José Alvarado gets warm welcome back after suspension
After a three-month absence, the Philadelphia Phillies reinstated José Alvarado from the restricted list on Aug. 19. He was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley prior to their Tuesday night game against Seattle, and in his first MLB pitching appearance since May 16, Alvarado got a warm welcome back as he took the mound at Citizens Bank Park.
Alvarado returned to a standing ovation from the Philly faithful during the Phillies-Mariners game on August 20. He pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning with a strikeout, allowing no runs.
Joe Ross followed Alvarado to close out things in the ninth, as the Phillies went on to win 11-2 and capture the series sweep of the Mariners.
“I’m just extremely happy to have received that reception,” Alvarado said. “It makes me really happy and optimistic.”
Alvarado, a mainstay in the backend of the Phillies bullpen since 2021, was suspended 80 games as a result of a positive drug test. He was placed on the restricted list on May 18. His suspension makes him ineligible for the postseason. Alvarado was 4-1 with seven saves and a 2.70 ERA prior to his suspension.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson praised Alvarado’s composure in his return.
“Alvarado was good,” Thomson said. “ His velocity was good and he looked comfortable.”
Alvarado’s return to the roster adds another solid arm to a Phillies bullpen that has been rocky all season. There’s also a few new faces in the ‘pen since he last stepped foot in Citizens Bank Park.
Alvarado joins Jhoan Duran, the star closer who the Minnesota Twins traded to the Phillies at the trade deadline, and David Robertson, the 40-year-old veteran on his third stint with the club.