Daniel Álvarez (minors02)

Daniel Eduardo Álvarez Arrieche

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 228 lb.

• Born June 28, 1996 in Barquisimeto, Lara Venezuela

BR Register page

Biographical Information

Daniel Álvarez has pitched in the minors and for the Spanish national team.

Álvarez was signed by the New York Yankees in April 2014. He was 4-1 with a 4.55 ERA for the DSL Yankees 2 that year, allowing only .184 average but walking 23 in 27 2/3 IP. In 2015, he was with the DSL Yankees 2 (3-2, 2.48, 62 K in 58 IP) again, cutting his walks to 20 despite more than doubling his innings. He also pitched once for the GCL Yankees 1 (1 ER in 4 2/3 IP, 7 K). At age 19, he made the Spanish team for the 2016 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers. He was their last pitcher to be used, finishing off their loss to France by relieving former major leaguer Rhiner Cruz with two outs in the 9th and a 5-3 deficit. He struck out veteran Ernesto Martínez, 23 years his elder.

That summer, the Barquisimeto native was excellent for the GCL Yankees East (5-1, 1.74, 0 3B or HR in 57 IP) and pitched five shutout frames for the Pulaski Yankees for a win there. He led all Yankees farmhands in ERA. He was third in the Gulf Coast League in ERA, behind Sixto Sanchez and Nick Fanti. He tied for 4th in the GCL in wins. He was back with Spain for the 2016 European Championship, their youngest player, almost two years younger than Luis Guillorme, who was next. He was roughed up in his first start, against Italy (2 1/3 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 3 R) and Antonio Noguera had to take over in the third, but Spain rallied to win. His next outing was dominant, though. Facing Germany, pitched seven no-hit innings, with one walk (Ludwig Glaser) and two hit batsmen (Max Boldt, Christopher Howard). Cruz took over in the 8th with the game scoreless and pitched two more no-hit innings while Spain finally scored. The combined no-hitter gave Spain their first spot in a European Championship finale since 1955. They came close to a Gold, losing in extra innings to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, but Álvarez clearly had pitched one of the big games in Spanish national team history. While he did not have a win or finish in the tourney's top 10 in ERA, his .125 opponent average was second to Enorbel Marquez.

He opened 2017 with the Staten Island Yankees, not as sharp as in 2016 (2-2, 4.17 after 8 G).

Sources

• 2017 Yankees Media Guide
• World Baseball Classic
• 2016 European Championship