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Jose Alvarez Undergoes Tommy John Surgery

By Mark Polishuk | September 2, 2022 at 5:48pm CDT

SEPTEMBER 2: Alvarez indeed underwent Tommy John surgery this week, the Giants announced.

AUGUST 25: Giants left-hander Jose Alvarez’s 2022 season is over due to a setback in his injury rehab, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.  Alvarez hasn’t pitched since mid-June due to a pair of injured-list stints, first for a back strain and then elbow inflammation that Slusser reports was later diagnosed as a UCL strain.  The problem is serious enough that Tommy John surgery is likely necessary, though Alvarez will probably seek out a second opinion before making his final choice about surgery.

Due to the usual 12-15 month recovery timeframe for TJ surgery, Alvarez seems likely to miss the entire 2023 season.  On the off chance that Alvarez does find a favorable second opinion, it would still seem like he’d be facing a lengthy absence that might make him questionable for the start of the 2023 campaign, and there’s no guarantee that he wouldn’t eventually end up getting a Tommy John surgery anyway in the event of another setback.

It’s a tough outcome for the 33-year-old, who will end his 10th Major League season with just 15 1/3 innings pitched and a 5.28 ERA.  Alvarez signed a free agent with San Francisco prior to the 2021 season that ultimately paid him $2.55MM over the 2021-22 seasons, after the Giants exercised a club option on his services for 2022.

As such, the left-hander will now head into free agency with a lot of health uncertainty hanging over his market.  It doesn’t necessarily mean that Alvarez won’t be able to find a new deal this winter, as several pitchers in similar TJ situations have signed two-year contracts, with only a minimum salary for the first year of the contract in the understanding that the pitcher will miss most or all of the year rehabbing.

Alvarez had a solid track record of success as a member of the Angels and Phillies bullpens from 2015-19, posting a 3.36 ERA/3.80 SIERA over 295 innings in those seasons.  Alvarez wasn’t just a left-handed specialist, as he delivered good numbers against right-handed batters in addition to dominating left-handed batters.  His solid run was interrupted by an injury-plagued 2020 season, as he tossed only 6 1/3 innings for Philadelphia due to a groin injury.

It made for an ill-timed platform season as Alvarez was eligible for free agency for the first time, and the Giants ended up with a nice bargain for their modest $2.55MM investment.  Despite a 4.42 SIERA in 2021 and one of the lowest (15.8%) strikeout rates of any pitcher in baseball, Alvarez outperformed his peripherals to post a 2.37 ERA over 64 2/3 frames last season, benefiting from a 50.5% grounder rate, lots of soft contact, and a .251 BABIP.

This performance made it a pretty easy call for the Giants to exercise their club option, but Alvarez unfortunately again finds himself heading into free agency as a big injury question mark.  It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Giants re-sign Alvarez to another low-cost two-year deal, even if there’s naturally more risk attached to an older pitcher coming off Tommy John surgery.

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San Francisco Giants Jose Alvarez

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View Comments (12)

Comments

  1. HalosHeavenJJ

    1 year ago

    Tough luck. I didn’t like trading him away.

    1
    Reply
  2. SashaBanksFan

    1 year ago

    I remember when he was considered one of the “lesser” relievers in the Angels bullpen. I wasn’t a fan of him being traded away.

    1
    Reply
  3. BSHH

    1 year ago

    It might help Alvarez’ market a bit that this year an AL Cy Young Award hopeful came right back from TJS. However, this pitcher is not 33 years old…

    Gruß,
    BSHH

    Reply
    • .

      1 year ago

      How old is he?

      Reply
  4. retired/advisory role

    1 year ago

    I guess they should limit pitchers to three pitches per outing with no warm ups. Wrap them in bubble wrap when not being used. Make them sit in dark rooms and chain them to a chair.

    Reply
    • gmenfan

      1 year ago

      Those damn Fratellis.

      Reply
  5. ARC 2

    1 year ago

    At his age his career is over. Sad because he been a solid left handed pitchers for 10 years. Hope he didn’t waste his money.

    Reply
  6. FullMontilla

    1 year ago

    We can rebuild him, we have the technology

    2
    Reply
    • .

      1 year ago

      Better…Stronger…Faster!

      Reply
  7. DarkSide830

    1 year ago

    Loved this guy in Philly. Real ballsy dude 😉

    1
    Reply
    • 5TUNT1N

      1 year ago

      Real punny!

      Reply
  8. DodgerDan

    1 year ago

    No way Jose!!

    Reply

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