Alvarez Shines in Historic Nationals Debut on Labor Day
9/1/2025 4:00:00 PM | Baseball
Former Cal Poly southpaw Andrew Alvarez tossed five scoreless innings and earned a victory in his Major League debut for the Washington Nationals on Monday afternoon.
In the nation’s capital on Labor Day, Alvarez did not allow a hit in his first four innings and permitted just one Miami Marlins runner to reach third base, with no one else advancing past first. He exited with the Nationals leading 2–0, and four Washington relievers each pitched a scoreless inning to secure the win, snapping the team’s eight-game losing streak.
“You dream of this as a kid,” Alvarez said. “To have it come to fruition is nothing less than a miracle and the Lord’s work in my life. I’m very thankful.”
The first batter Alvarez faced in his Major League career was Miami second baseman Xavier Edwards, who grounded out on a nubber in front of the plate to open the game. Edwards was promptly ejected for arguing balls and strikes.
With his parents, Bob and Michelle, and sister Annie in attendance after a cross-country trip, Alvarez recorded his first Major League strikeout in the third inning, fanning Joey Wiemer on a 2–2 curveball for the second out. He also struck out Wiemer again in the fifth inning with two outs and runners on first and third, this time on a 3–2 slider after a nine-pitch at-bat.
With C.J. Stubbs catching, the Nationals had a starting pitcher and catcher make their MLB debuts in the same game for the first time since 2008. Alvarez also became the first pitcher in Nationals history (2005–present) to throw at least five scoreless innings in his Major League debut.
That concluded Alvarez’s day on the mound. He finished with four strikeouts and two walks, allowing just one hit, a one-out single to left field by Victor Mesa Jr. in the fifth inning, over 81 pitches (44 strikes). He retired the side in order twice.
that'll debut, kid pic.twitter.com/4t6koreczq
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 1, 2025
win baseball game #winbaseballgame pic.twitter.com/v9QW3Hyxjt
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 1, 2025
“He's a great pitcher,” said Nationals right-hander Brad Lord, a former minor league teammate of Alvarez. “He's got really good stuff, really good breaking balls, a good changeup. He's a true competitor. He goes out there, competes, and gives it his all every outing.”
Infielder Nasim Nuñez, who was also called up by the Nationals on Monday, added: “He’s a fighter. He struggled a lot in the beginning [of the year]. But I’d go do my routine and see him in the gym right after a struggle, and I’m like, ‘Okay, this dude really loves it.’ You can’t fake that for too long, you’re going to get exposed. But he’s not going to get exposed because it’s not fake. He just kept doing it. And look at him now. He’s here.”
Alvarez learned Saturday that he would be called up to start Monday’s game, replacing MacKenzie Gore in the Nationals’ rotation. Gore was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday, retroactive to August 27, with left shoulder inflammation.
The move was officially announced Monday, and Alvarez is filling one of two allotted September call-up spots for the Nationals.
“Warming up, I was getting a little emotional,” Alvarez said. “You work so hard for this opportunity.”
Alvarez, who pitched for the Mustangs from 2018–21 and was drafted by the Nationals in the 12th round of the 2021 MLB Draft, compiled a 7–14 record and a 4.28 ERA over 201? innings for the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings of the International League the past two summers.
“He’s been one of the most consistent pitchers in Triple-A,” said manager Dave Cairo on Sunday. “He throws strikes, and that’s something I like. We want someone who can throw strikes. When you’ve got someone who can throw strikes and keep us in the game, that will be awesome.”
Over five minor league seasons, Alvarez has an overall record of 23–30, a 3.84 ERA, two saves, and 459 strikeouts over 477? innings. He has played for the Florida Complex League Nationals (Rookie, 2021), Fredericksburg Nationals (Single-A, 2021–22), Wilmington Blue Rocks (High-A, 2022–23), Harrisburg Senators (Double-A, 2023–24), and Rochester Red Wings (Triple-A, 2024–25).
He was named the organization’s Pitcher of the Year in 2023 after posting a 2.99 ERA and 1.168 WHIP for Wilmington and Harrisburg.
The 26-year-old graduate of Los Alamitos High School went 10–8 with a 4.43 ERA over his four seasons at Cal Poly, striking out 147 batters in 170? innings. He made 10 starts and 39 relief appearances in his first three years before becoming the Sunday starter in 2021, when he went 7–3 with a 4.08 ERA.
Alvarez’s lone complete game at Cal Poly came during his senior season, when he threw a four-hitter with six strikeouts in his penultimate start—a 5–1 Mustang victory at UC Davis.
Alvarez is the 25th former Mustang to play in the Major Leagues and the 16th in Larry Lee’s 23 seasons as head coach at Cal Poly. Most recently, Larry’s son Brooks Lee and Drew Thorpe made their Major League debuts in 2024.
Alvarez opened the 2025 season with an 0–7 record while pitching for a Rochester team that struggled to hold late leads. The lefty has won his last three decisions, however, improving to 3–7 with a 4.10 ERA, and went 2–0 with a 2.96 ERA in five August starts.
He was particularly effective after the All-Star break, delivering quality starts in three of seven outings with a 2.97 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 44 strikeouts against 15 walks over 36? innings.
This summer for Rochester, Alvarez struck out 114 batters and walked 52 over 123 innings in 25 starts. Opponents hit .246 against him, and he posted a 1.35 WHIP. He began his professional career as a reliever and became a full-time starter for the first time in 2023.
In his last start for Rochester on August 25 at Jacksonville, Alvarez allowed two runs and three hits over six innings in an 8–5 victory. He struck out at least five batters in each of his last eight starts for the Red Wings and fanned a season-high eight Syracuse hitters on August 14.
Last year, Alvarez struck out a Triple-A-high 10 batters against the Iowa Cubs on September 22, his final start of 2024. This season, he pitched in the Nationals’ MLB Spring Breakout game against the Houston Astros on March 14 at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida, allowing one run and three hits over three innings. The game ended in a 6–6 tie.
With his MLB debut Monday, Alvarez became the fourth former Mustang to play in a Major League game this season, joining pitchers Bryan Woo (Seattle Mariners) and Justin Bruihl (Toronto Blue Jays), and infielder Brooks Lee (Minnesota Twins).
