Dodgers: Former LA Rising Star Reappears Two Years Removed from DFA

Yadier Alvarez was spotted throwing in a Twitter video by a MLB reporter.

In 2015, the Dodgers signed a promising young Cuban pitcher to a $16M deal. Yadier Alvarez's tremendous potential even warranted the Dodgers paying an additional $16M in the form of a penalty for exceeding the international signing salary cap by signing Alvarez.

After five seasons in the Dodgers organization, Alvarez was designated for assignment in late-February of 2020.

Alvarez popped up in the baseball media sphere for the first time in a long time last week. MLB writer Francys Romero posted a video of Alvarez throwing.

Cuban RHP and former Dodgers top prospect Yadier Alvarez (25) has high expectations for 2022 and is looking to reach MLB. He has trained every day this offseason in Miami with Maels Rodriguez (100 MPH CLUB Academy). pic.twitter.com/LHZMqpVCEa

— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) February 17, 2022

Alvarez was at one time a rising star in the Dodgers system. Baseball America ranked him as the 26th best prospect in MLB. In 2017, he was a minor league All-Star and pitched for the World Team in the Future Game.

Then, Yadier's career unraveled.

He abruptly left the Tulsa Drillers (Double-A) team and stated that he "didn't want to play baseball anymore". LA placed him on the restricted list towards the end of 2019. He also met with a psychologist. Alvarez credited the psychologist with helping his mental fortitude.

Yadier Álvarez, former top prospect, spoke to reporters. He has had discipline issues during his unproductive four-season tenure with the Dodgers. He said several times the has been “acting like a child” and resolved to act more professionally. A psychologist helped him, he said.

— Pedro Moura (@pedromoura) February 19, 2020

In five minor league seasons, Alvarez posted a 4.07 ERA in 214.1 innings pitched.