Padres’ interim manager knows different side of Alvarez
PITTSBURGH — Pedro Alvarez has been a man of mystery ever since the Pirates selected him with the second overall pick in the 2008 amateur draft.
The slugging first baseman never opens up during media interviews, which have led some to label him as aloof, even arrogant.
However, those close to him paint a different picture.
For example, Pirates second baseman Neil Walker has long said he has never had a better teammate than Alvarez. Walker’s opinion carries clout because he is a native Western Pennsylvanian, which means he was born with the innate ability to spot a phony.
Few are closer to Alvarez than San Diego Padres interim manager Pat Murphy. Alvarez is married to Murphy’s daughter, Kellie.
Murphy can’t say enough good things about his son-in-law.
“There is no one else I would want to be married to my daughter because I know how well Pedro treats her, how well he takes care of her,” said Murphy before the Padres and the Pirates met in the second game of a three-game series at PNC Park on Tuesday night.
“They have a baby on the way and I know he is going to be a tremendous father, too. He’s a very caring and considerate person. I’m fortunate to have him as a son-in-law.”
Alvarez is target for booing from Pirates fans, who wish he would cut down on the strikeouts and errors and increase his batting average.
Part of the booing also comes from Alvarez appearing lifeless on the field because he never changes expression. Fans like to see players with fire and Alvarez refuses to ever lose his cool.
If anyone would seem to benefit from the using the media as a conduit to showing his personality to the fans, it would be Alvarez.
Yet Alvarez shies away from the media at nearly every turn. Murphy said that is not likely to ever change.
“Pedro keeps to himself and he isn’t a guy who is ever going to seek publicity,” Murphy said. “He’s a humble guy. I think people would be surprised to know just how humble he really is.
“If you really get the chance to know Pedro, it’s impossible not to like him. He’s a very special person.”