When the Dodgers signed Cuban phenom right-hander Yadier Alvarez as an international free agent back on July 2, 2015, they did so because he had what MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez called “…a fastball that touches 98 mph with a plus-slider and an above-average changeup.”

“He threw in front of 70 local scouts in the Dominican Republic earlier this month and starred in a large showcase with [Hector] Olivera last week, prompting one high-ranking National League official to say Alvarez was the best 18-year-old pitcher he had ever seen,” Sanchez added. “Alvarez is raw and could use some polish, particularly with his command, but he’s young and has time on his side.”

The Dodgers gave the then 18-year-old Cuban defector an enormous $16 million signing bonus that obliterated their allotted $2 million international bonus pool limit, for which they had to pay a hefty 100 percent penalty on all money paid above their allotment. The Alvarez signing also forced a $300,000 international signing pool spending limit for the subsequent two seasons.

“He’s one of the more talented teenage right-handers I think a lot of us who have been doing this for a long time have seen,” said (then) Dodgers senior vice president of baseball operations Josh Byrnes. “We felt like if we were going to exceed the cap, let’s make it count, get as many guys as we like as possible.”

Jesse Sanchez and Josh Byrnes nailed it.

In what was unquestionably the best outing of his young career, the now 21-year-old Matanzas, Cuba native tossed five shut out innings on Monday night while allowing only one hit, one walk and striking out five in the process. He made a total of 74 pitches, of which 46 were strikes.

Alvarez consistently hit 97-98 MPH with his fastball on Monday night. It was by far the best outing of his two-year professional career. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Unfortunately, Visalia Rawhide (Diamondbacks) right-hander Jose Almonte was equally brilliant, limiting the normally powerful Quakes offense to only three hits and one walk while striking out 10 in his 7.0 innings of work in what ended up being a combined 2-0 shut out win for the 21-year-old Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native.

Yeah, that.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

What’s even more unfortunate – at least for the Quakes – is that both Rawhide runs (one earned and one unearned) were the result of a misdirected throw by Quakes newcomer right fielder Darien Tubbs.

After issuing a one-out walk to Rawhide second baseman Daniel Lockhart in the top of the eighth inning, Quakes right-hander Parker Curry struck out center fielder Matt McPhearson. This was followed by a single off the bat of Visalia shortstop Sergio Alcantara to Tubbs who, although showing off his incredibly strong Andrew-Toles-like arm, threw to third base instead of second, thereby allowing Alcantara to take second base on the throw and eliminating any possibility of a potential inning-ending force out … which is exactly what would have happened on the very next play. Although Visalia right fielder Jason Morozowski was (generously) credited with an infield single to Quakes shortstop Omar Estevez, Estevez’s throw to first baseman Luke Raley ended up in the Visalia dugout, allowing both Lockhart and Alcantara to score what would prove be the only two runs of the game.

The Quakes showed off their resilience and never-say-die attitude in the bottom of the ninth when Raley led off the inning with a single to center. This was followed by a deep drive to right field by Quakes catcher (and Dodgers 2016 first-round draft pick) Will Smith that came within 10 feet of tying the game but instead was a long fly out.  The game ended on the very next pitch when Estevez grounded into a game-ending 4-6-3 double play.

Even though Alvarez’s brilliant pitching performance ended in a no-decision, he showed off exactly what Josh Byrnes saw in him during that showcase three years earlier in the Dominican Republic. And while Byrnes may no longer be with the Dodgers organization, Yadier Alvarez is more than likely here to stay.