Stats — WTM — Minor League Splits
What’s there to say about Alvarez that hasn’t already been said? In his first professional season, he launched 29 homers between Lynchburg and Altoona, scorching Double-A pitching for a .333/.419/.590 line in 60 games. He is the proverbial Left McThump that should play to PNC’s right field porch and scouts even think he’ll be able to man third base for at least a few years. The biggest concern is his strikeout rate (129 in 542 PAs over two levels), and it is something worth keeping an eye on as he continues to advance. The power, though, is real and so while he may not hit .333 in the big leagues, he’s the brightest hitting prospect the Pirates have had in forever and he’s a huge focal point of the rebuilding effort, as he should be.
