Tavo Alvarez
Encyclopedia
César Octavio "Tavo" Álvarez (born November 25, 1971 in Ciudad Obregón
, Sonora
, Mexico
) is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
. He played during two seasons at the major league level, pitching for the Montreal Expos
.
He attended high school at Tucson High School in Tucson, Arizona
. His senior year, he was one of 25 high school baseball players in USA Today's "Super 25" for the 1990 season. He was also named the Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year for baseball in 1990. After his senior season, he was drafted by the Montreal Expos
in the second round of the 1990 Major League Baseball Draft
, and he signed with the team on June 19.
After signing the contract, he played the rest of the 1990 season with the Expos' rookie affiliate, winning five games and losing two. Alvarez played his full first professional season with the Class A Sumter Flyers in 1991, posting a 12-10 record and a 3.24 earned run average
(ERA). He had a career year in 1992, playing for both the West Palm Beach Expos
and Harrisburg Senators
, combining for 17 wins, five losses, and a 1.74 ERA. He spent the full 1993 season with the Ottawa Lynx
, and finished the season with a 7-10 record and a 4.21 ERA.
After spending 1994 in the Mexican League, Alvarez did not re-sign with the Expos until April 1995 due to visa problems. Combined with arm surgery, in July 1995 he made his first minor league start since 1993. A month later on August 21, he made his major league debut against the Los Angeles Dodgers
. He started eight games for the Expos during the 1995 Montreal Expos season
, winning one game, losing five, striking out
17 and posting an ERA of 6.75. He split the 1996 season between Montreal and Ottawa. He pitched in 20 games for Ottawa, winning four and losing nine. During the 1996 Montreal Expos season
, he pitched in 11 games and posted a 2-1 record and a 3.00 ERA. Despite better success, his pitching appearance on September 29, 1996 was the last of his major league career.
Álvarez tried to remain on the major league roster in 1997. During spring training
, on one of the scoreboards, he was introduced as "Taco Alvarez." He spent the 1997 season in Ottawa, winning four games and losing eight. His last professional season was with the Pittsburgh Pirates
' Triple-A club, the Nashville Sounds
, in 1998. He pitched in 15 games for them and had an ERA of 4.83.
Ciudad Obregón
Ciudad Obregon is the second largest city in the northern Mexican state of Sonora and is situated south of the state's northern border with the U.S. state of Arizona. It is also the municipal seat of Cajeme municipality, located in the Yaqui Valley.- History :...
, Sonora
Sonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
) is a former Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He played during two seasons at the major league level, pitching for the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
.
He attended high school at Tucson High School in Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
. His senior year, he was one of 25 high school baseball players in USA Today's "Super 25" for the 1990 season. He was also named the Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year for baseball in 1990. After his senior season, he was drafted by the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
in the second round of the 1990 Major League Baseball Draft
1990 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1990 Major League Baseball draft.-Background:The draft went a record 101 rounds, surpassing 1989's total of 88, and included a record 1,487 selections. The Astros led all clubs with 100 selections. Seattle was second with 75,...
, and he signed with the team on June 19.
After signing the contract, he played the rest of the 1990 season with the Expos' rookie affiliate, winning five games and losing two. Alvarez played his full first professional season with the Class A Sumter Flyers in 1991, posting a 12-10 record and a 3.24 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
(ERA). He had a career year in 1992, playing for both the West Palm Beach Expos
West Palm Beach Expos
The West Palm Beach Expos were a Florida State League minor league baseball team that existed from 1969 to 1997. Located in West Palm Beach, Florida, they were affiliated with the Montreal Expos and they played their home games at West Palm Beach Municipal Stadium. They were one of the longest...
and Harrisburg Senators
Harrisburg Senators
The Harrisburg Senators are a minor league baseball team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals....
, combining for 17 wins, five losses, and a 1.74 ERA. He spent the full 1993 season with the Ottawa Lynx
Ottawa Lynx
The Ottawa Lynx were a minor league baseball team that formerly competed in the Triple-A International League from 1993 to 2007. The team's home field was Lynx Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario. Over the team's 15 seasons, it was the Triple-A Minor League affiliate of the Montreal Expos , Baltimore...
, and finished the season with a 7-10 record and a 4.21 ERA.
After spending 1994 in the Mexican League, Alvarez did not re-sign with the Expos until April 1995 due to visa problems. Combined with arm surgery, in July 1995 he made his first minor league start since 1993. A month later on August 21, he made his major league debut against the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
. He started eight games for the Expos during the 1995 Montreal Expos season
1995 Montreal Expos season
-Regular season:*June 3, 1995 - Pedro Martínez pitched 9 perfect innings against the San Diego Padres before giving up a hit in the 10th to notorious Expo-Killer Bip Roberts over the head of Tony Tarasco in center field...
, winning one game, losing five, striking out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
17 and posting an ERA of 6.75. He split the 1996 season between Montreal and Ottawa. He pitched in 20 games for Ottawa, winning four and losing nine. During the 1996 Montreal Expos season
1996 Montreal Expos season
-Offseason:*October 13, 1995: Butch Henry was selected off waivers by the Boston Red Sox from the Montreal Expos.*December 1, 1995: Wally Whitehurst was signed as a Free Agent with the Montreal Expos....
, he pitched in 11 games and posted a 2-1 record and a 3.00 ERA. Despite better success, his pitching appearance on September 29, 1996 was the last of his major league career.
Álvarez tried to remain on the major league roster in 1997. During spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
, on one of the scoreboards, he was introduced as "Taco Alvarez." He spent the 1997 season in Ottawa, winning four games and losing eight. His last professional season was with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
' Triple-A club, the Nashville Sounds
Nashville Sounds
The Nashville Sounds are a minor league baseball team of the Pacific Coast League , and the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the city's association with the music industry...
, in 1998. He pitched in 15 games for them and had an ERA of 4.83.