Eddy Alvarez brings Olympic mentality to Mets playoff hunt

TORONTO – Eddy Alvarez was riding on the bus with his Triple-A Red Sox teammates over the weekend when he learned he had just been thrust into the championship race.

The 34-year-old infielder was traded to the Mets after clearing the waivers list, called up to the major league roster on Monday and arrived at Rogers Centre eager to begin his role as the team's extra outfielder in September.

Alvarez, who had not yet played in the major leagues this season, replaced infielder Pablo Reyes, who was scheduled to play.

“It feels like I was meant to be here,” Alvarez said before the Mets faced the Blue Jays. “I love this style of baseball. I've always seen myself as a playoff baseball player, a guy who can bunt, hit and run and have a good at-bat. The fact that this organization saw something in me playing at Triple-A gives me confidence and I want to do everything in my power to help this club in this final push.”

Nerves should not be a problem for the Miami native, who won a silver medal for the USA as part of the 5,000-meter short track speed skating relay at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

He was also part of the 2020 U.S. baseball team that won the silver medal at the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Alvarez is one of only three U.S. athletes to win medals at both the Summer and Winter Olympics.

Jim Thorpe is the only other athlete to play in Major League Baseball and win an Olympic medal in another sport.

“It's one of those unique stories that I love to tell,” Alvarez said. “The Olympic experience was special to me, and not many people get to experience that. So if I can share it with other players who probably won't get to experience it, it's fun.”

Alvarez, who played in the major leagues with the Marlins and Dodgers, said his career as a skater gave him the discipline he needed to make it this far in baseball.

Alvarez didn't make his major league debut until he was 30.

“This [Olympic] Athletes who dedicate their lives, everything, their entire day-to-day life, their social life, everything to this one opportunity,” Alvarez said. “And some never get that opportunity. The fact that you have to commit for a weekend to be able to represent the country and potentially win a medal puts you in high-intensity situations – high-pressure situations. Applying that to baseball has really helped me make up ground and make up for all the time I lost.”

Alvarez played 114 games in Triple-A for the Red Sox this season and had an OPS of .811 with 18 stolen bases.

He gives the Mets options at second base, shortstop, third base and in the outfield.

The Mets will need that versatility after Jeff McNeil was placed on the injured list on Sunday after breaking his right wrist, which will rule him out for the rest of the regular season.

“I feel ready and prepared to take on this role, but that [Olympics] “My journey has helped advance my baseball career,” Alvarez said. “Without my figure skating journey, I probably wouldn't have gotten this far.”