- Full name Luis Fernando Alvarado
- Born 01/05/1997 in Salinas, Puerto Rico
- Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Nebraska
- Drafted in the 17th round (511th overall) by the Los Angeles Angels in 2018 (signed for $50,000).
Top Rankings
Draft Prospects
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Alvarado was a 33rd-round pick of the Red Sox out of the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy in 2014 as a rangy shortstop, although many scouts liked him better as a pitcher. His bat has struggled to live up to expectations at Nebraska--he's failed to top .400 in slugging as a sophomore or junior as a third baseman/outfielder. But he made one pitching appearance in the Cape Cod League that immediately reminded scouts that his best pro spot is on the mound. The 6-foot-3 righthander has sat 91-92 mph and touched 94 this spring while also showing a usable breaking ball. He's athletic and there's hope for more to come since he's relatively new to pitching. -
Alvarado is one of the youngest players in the draft class at 17 and a half years old on draft day. The Puerto Rico native attended Montverde Academy in Florida before returning home for his senior year. He aspires to be a position player and doesn't show much interest in pitching, but most scouts prefer him on the mound. Alvarado wants to be a shortstop, but at 6-foot-5 he can't stay there, so right field is his best fit. His plus arm is an asset in right field, where his athleticism gives him the potential to be at least an average defender. He has average speed in the 60-yard dash, though it plays as below-average. He has struggled to hit against quality competition with a long, uphill swing. He projects as a below-average hitter with below-average power, though at his age he could improve with physical maturity. Scouts would love to see Alvarado get back on the mound. He offers tremendous physical projection and was up to 93 mph as an underclassman, though he was 85-88 mph last summer. He has a loose, slingy arm action and is committed to Nebraska.
