Eduardo Cortes Alvarez (born January 30, 1990) is an American professional baseball utility player in the Atlanta Braves organization.
He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Miami Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Mets.
After his MLB debut on August 5, 2020, Alvarez became the first Winter Olympics athlete and the first non-baseball Olympian since Jim Thorpe to play Major League Baseball.
[2] Only Alvarez and Jim Thorpe have played Major League Baseball and won an Olympic medal in another sport.
Alvarez made the 2008 and 2009 World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships, winning a gold medal in 2009.
After missing the 2010 Olympics, he returned to baseball in an attempt to give his knees a break after years of chronic pain.
In early 2012, Alvarez underwent surgery to repair badly torn patellar tendons that left him completely immobile for four weeks.
After intense physical therapy, Alvarez made the United States' World Cup Team in December 2012.
Prior to the Olympics, Alvarez said he planned to give up speed skating after the Games to concentrate on baseball.
He quickly found he had a talent and passion for the sport, performing tricks such as jumping over boxes for weekend crowds in South Beach.
Taking inspiration from fellow Manning student and Miami resident Jennifer Rodriguez, Alvarez commit himself to one day making the Olympics.
[7] As a boy, Alvarez spent so much time at the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee that his parents bought a home within walking distance.
"[10] Alvarez made the 2008 and 2009 World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships, winning a gold medal in the 3000 meter relay at the 2009 edition.
He returned as the team was falling apart in the aftermath of accusations that head coach Jae Su Chun had mentally and physically abused athletes.
While his teammates worked on their skating skills, he underwent intense physical therapy to rehabilitate his leg muscles.
[6] During the 2013–14 ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Cup, he won a gold (at Kolomna) and a silver (at Seoul) in the 5,000 meter relay.
After a successful stint with Kannapolis, Alvarez was promoted to the Winston-Salem Dash of the High–A Carolina League on July 22, 2015.
In 2017, Alvarez split the year between Birmingham and Charlotte, posting a .235/.347/.310 batting line with 4 home runs and 39 RBI in 126 games.
He split the 2019 season between the Triple-A New Orleans Baby Cakes, the Double-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, and the High-A Jupiter Hammerheads, accumulating a .324/.408/.559 batting line with a career-high 12 home runs and 44 RBI in 70 games between the three teams.
[21] On August 3, 2020, the Marlins selected Alvarez's contract to the 40-man roster, and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time.
[34] On July 26, 2023, Alvarez signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox organization.
[35][36] After playing in one game for the Triple–A Worcester Red Sox, Alvarez announced that he had suffered a fractured foot that would sideline him for the remainder of the season.
[39] Alvarez began the 2024 campaign with Worcester, playing in 114 games and slashing .247/.348/.463 with 18 home runs, 77 RBI, and 18 stolen bases.
[41] The next day, the Mets selected Alvarez's contract, adding him to their active roster following the loss of second baseman Jeff McNeil, who suffered a broken wrist when he was hit by a pitch.
[49] On July 21, Alvarez was chosen to be a flag bearer for the United States in the Olympics opening ceremony alongside basketball player Sue Bird.
Alvarez joined Eddie Eagan and Lauryn Williams as the only three Americans to earn medals at both the Winter and Summer Games.
[38] Alvarez's older brother, Nick, played professional baseball for seven years, reaching the Triple-A level.