BUFFALO, NEW YORK – AUGUST 20: Jose Alvarez #52 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts while being carted off the field after being hit by a ball during the fifth inning of game one of a double header Toronto Blue Jays at Sahlen Field on August 20, 2020 in Buffalo, New York. The Blue Jays are the home team and are playing their home games in Buffalo due to the Canadian government’s policy on coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
Philadelphia Phillies reliever Jose Alvarez unfortunately took a 105 MPH liner off his groin and was carted off the field.
No one will ever be able to question Jose Alvarez’s toughness ever again. On Thursday, the Philadelphia Phillies reliever was on the bump in the middle of his team’s showdown against the Toronto Blue Jays.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Alvarez unfortunately took a 105 mile-per-hour liner directly off his groin. Somehow, someway, he had the inner strength to collect himself, run to the ball and throw to first. How in the world did he do this?
Where to even begin with this clip? For starters, that liner could not have hit Alvarez in a worse place there. For it to be more than 100 MPH as well only make matters worse. After that, talk about guts and mental fortitude to be able to not immediately fall to the ground and throw to first.
Moments later, Alvarez was understandably in a ton of pain and fell straight to the ground. As a result, he had to be carted off the field and was obviously removed from the game. His Phillies teammates were immediately overly concerned with his status as he lay on the turf, belting out in so much agony.
For Alvarez, prior to Thursday’s incident, he had been enjoying an incredible 2020 campaign thus far this season. The talented lefty has appeared in seven games, posting a 1.50 ERA. He’s given up only seven hits and one earned run in those seven appearances.
Unfortunately for Philadelphia, 2020 has been a bit of a bummer thus far. Through the first 20 games of the year, the Phillies are 9-11 and out of the division title hunt. Should Alvarez be forced to miss an extended period of time, it’d only make matters worse for the club.