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Abe Alvarez

Abe Alvarez

TitlePitching Coach
OfficeMLRP 111

Abe Alvarez on BYU Radio's Deep Blue

Abe Alvarez was hired as the BYU pitching coach on July 18, 2022. Prior to joining the BYU baseball staff, Alvarez had spent the previous four seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Nevada. 

Alvarez was an All-American at Long Beach State where he posted a 23–5 record with a 2.56 ERA over three seasons. As a junior in 2003, he helped lead Long Beach to its first-ever NCAA Super Regional appearance. He was selected 2003 Big West Pitcher of the Year and named second-team All-American by Baseball America after going 11–2 with a 2.35 ERA in 18 starts. Alvarez also won a silver medal with Team USA in the 2002 University Games.

After the 2003 season, Alvarez was drafted in the second round, 49th overall, by the Boston Red Sox. He made the quickest trip from single-A ball to the big leagues in Red Sox history, making his MLB appearance in July of 2004. Alvarez was the youngest member of the Red Sox team to win a World Series ring in 2004. He went on to spend six seasons with the Red Sox organization, including three stints in the majors, before retiring in 2009.

Following retirement, Alvarez served as an undergraduate assistant coach at Long Beach State until 2011, while earning his bachelor’s degree in history. He later earned a master’s degree in secondary education from Loyola Marymount in 2017.

After Long Beach State, Alvarez coached at Cerritos High School and then St. Bernard High School, where he was a teacher, dean of students and the head baseball coach. At St. Bernard he led the baseball team to its first league title in 30 years and back-to-back quarterfinals appearances at the California Interscholastic Federation tournament.

During his four seasons as a coach at Nevada, Alvarez helped the Wolf Pack capture the 2021 Mountain West regular season championship and advance to the NCAA Regionals. He also coached two Wolf Pack pitchers, Grant Ford and Ryan Anderson, who were selected in the 2019 MLB Draft, as well as Owen Sharts, who was drafted in 2021.

Alvarez and his wife Natalie have two children, Isabella and Benjamin.

BYU Highlights

  • Coached pitcher Ben Hansen to 20th-round selection in 2024 MLB Draft by Boston Red Sox – the Cougars’ first-ever draft selection by the Red Sox
  • Coached Stone Cushing and Mason Olson to Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honors (2024)
  • Coached closer Stone Cushing to Big 12-leading 10 saves in 2024
  • Coached Boston Mabeus to Honorable Mention All-West Coast Conference honors (2023)

Coaching Career

  • Named BYU pitching coach on July 18, 2022
  • BYU pitching coach (2023-)
  • Nevada assistant coach (2019-2022)
  • Helped Wolf Pack to 2021 Mountain West regular season title and NCAA Tournament bid
  • Coached Nevada pitchers Grant Ford and Ryan Anderson to 2019 MLB Draft selections, Owen Sharts to 2021 selection.
  • Coached high school baseball at Cerritos and St. Bernard High Schools (2012-2019)
  • Teacher, dean of students and head baseball coach during tenure at St. Bernard
  • Led St. Bernard to its first league title in 30 years and consecutive quarterfinal appearances in California Interscholastic Federation tournament.
  • Long Beach State undergraduate assistant coach (2010-2011)

Playing Career

  • 2004 World Series Champion with Boston Red Sox
  • Made fastest ascension from single-A to major leagues in Red Sox history with first MLB appearance in July 2004; youngest member of 2004 World Champion Red Sox
  • Played six seasons in the Red Sox organization, including three stints in the majors prior to retiring in 2009
  • Selected by the Boston Red Sox in the second round (49th overall) of the 2003 MLB Draft
  • All-American pitcher at Long Beach State (2001-2003)
  • Career 23-5 record with 2.56 ERA at Long Beach State
  • As a junior in 2003, helped the Dirtbags to their first-ever NCAA Super Regional appearance.
  • Named 2003 Big West Pitcher of the Year and Second Team All-American (Baseball America) after finishing the season 11-2 with a 2.35 ERA in 18 starts.
  • 2002 University Games Silver Medalist with Team USA

Education

  • Master’s degree in secondary education (Loyola Marymount, 2017)
  • Bachelor's degree in history (Long Beach State, 2011)

Personal

  • Alvarez and his wife Natalie are the parents of two children, Isabella and Benjamin
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