Scouting Report: Alvarez is big, strong and surprisingly athletic, though his speed burst is more apparent on the basepaths than in left field, where he is a below-average defender thanks to poor routes and reads. Most scouts say that he fits better at first base, but even there, he'll struggle to unseat the nimble Yuli Gurriel anytime soon. Alvarez is at his best in the batter's box. He has the strength to clear the fence to all parts of the park--nine of his 20 home runs in 2018 were hit between center and left field, eight went to left field or left-center and another three cleared the center field fence. For a tall, long-limbed hitter, Alvarez has excellent plate coverage, in large part because of strike-zone knowledge and an all-fields approach. He has a chance to be an above-average hitter in addition to having plus power, which could lead to 30-homer seasons.
The Future: Alvarez reached Triple-A before he turned 21, so he's ahead of a normal developmental schedule. Alvarez will return to Triple-A Round Rock, but his combination of power and plate discipline could help Houston at some point in 2019 if injuries arise.
