games, he hit just .129 (4-31).
- Bob Molinaro (born 1950) – Drafted by Detroit in the second round of the 1968 June Draft out of Essex Catholic High School in Newark, NJ, Molinaro played eight MLB seasons as a utility man and corner outfielder. His contract was purchased from the Cubs in August, 1982 and he was released by the Phillies in June, 1983, hitting just .188 as a Phillie.
- Joe Ross (born 1993) – A former first round pick of the San Diego Padres, Ross pitched in 37 games for the 2025 Phillies with a 2-1, 5.12 record.
- David Hernandez (born 2007) – Signed as an international free agent out of Culiacan, Mexico in January of 2025, Hernandez has pitched in three games with the Phillies Florida Complex League (FCL) team and has a 2.84 ERA with four walks and 13 strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work.
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