The next prospect that we will be taking a look at was the New York Yankees 17th round pick back in 2016, and it’s a player that could see MLB action sooner than later. That prospect would be third baseman, Armando Alvarez. After getting drafted by the Yankees, Alvarez has continued to gradually make his way up through the system. After starting last season with AA Trenton, Alvarez was promoted to AAA for the second half of the season. Alvarez has pretty decent size standing 6’1 and weighing 195 pounds. He’s not a flashy prospect, but he’s solid all the way around which is how he’s made his way up to AAA. As mentioned, Alvarez spent the second half of the season with Scranton, and he looked pretty impressive there.
Rising 2019
Armando Alvarez made the final minor league jump halfway through the season last year. Alvarez spent 66 games with Scranton and the Yankees prospect looked very impressive at AAA. In those 66 games, Alvarez had an average of .277 and he drove in 44 runs. Combining his 2019 stats between Trenton and Scranton, Alvarez hit .270 with 11 home runs and 76 RBIs. In addition to hitting the ball well at both levels, Alvarez impressed me with his ability to handle third. He’s got really good first step instincts and a very solid arm from third. There is a lot to like about Alvarez as a prospect. He hits the ball consistently well, and you can trust him in the field. He’s got average speed, but he was four for four on stolen bases last year. He’s got great baseball instincts and he’s the kind of player who is going to always come in and give it his all.
MLB Ready
Armando Alvarez can play at the MLB level now. I think he’s close to maxing out on his raw talent, but he still has room to grow as a baseball player. If the Yankees had injuries at third, he’s the type of guy that fans should feel comfortable with filling in. He’s going to hit the ball well and he’s going to be serviceable defensively. When it comes on things to work on, I’d like to see Alvarez be a little more patient at the plate. He has a really good eye for hitting the ball, but I’d like to see his walk numbers go up just a little. I’d like him to get his OBP closer to the 350 mark as opposed to the current mark of 324. Alvarez has what it takes to stay at the MLB level, but I’m not convinced he’s a starter at least within the Yankees organization. The Yankees are stacked on the corner of their infield with guys like Gio Urshela and Miguel Andujar. If Alvarez is blocked inside the Yankees organization, he’s definitely the kind of guy that teams would love to take a flyer on. Alvarez can flat out play, it’s just a matter of if he gets the opportunity.