Watch: MLB Pitcher Gets Fastball To Do Things That Shouldn't Be Possible
If you’re not familiar with Tampa Bays reliever Jose Alvarado, you might want to make note of his name.
This 23-year-old left-hander has some nasty stuff that will be leave opposing batters shaking their heads all year long.
In the Rays’ 1-0 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, Alvarado came on in the eighth inning and struck out the side.
He got Garrett Hampson, Mark Reynolds and Charlie Blackmon swinging and made them all look pretty bad.
The hard-throwing lefty has some tailing action on his ball that just looks unnatural. Alvarado got the left-hander Blackmon on a 99 mph pitch that tailed down and inside across the plate.
99 mph shouldn’t move like that. ? pic.twitter.com/MHx38w33TS
— MLB (@MLB) April 3, 2019
He also has a slider that does the same thing to right-handed batters, as his strikeout of Reynolds showed.
José Alvarado’s other 2 Ks were just as filthy. pic.twitter.com/ryMceGxB9f
— MLB (@MLB) April 3, 2019
In four appearances this year, Alvarado has pitched four innings and has given up just two hits. He has eight strikeouts, two saves and an ERA of 0.00.
Seriously, what kind of sorcery is this? Good God!
— Arturo Pardavila (@Arturo3) April 3, 2019
The Rays’ bullpen has been lights out this year. Alvarado, Jalen Beeks, Diego Castillo, Wilmer Font, Adam Kolarek and Ryne Stanek all have yet to give up a run this year in multiple appearances.
Tampa Bay has a team ERA of 1.52 and a WHIP of 0.85, both of which are first in MLB.
But the Rockies did manage to get to reliever Chaz Roe in the 11th inning.
Chris Iannetta hit a solo home run in the top of the 11th to give the Rockies a 1-0 lead. They held on to win 1-0.
You hang it, @Chris_Iannetta will bang it. pic.twitter.com/3JvcTKjRSj
— Brandon Ewing (@B_Skip17) April 3, 2019
That was the first run Roe has given up this year.
The Rays fell to to 5-2, while the Rockies improved to 3-4.
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