FAU Top 50 prospect Alvarez "really excited" about move to bullpen
By Chuck King
Pitchers listed among the Top 100 prospects are generally the ace of their staff or a top-notch closer. That's not the case with FAU's R. J. Alvarez this season.
Baseball America's No. 47 prospect, Alvarez (photo) is moving to the bullpen after two seasons as a starter but he won't be the closer – at least not yet.
That doesn't mean Alvarez won't be featured in a prominent role this season.
“The thought going in is to use R. J. when the game is on the line,” FAU pitching coach Jason Jackson said.
The plan is to bring in Alvarez when the opponent is threatening. If the bases are loaded with two outs in the sixth, look for Alvarez to come and record the final out of the inning, then stick around for the seventh inning, too.
Think of him as the rally stopper.
Alvarez said he is “really excited” to take his 95 mph fastball to the pen. He lit up the Cape Cod League each of the past two summers out of the bullpen, earning all-star honors in 2010.
The junior righthander has been unable replicate to that bullpen success and in the starter's role. Last season Alvarez won half of his 12 decisions, but his 5.23 ERA was worst among FAU's regular starters.
“I always thought, as a starter, as soon as he threw the first pitch he was concerned about the 80th pitch,” McCormack said.
The move to the bullpen will allow Alvarez to throw full throttle for a short period of time.
“This fits his personality more than going to the ballpark and sitting around for six days and pitching on the seventh,” McCormack said. “He can go to the ballpark and know that, unless he's thrown a lot of pitches on the previous day, he is going to be used.”
McCormack said the goal is to be able to use Alvarez three times per week, which is why they don't want to use him as a closer. He doesn't want to face a situation where Alvarez sits on the bench for an entire weekend because a save situation never presents itself.
Alvarez may find himself in that role, though. Pre-season All-Sun Belt closer Hugh Adams is likely to miss at least the first couple weeks of the season, which starts tonight at Alabama, with shoulder inflammation. Junior college transfer Mike Sylvestri is expected to get the save chances this weekend, but he has yet to pitch at the Division I level.
Whatever his role, Alvarez says he's not going to let the recognition affect the way he pitches.
“All the recognition has been good, but I'm not trying to go too deep into it,” he said. “I'm just trying to go out there and do what I can do, and if they think I'm a prospect, then it will pay off.”
Need to Knows: Owls @ Crimson Tide
FAU (0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt)
at Alabama (0-0, 0-0 SEC)
- When: 7:05 p.m. Friday, 11:05 a.m. Saturday, 1:05 p.m. Sunday
- Where: Tuscaloosa, Ala.
- Streaming Audio: FAUSports.com
- About the Crimson Tide: Official site
- Scouting the Owls: FAU coach John McCormack is one victory short of winning his 100th game and is 99-75 entering his fourth season. ...FAU won the last meeting vs. Alabama, defeating the Crimson Tide in the 2002 Regional championship. ...The Owls haven't opened on the road since 2003.
- Scouting the Crimson Tide: Alabama has seven position players back from last year's 35-28 team. ...The Crimson Tide are led by Taylor Dugas, who led the team with a .349 batting average and eight homers last season. ...UA hasn't lost on opening day since 2006
- Pitching Plans
Friday
FAU Ryan Garton (5-4, 5.17 in 2011)
UA Taylor Guilbeau (n/a)
Saturday
FAU Jake Meiers (4-5, 4.45)
UA Charley Sullivan (2-2, 3.03)
Sunday
FAU Jeremy Strawn (n/a)
UA Justin Kamplain (n/a)
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