PHILADEPLHIA — José Alvarado sat on the top seat of the Phillies‘ dugout bench alongside Assistant General Manager and translator Jorge Velandia awaiting questions from a large media scrum Tuesday afternoon. The towering 6-foot-2 flame-throwing lefty looked comfortable in his return to Citizens Bank Park.
“I’m so happy to be here again with my teammates. Thank you, God”, Alvarado said with a smile.
The 30-year-old, who posted a public apology on his Instagram earlier in the afternoon, said he talked to his teammates and coaching staff and apologized for his suspension in a speech that Manager Rob Thomson said “went well.”
Alvarado’s time away
Away from the club for 10 weeks, the southpaw focused on staying in shape and keeping up with his throwing to be ready for his return down the home stretch to pick back up where he started in his fifth season with the Phillies.
“It was extremely tough to be away from his teammates, fans and everybody involved in his life. He’s ready to go, he assumed responsibility and ready to move past this episode of his life and move forward, and to create a new journey in his life,” Alvarado said through Velandia.
“It’s great,” Thomson said on getting his original closer back in the clubhouse.
“I think he’s in a good frame of mind. He’s really energetic and really happy to be here.”
Alvarado was suspended 80-games after testing positive for exogenous testosterone, stemming from a weight loss drug the relief pitcher took in the off-season according to the team. Through Velandia, Alvarado said that the weight loss drug did not enhance his ability on the mound.
“He’s always thrown hard. He doesn’t believe, whatsoever, whatever he took helped his performance. He’s always been a hard thrower and a big guy. He took that to take some weight off and stuff like that, but he doesn’t believe in any shape it helped his performance.”
Alvarado spent the bulk of the suspension in Venezuela taking a step away from social media, focusing on throwing to live hitters and staying in shape making sure when he is eligible to return on August 19 he can help the Phillies strengthen their grip on a playoff spot. He was also very in tune with how his team had been doing during his suspension.
“I watched them every night,” Alvarado said in English. “I said to my family this is my time. but it happened. I just say I flush the toilet,” he said with a smile.
Thomson said that Alvarado will most likely get work in with Lehigh Valley while the Phillies embark on a nine-game road trip starting Friday, but Thomson was unsure if the lefty will travel back and forth from Allentown and Philadelphia during that stretch.
Alvarado is 4-1 with a 2.70 ERA with seven saves in 20 appearances this season and once able to rejoin the team, can form a lethal combo with Jhoan Durán in late innings for the Phillies, who enter Tuesday’s game 1.5 games ahead of the Mets in the NL East.
Thomson sticking to the platoon and his word
Tuesday’s starting lineup has Max Kepler starting instead of Harrison Bader, despite the newly added outfielder hitting a three-run home run in the 13-3 rout of the Orioles in yesterday’s series opener. Thomson did mention prior to the homestand he was planning to implement a platoon for the six games and he’s sticking to it.
Bader is 3-for-6 against O’s starter Dean Kremer with a double and a walk, but Thomson noted that Kepler is 1-for-4 with a home run against the right-hander.
The Phillies manager did mention pregame that he will address the outfield on the team’s off day Thursday and inform the group what the plan will be moving forward.
Phillies Injuries and farm system report
Alec Bohm ran the bases on Tuesday afternoon and also did some sliding and diving, according to Thomson. The plan for the third baseman (fractured left rib) is to go to Lehigh Valley over the weekend. He’ll either finish his rehab work or go on an official rehab assignment.
David Robertson will continue to get more work in with Lehigh Valley. His velocity and command are not where they need to be quite yet, and Thomson said the righty will join the team “when he’s ready.”
As for top prospect Andrew Painter, Thomson said they just want him to continue to do what he has done the last two starts.
“Just keep going. Stay healthy and pound the zone.”
Photo Credit: Cory Nidoh
