Jose Alvarado looks to be in the ‘best shape of his life’ entering Spring Training

Spring Training clichés are a dime a dozen, but when it comes to Jose Alvarado entering the 2025 season looking noticeably leaner and healthier, Phillies fans should actually take notice.

The hard-throwing lefty posted a workout video on Instagram, and it’s clear he’s put in the work this offseason. For a Phillies bullpen that lost a couple of key pieces over the winter, a rejuvenated Alvarado could be exactly what the team needs.

Jose Alvarado looking in ELITE shape entering Spring Training

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A post shared by Jose Alvarado (@josealvarado46)

The Phillies bullpen took a hit this offseason. Jeff Hoffman, a rock for much of last season, is gone. Carlos Estévez is likely following him out the door.

That leaves a strong core with Jordan Romano, Matt Strahm, and Orion Kerkering—but let’s be honest, they’ll need more than that to compete in a stacked NL East.

Enter Jose Alvarado.

When he’s on, the guy is one of the nastiest relievers in baseball. Just two years ago, he was mowing down hitters with an absurd 14.29 K/9 rate and a 1.74 ERA.

Last year? Not so much.

Injuries and inconsistency saw his strikeout rate drop to 9.19 and his ERA climb to 4.09. It wasn’t the type of season you expect from someone with his pedigree, but the potential for a bounce-back is there.

2024 Spring Training Flashback: Jose Alvarado calls himself a ‘fat boy’

"bro I feel like a fat boy. I'm fucking fat." -Jose Alvarado pic.twitter.com/w15DS5C7fw

— Absolutely Hammered (@ah_pod) March 18, 2024

Jose Alvarado says he feels “like a fat boy” in incredible Spring Training interview >>

A Jose Alvarado Revenge Tour Could Make a Strong Bullpen Even Stronger

Even with the departures, the Phillies bullpen is still in good shape, but Alvarado returning to form would take it to another level.

His mix of a high-90s fastball and devastating cutter is built to dominate late innings, and when he’s confident and healthy, hitters struggle to make contact. Pair that with Romano’s closing ability and Kerkering’s rapid rise, and you’re looking at a bullpen that could shut games down from the sixth inning on.

The key for Alvarado will be staying healthy and finding consistency. The fact that he’s in better shape is a great sign. Better conditioning often translates to improved mechanics and stamina, which could help him avoid the injuries that have plagued him in the past.

High Hopes for 2025

At 29, Alvarado still has plenty left in the tank, and the Phillies are banking on him to deliver. He’s in the final guaranteed year of his contract, and a strong season not only helps the Phillies but also sets him up nicely for his next deal.

If Jose Alvarado can regain the form that made him one of the most feared relievers in baseball, the Phillies bullpen could go from strong to elite. In a season where every little advantage will matter, having a slimmed-down, dialed-in Alvarado could be a huge boost to a team with championship aspirations.

So yeah, Spring Training “best shape of his life” stories might be a bit overplayed, but in this case, it’s a headline Phillies fans should actually get excited about.

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