(Central Islip, N.Y., Sept. 13, 2017) – The Philadelphia Phillies today called up former Long Island Ducks pitcher Henderson Alvarez to the Major Leagues. He returns to the game’s highest level for the first time since May of 2015, when he was a member of the Miami Marlins and is the third member of the 2017 Ducks to reach the MLB level after spending time on Long Island this season.
“We are proud to have watched three members of this year’s club reach the Major League level after playing on Long Island,” said Ducks President/GM Michael Pfaff. “We wish Henderson the best of luck as he writes the next chapter of his big league career.”
Alvarez made seven starts for the Ducks after signing with the team on July 14. The righty totaled a 2-1 record with a 3.09 ERA, yielding just 11 earned runs in 32 innings of work. The Venezuela native pitched a season-high seven innings on August 20 in Long Island’s 6-5 walk-off win over the Lancaster Barnstormers. Prior to that, he had given up just one run over five innings and earned the win in each of his previous two starts.
The Phillies purchased Alvarez’s contract on August 26 and assigned him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley in the International League. With the IronPigs, he made three starts and totaled a 2-0 record with a 2.84 ERA and gave up just six earned runs in 19 innings of work. In his final start on September 4 against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA, Yankees), he twirled seven innings of one-run ball, allowing just five hits and two walks while striking out three.
The 27-year-old has spent five seasons in the Major Leagues, including two with the Toronto Blue Jays (2011-12) and three with the Miami Marlins (2013-15). In 92 MLB starts, he has compiled a 27-34 record with a 3.80 ERA, five complete games, five shutouts and 296 strikeouts over 563 innings. The Miami resident was selected to represent the National League at the 2014 MLB All-Star Game in Minneapolis. In addition, he tossed a no-hitter for the Marlins on the final day of the 2013 season in a 1-0 walk-off win over the Detroit Tigers.
As the third member of the 2017 Ducks to earn a promotion to the Major Leagues, Alvarez joins righthanded pitcher Tim Melville, who was promoted to MLB by the Minnesota Twins on August 21, and outfielder Quintin Berry, who was called up to the big leagues by the Milwaukee Brewers on September 5. He is also the 18th player in franchise history to reach the Majors after playing on Long Island and first to be called up by the Phillies. The following is the complete list of Ducks players to reach MLB after playing on Long Island:
| PLAYER | YEAR(S) WITH DUCKS | PROMOTED BY | PROMOTION YEAR |
| Henderson Alvarez | 2017 | Philadelphia Phillies | 2017 |
| Quintin Berry | 2017 | Milwaukee Brewers | 2017 |
| Tim Melville | 2017 | Minnesota Twins | 2017 |
| Rich Hill | 2015 | Boston Red Sox | 2015 |
| Scott Rice | 2008 | New York Mets | 2013 |
| Lew Ford | 2009, 2011-Present | Baltimore Orioles | 2012 |
| Kip Wells | 2010 | San Diego Padres | 2012 |
| Justin Hampson | 2010 | New York Mets | 2012 |
| Joey Gathright | 2010 | Boston Red Sox | 2011 |
| Robinson Cancel | 2010 | Houston Astros | 2011 |
| Erick Almonte | 2006 | Milwaukee Brewers | 2011 |
| Jay Gibbons | 2008 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 2010 |
| Mel Stocker | 2006 | Milwaukee Brewers | 2007 |
| Nelson Figueroa | 2006 | New York Mets | 2008 |
| Ken Ray | 2002 | Atlanta Braves | 2006 |
| Bill Pulsipher | 2004 | St. Louis Cardinals | 2005 |
| Pedro Borbon Jr. | 2003 | St. Louis Cardinals | 2003 |
| Carlos Baerga | 2001 | Boston Red Sox | 2002 |
The Long Island Ducks are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at Bethpage Ballpark. For further information, call (631) 940-DUCK or visit www.liducks.com.
About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
The Atlantic League has been a leader in professional baseball and a gateway to Major League Baseball since 1998. Over 37 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 800 players and 50 managers and coaches have joined MLB organizations directly from the ALPB. The Atlantic League emphasizes winning baseball games, showcasing the talent of top-caliber players and offering affordable family entertainment to metropolitan markets serving nearly 15% of the US population.
For more information, please visit www.atlanticleague.com.
###