José Alvarado says ‘last year is over’ after PED suspension. Could the Phillies reliever throw more four-seamers in 2026?

CLEARWATER, Fla. — José Alvarado stepped onto the mound this week with a blunt declaration: “Last year is over.” The left-handed reliever, limited to 28 appearances in 2024 after serving an 80-game suspension for a performance-enhancing-drug violation and later nursing a forearm injury, is beginning to ramp up for a pivotal 2026 campaign.

The abbreviated season left the Phillies without one of their hardest-throwing bullpen weapons for the stretch run, and the club enters the new year eager to see whether Alvarado can recapture the form that once made him a late-inning staple. With the suspension behind him and health checks now cleared, the question inside the organization is whether the 28-year-old will lean more heavily on the four-seam fastball that helped him overpower hitters before his layoff.

Alvarado’s early bullpen sessions have focused on regaining arm speed and command, and while pitch-selection tweaks have not been finalized, team officials believe an uptick in four-seam usage could maximize his swing-and-miss potential. The Venezuelan’s velocity had sat in the upper-90s prior to the injury, and even a modest return to that range would lengthen a Philadelphia relief corps that struggled with consistency last season.

For now, the emphasis is on rebuilding innings volume. Alvarado threw only 24⅓ frames in 2024, none after mid-August, so spring workouts are being calibrated carefully to avoid a recurrence of the forearm issue. If the progression stays on schedule, the Phillies anticipate having their power lefty available for high-leverage spots from Opening Day onward.

Whether that role features a retooled pitch mix will unfold over the coming weeks, but Alvarado’s mindset is already fixed on turning the page.