An interesting name on the non-roster invite list, plus other notes

When the Orioles released their list of 23 non-roster spring training invitees yesterday it included a name from their farm system that has flown under the radar.

He was doing it to an extent even yesterday when bigger names and higher-ranked prospects were listed. But there with Adley Rutschman, Zac Lowther, Yusniel Diaz, Alex Wells and the rest was the name of pitcher Cristian Alvarado.

The right-hander, who turned 25 on Sept. 20, had a breakout season in 2019 in the Double-A Bowie Baysox bullpen. He had been a starting pitcher throughout his pro career until last season. In 2018 he went 12-11 with a 4.18 ERA in 26 starts for Single-A Frederick. Almost always showing strong control, Alvarado averaged just 1.3 walks and 6.9 strikeouts per nine innings for the Keys and made the Carolina League All-Star game.

But with a deep and talented starting rotation last season in Bowie, Alvarado pitched out of the Baysox bullpen. And he was solid, going 3-3 with 13 saves. Over 74 1/3 innings he allowed just 51 hits, including seven homers, with 18 walks and 70 strikeouts. He produced a WHIP of just 0.93 and averaged 2.18 walks and 8.48 strikeouts per nine.

In an interview last summer, Bowie pitching coach Kennie Steenstra, who will coach at Triple-A Norfolk this season, talked about that move to the bullpen.

"I really think just with the (starting pitcher) numbers we had here, we already had starters lined up," Steenstra said. "So, he was going to be that guy out of the bullpen that was going to give us some length and cover some games. It kind of transformed during the season to where he's done a little bit of both. He's had some three- or four-inning stints and some one-inning outings where he can go in and kind blow it out for an inning. That is really what we tried to do with all our relievers, give them multiple (role) options."

Alvarado is proof that it takes a while sometimes for pitchers signed so young to have a chance at the majors. The Orioles signed him out of Venezuela just before his 17th birthday. At that time he was throwing his fastball 83 to 85 mph. For his first four pro seasons (2012-2015) he pitched mostly in Rookie-level ball, spending three seasons in the Dominican Summer League.

Over the years I've referenced Alvarado a few times - in blog entries such as this and this - as someone to watch from the club's Dominican program, and also when he first got to short-season Single-A Aberdeen.

"He's really always been a strike-thrower," Steenstra said in the earlier interview. "This is the first year I've had him during the season. He's always had the ability to throw strikes and mix in some sliders. But his stuff has ticked up (out of the bullpen).

"He's got a lot more intent to what he is trying to do right now. He's gotten into his delivery and into his body a bit more. The velocity ticked up and the stuff ticked up all the way around. He's been a key guy out of our bullpen."

In the second half last season Alvarado really dialed it up. Over 24 games, he went 2-1 with a 1.42 ERA and 13 saves in 15 chances. In 38 innings he walked just six, fanned 44 and posted an 0.71 WHIP.

Alvarado was a minor league free agent at the end of 2019, but the Orioles re-signed him to a minor league deal on Nov. 26. He signed originally with Baltimore on Aug. 23, 2011 and the signing bonus was just $20,000. One of his signing scouts was Calvin Maduro.

"His fastball has been 92 to 95 (mph). He's had a few games where he was touching 96," Steenstra said. "Adds a slider and changeup, and the slider has been a really good weapon against the righties and the changeup has been good versus lefties,"

So Alvarado will get the best opportunity of his career when he gets a look at spring training. Even if his time there is short, he'll be seen by the major league staff and probably get into at least a few spring games. He really got onto the radar more with his work last year, and this season he could make the bigs.

If he does, Alvarado will provide the O's organization with a first: They've never had a homegrown player signed out of Venezuela make their major league roster. Lefty Eduardo Rodríguez was on the way to doing that before the club traded him to Boston.

O's add a starter: The Orioles last night agreed to a minor league contract with veteran lefty Wade LeBlanc. LeBlanc, 35, will have an excellent chance to make what is a pretty thin Orioles rotation. His agreement, which will pay him $800,000 if he is on the big league roster, was first reported by ESPN and written about also right here.

O's get two on this list: Baseball America unveiled yesterday a list of the top 100 international signings. This is a ranking of players signed since July 2, 2019, when the last international signing period began. Click here for the list.

It includes two Orioles with lefty pitcher Luis Ortiz from the Dominican Republic at No. 46 and righty pitcher Raul Rangel from Venezuela at No. 51.

Since both pitchers were signed in July, they have not yet played in the Dominican Summer League and don't have any official pro stats yet. Both played in the Tricky League (yep, real name), which is an informal setup of games using international players who signed July 2 but are not on an active DSL roster yet.