Getting Defensive
Alvarez wants answer questions about his glove
| By Maurice Patton |
| May 22, 2008 |
NASHVILLE—With five extra-base hits in five games in early May—including three home runs—Vanderbilt's Pedro Alvarez was starting to answer any questions regarding his power stroke as Major League Baseball's amateur draft neared.
With three errors in the Commodores' Southeastern Conference series against Georgia, the junior third baseman was creating a few queries as well.
Selected in the 14th round in 2005 by the Red Sox coming out of Horace Mann (N.Y.) High, Alvarez has elevated his stock immensely and is considered the odds-on favorite by many to be the top pick in June by the Rays. Just as Tampa Bay was the first team since the draft's inception to hold the first selection in consecutive years, such an occurrence would make Vanderbilt the first collegiate program to produce back-to-back No. 1s. Lefthander David Price went to the Rays to open last year's draft.
Of late, however, concerns regarding Alvarez's ability to play third base at the professional level have cropped up—even though he has played the position throughout his high school and college career and for Team USA during the last two summers. He earned national freshman of the year honors in 2006 and all-Southeastern Conference and all-America recognition last season.
"I've been playing third since I was 13," Alvarez said. "I feel like I can play third at the next level, that I'm going to play third. Everyone's entitled to their own opinion, but that's how I feel. If it turns out that way, it turns out, but I don't see myself playing anywhere else."
Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin echoes Alvarez's sentiment. "I've always told people on the other side, the professional people, this guy's not a position-change guy," Corbin said. "He may be when he's 40-years-old, but not in his 20s.
"His defense, in my opinion, is as good as it gets for third basemen in this league, in this country," Corbin said. "I don't see everybody, but he's a good athlete over there—he's got good dexterity in his hips, he moves around well, he's very explosive, he's got a very good arm, he's very athletic. He's a very good defensive player."
The Bat Is Back
Despite lingering defensive issues, Alvarez was addressing any offensive qualms. Going 9-for-19 in a recent five-game stretch with three homers, seven RBIs and those five extra-base hits, Alvarez had raised his average to .328 after missing 23 games with a broken hamate bone in his right hand.
The bone was surgically removed, and Alvarez returned to action on April 1.
"Most baseball people would understand it takes time to come back from that, not so much the pain and soreness, but the timing," Corbin said. "He was out for quite some time. His spring practice is probably still happening."
Alvarez is convinced that it's just a matter of time before the swing that put him within range of Vanderbilt's all-time home run record (Scotti Madison, 49, 1977-80) returns.
"I don't think the power's gone," said Alvarez, who had 46 career homers. "I'm hitting the ball out in (batting practice). It's obviously a little different with live pitching. But it's just a matter of comfort. Once I feel more comfortable at the plate, I'll be able to get back in the swing of things soon. I'm not too worried about that. It'll come."
At the same time, the fairly common injury that Alvarez suffered shouldn't—in Corbin's assessment—overshadow the New Yorker's accomplishments over the previous two years, when he drove in 132 runs and hit .359 at Vanderbilt. He also totaled 12 homers with 73 RBIs for Team USA.
"The body of work over the last two years is apparent," Corbin said. "His work and what he's done speaks for itself." He's handled the wood bat as well as anybody."
Won't Come Cheap
As much as Alvarez's on-field performance will impact his draft status, the fact that he will be advised by Scott Boras could also figure into the equation for some team or teams, though Corbin downplays that possibility.
"I don't think that'll affect him one way or the other," Corbin said. "I think teams now are well aware of the negotiations that go into effect when they deal with (Boras). The teams that want to jump in will; the teams that don't, won't.
"Pedro's a good player, there are teams that like him and I think he'll get treated accordingly."
With Vanderbilt's regular season winding down and postseason play looming, Alvarez is reluctant to get too caught up in draft talk.
"I have no idea where I'm going to end up; I'm not worried about that," he said. "It's definitely an honor to be considered as the No. 1 prospect in the nation. But I'm a big believer in fate. Whatever happens is supposed to happen."
Maurice Patton covers college baseball for the Tennessean