DarÃÂo Rafael ÃÂlvarez Espinal (born January 17, 1989) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, and Texas Rangers.
ÃÂlvarez signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent on January 8, 2007. From 2007 to 2009 he played entirely with the Dominican Summer League Phillies. In 2007, ÃÂlvarez finished with a 1âÂÂ3 record, 4.46 ERA in 11 games. In 2008, he finished with a 4âÂÂ2 record, 3.23 ERA in 18 games. In 2009, he finished with a 3âÂÂ4 record, 2.59 ERA in 14 games. On August 18, 2009, he was released by the Phillies.
On January 13, 2013, ÃÂlvarez was signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets organization after spending the 2010 through 2012 seasons out of baseball. He spent the 2013 season with the Low-A Brooklyn Cyclones, recording a 2âÂÂ4 record and 3.10 ERA in 12 appearances. He split the majority of the 2014 season between the Single-A Savannah Sand Gnats, the High-A St. Lucie Mets, and the Double-A Binghamton Mets, accumulating a 10âÂÂ1 record and 1.10 ERA with 114 strikeouts in innings of work.
ÃÂlvarez was selected to the 40-man roster and called up to the majors for the first time on September 1, 2014. He made his major league debut on September 3 against the Miami Marlins. The Mets won the game 4âÂÂ3, with Alvarez giving up an RBI single to Christian Yelich which the tied the game for the Marlins, charging ÃÂlvarez with a blown save. ÃÂlvarez finished his rookie season with a 13.50 ERA in four games in innings pitched while giving up four hits, two runs, and one home run while only getting one strikeout with a WHIP of 3.000.
ÃÂlvarez began the 2015 season with Binghamton, and after being named a mid-season All-Star, he was promoted to the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s. ÃÂlvarez was recalled to the majors on August 22 when first baseman Lucas Duda was placed on the disable list with a back injury. On August 23, he was optioned back to the Triple-A to make room for David Wright, who was making his return from spinal stenosis. ÃÂlvarez did not make a single appearance when he was called up a day earlier.
ÃÂlvarez was recalled on September 4 to be available to pitch against the Miami Marlins. On September 7, ÃÂlvarez earned his first career win against the Washington Nationals by striking out outfielder Bryce Harper in the bottom of the sixth inning. On September 15, ÃÂlvarez strained his groin with one out in the eight inning against the Marlins forcing him to leave in what would be a 3âÂÂ9 loss for the Mets. He had allowed 3 hits and exited the game after stumbling and failing to deliver a pitch, which resulted in a balk. On September 18 it was revealed that ÃÂlvarez was headed to Port St. Lucie to rehab the groin injury he had sustained three days ago and that it was unlikely for him to pitch again in 2015.
ÃÂlvarez finished the season with a 1âÂÂ0 record, 12.27 ERA in six games in innings pitched while giving up five hits, five runs, two home runs, one walk, and one balk while getting two strikeouts with a WHIP of 1.636. He was assigned to Las Vegas to begin the 2016 season. On May 23, 2016, ÃÂlvarez was designated for assignment by the Mets.
On May 25, 2016, ÃÂlvarez was claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves. He was optioned to the TripleâÂÂA Gwinnett Braves, and logged a 1.13 ERA in 8 appearances for the team. On June 14, ÃÂlvarez was promoted to Atlanta. In 16 major league games, he posted a 3âÂÂ1 record and 3.00 ERA in 16 appearances for the Braves.
On July 27, 2016, the Braves traded ÃÂlvarez and Lucas Harrell to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Travis Demeritte. After two appearances with the Rangers, he was demoted to the Triple-A Round Rock Express on August 4. In 10 appearances with the Rangers, ÃÂlvarez struggled to a 7.71 ERA in 10 appearances. He began the 2017 season with Triple-A Round Rock, and pitched to a 2âÂÂ0 record and 2.76 ERA in 20 appearances with Texas. On September 1, 2017, ÃÂlvarez was designated for assignment by the Rangers. He elected free agency following the season on November 6.
On November 30, 2017, ÃÂlvarez signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs.
On March 21, 2018, ÃÂlvarez was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners. On April 25, ÃÂlvarez was outrighted off of the 40-man roster without appearing in a game for Seattle and was assigned to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers. In 30 games for Tacoma, the Low-A Everett AquaSox, and rookie-level Arizona League Mariners, ÃÂlvarez recorded a 3âÂÂ0 record and 1.78 ERA before being released by the organization on August 3.
On January 10, 2019, Alvarez signed a minor league deal with the Minnesota Twins organization. He was released by the organization prior to the start of the regular season on March 27.
On May 17, 2019, ÃÂlvarez signed with the Leones de Yucatán of the Mexican League. After struggling to a 17.18 ERA in two appearances with the team, he was released on May 31.
On June 10, 2021, ÃÂlvarez signed with the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna of the Mexican League. In 17 games for Unión Laguna, he recorded a 5.14 ERA with 24 strikeouts and two saves across 21 innings. ÃÂlvarez was released by the Algodoneros on January 19, 2022.
On February 3, 2022, ÃÂlvarez signed with the Guelph Royals of the Intercounty Baseball League. However, due to visa issues, he was unable to join the team in 2022. On March 8, 2023, ÃÂlvarez reâÂÂsigned with the Royals. He only appeared in two games for the team in 2023, and was released by Guelph on March 22, 2024.