Henderson Alvarez arrived in Miami as a central piece of the massive 2012 trade with Toronto, a young right-hander with a heavy sinker and a flair for the dramatic. While his residency in South Florida was ultimately cut short by the recurring fragility of his shoulder, he operated with a specialized efficiency that made him, for a brief window, the most dominant arm in the rotation.
After missing the first half of 2013 due to shoulder inflammation, Alvarez achieved his peak performance on the season's last day. He delivered a masterful no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers, a remarkable feat that ended with him in the on-deck circle as the Marlins secured a 1-0 victory on a walk-off wild pitch. That afternoon, he demonstrated complete control over his sinker, requiring only 99 pitches to set a new record.
In 2014, Alvarez was an All-Star who finished with a 12-7 record and a 2.65 ERA. Known for efficiency, he led the National League with three shutouts and had an elite ability to induce ground balls. During his peak, he was a reliable starter, ranking sixth in NL ERA, showing he was more than a one-time success. He set a historic record by becoming the first MLB pitcher to throw three consecutive shutouts in interleague play.
After being named the 2015 Opening Day starter, the recurring shoulder problems ended his season after just four ineffective starts. The organization declined to offer him a contract for 2016, and while he reached a brief plateau of a comeback with the Phillies in 2017, his high-velocity era was effectively over. With the Marlins, Alvarez had an even record of 17-17 with a 3.28 ERA.
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