ANAHEIM -- Armando Alvarez toiled in the Minor Leagues for a long time since he was drafted back in 2016 before making it to the Majors -- eight seasons and 700 games, to be exact.
Starting in an MLB game for the first time on Tuesday, Alvarez certainly played like someone with no intention of going back down any time soon. He sparked the A’s offense throughout the night in a 7-5 loss to the Angels at Angel Stadium, collecting his first Major League hits and going 3-for-4 with an RBI.
Alvarez led off the third inning in his first at-bat by roping a double to right field off Angels starter Tyler Anderson. Upon reaching second base, Alvarez lifted his arms to make an ‘A’ above his head and let out a roar of elation.
"I was just floating on a cloud running the bases,” said Alvarez. “I was just grateful. It was awesome. I don’t know. … I just finally got a pitch to hit and did what I wanted to do."
After debuting as a pinch-hitter two days prior at the Coliseum, Alvarez (29 years, 347 days) became the ninth-oldest A’s player to record his first Major League hit.
The rest of the list:
• Kevin Appier (32 years, 188 days) on June 11, 2000
• Gonzalo Marquez (32 years, 145 days) on Aug. 23, 1972
• Jesse Chavez (32 years, nine days) on Aug. 30, 2015
• Jacob Wilson (30 years, 356 days) on July 20, 2021
• Tom Wilson (30 years, 151 days) on May 19, 2001
• Doug Clark (30 years, 115 days) on June 28, 2006
• Bobby Prescott (30 years, 92 days) on June 27, 1961
• Wes Stock (30 years, 70 days) on June 19, 1964
Alvarez’s third-inning double set the table for a two-run rally that gave the A’s an early lead on JJ Bleday’s RBI single and Tyler Nevin's hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded. Following his single in the fourth, Alvarez notched his third hit in the eighth -- an RBI single off José Marte that cut Oakland’s deficit to three runs.
"I don’t want to set the bar too high,” Alvarez said with a laugh. “I was just grateful to be out there and have an opportunity to perform. It went better than I expected."
It is indeed quite a high bar. Alvarez is the first player this season to collect at least three hits in his first career game with a hit. It happened five times in MLB last season:
• Sal Frelick on July 22, 2023
• Trey Cabbage on July 16, 2023
• Johan Rojas on July 15, 2023
• Zach Remillard on June 17, 2023
• Brenton Doyle on April 25, 2023
When it comes to A’s history, per Elias Sports Bureau, Alvarez is just the sixth A’s player in the last 50 seasons (since 1974) to do it:
• Mark Canha on April 8, 2015
• Jemile Weeks on June 8, 2011
• Mike Rouse on June 9, 2006
• Ben Grieve on Sept. 3, 1997
• Mark McGwire on Aug. 24, 1986
"It was a great night for [Armando],” manager Mark Kotsay said. “He’s waited a long time for that opportunity. To go out and have that type of game, it says a lot about the kid. You saw the excitement and the energy. It was well deserved."
There was a certain noticeable passion that exuded from Alvarez. Whether it was while he was dashing around the basepaths or furiously chasing down foul balls at third base, Alvarez’s hustle was nonstop. And why shouldn’t it be? This is everything he’s dreamed of since he was a little kid growing up in Miami, frequenting then-Pro Player Stadium for Marlins games.
"I get fired up,” Alvarez said. “Since I was 10 years old, I’ve been the same guy. Nothing’s changed. I love to succeed. This is just a great day."
The only thing that could have enhanced Alvarez’s unforgettable experience was a win, something that continues to elude the A’s, particularly away from home as they’ve now lost a season-high 10 consecutive road games.
On this night, however, it was hard not to feel anything but happiness for Alvarez, who worked relentlessly for so many years to make all of this possible.
"It’s unbelievable,” said A’s starting pitcher Mitch Spence, a former Minor League teammate of Alvarez’s in the Yankees’ organization. “We played together in 2022. I’ve seen how good of a player he is. It was great to see him get an opportunity and have a night like he did tonight."