Ignacio “Nacho” Alvarez Jr. will become the 16th former Riverside City College baseball player to play in the major leagues as the infielder was called up by the Atlanta Braves on July 21, sources tell Viewpoints.
During his lone season in Riverside Nacho posted a .370 batting average with five home runs and 44 RBIs en route to help deliver the Tiger’s fifth state championship in 2022.
He was selected by the Atlanta Braves that summer in the 2022 MLB draft in the 5th round (155 overall.)
At RCC, he was described as a self-driven, confident young man with maturity beyond his years by Tigers head coach Rudy Arguelles.
“He’s had a vivid dream since a little boy to be a big leaguer,” Arguelles said. “He’s not only talked the talk but has walked the walk as well.”
The Braves top position player prospect according to MLB.com has a slash line of .295/.398/.420 with seven longballs and 39 RBIs across the Braves Double-AA and Triple-AAA minor leagues affiliates this season.
Nacho will also share the locker room with another former Tiger and longtime MLB veteran reliever fan favorite Jesse Chavez who donned the black and orange over 20 years earlier in 2002.
“You have the most veteran player in the Bigs with Jess, but you also have the most recent and freshest call-up in Nacho,” Arguelles said, expressing his excitement. “Tiger pride is running at an all-time high.”
When Nacho takes the field for the Braves he will be the first former Tiger ballplayer to do so since Matt Clark in 2014 when he debuted for the Milwaukee Brewers.
“We (at RCC) are beyond proud,” Arguelles said. “It validates that the program can still provide value within our environment and culture, allowing the growth and development for these student/athletes to take place, and put themselves into position to compete at the highest levels collegiately and professionally.”
