Jumbo Shrimp infielder looks to become medalist in both winter and summer games
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp infielder Eddy Alvarez was named to the United States baseball team roster for the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, USA Baseball announced today.
Alvarez looks to become just the third American to medal in both the Winter and Summer Olympics after he earned a silver medal in speed skating during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
A 31-year-old infielder, Alvarez has played in 18 games with the Jumbo Shrimp this season, batting .250/.430/.317 with one home run and five RBIs. He has started games at second base, third base, shortstop, and designated hitter this season for Jacksonville.
Alvarez departed the Jumbo Shrimp on May 25 to join Team USA in the Americas Olympic qualifier. The United States won all four games they played, defeating Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, Canada, and Venezuela to secure a spot in the Summer Games. Alvarez, a switch-hitter, went 3-for-11 with two doubles, a triple, and an RBI for the Red, White, and Blue.
A native of Miami, Fla., Alvarez grew up as not only playing baseball but also competing on skates. At age 11, “Eddy the Jet,” as he was becoming known, won the triple crown – national age level titles in inline speed skating, long track speed skating, and short track speed skating.
Alvarez made the 2008 and 2009 World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships, winning a gold medal in the 3,000-meter relay at the 2009 edition, but did not make the 2010 Olympic team. In 2011, he returned to baseball, walking on at Salt Lake Community College, where he was named an All-Conference selection at shortstop.
When the 2014 Olympics rolled around, Alvarez returned to the ice. He opened the 2014 Winter Olympic Trials by placing second in the 1500 meters. He followed it up with a second-place finish in the 500 meters, securing a spot on the Olympic team and becoming the first Cuban-American male speed skater to make a U.S. Olympic team. In Sochi, he and his teammates won the silver medal in the 5,000-meter relay final, finishing 0.271 seconds behind Russia.
Following the Olympics, Alvarez signed with the Chicago White Sox as a non-drafted free agent. After reaching as high as Triple-A Charlotte in the White Sox organization, Alvarez was traded on March 27, 2019 to the Marlins. Alvarez played in one game with Jacksonville in 2019, but spent the majority of the season with Triple-A New Orleans. He began the 2020 campaign as a member of the Marlins’ alternate training site, and on August 4, had his contract selected by the Marlins. He made his major league debut the following day against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. In doing so, he became the first winter Olympian to also play Major League Baseball.
Joining Alvarez on Team USA is right-handed pitcher Edwin Jackson, who played for Jacksonville in both 2003 and 2005. Jackson was a sixth-round selection in 2001 by the Los Angeles Dodgers and went on to play 17 seasons at the major league level. He was named to the American League All-Star team with Detroit in 2009, and won a World Series title in 2011 with St. Louis. Jackson also threw a no-hitter while pitching for Arizona on June 25, 2010 at Tampa Bay, becoming the first pitcher to no-hit a former team since Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Terry Mulholland no-hit the San Francisco Giants in 1990. It marked only the second no-hitter in Diamondbacks’ history.
The United States will open Olympic play on July 30 against Team Israel and will then face South Korea on July 31. Both contests will be played in Yokohama, Japan.
ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp offer affordable family fun at 121 Financial Ballpark. Their inaugural season garnered the Southern League’s Don Mincher Organization of the Year, Promotional Trophy and Jimmy Bragan Executive of the Year, won by general manager Harold Craw. The club added its second Promotional Trophy in three years following the 2019 season. The 2021 season marks the return of Triple-A baseball in Jacksonville. To experience the excitement with the terrific value of ticket and group options, call the Jumbo Shrimp at (904) 358-2846 or visit www.jaxshrimp.com.
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