José Alvarado issued a public apology to the Philadelphia Phillies and their fans on Tuesday as he approaches the end of an 80-game suspension for testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance.
The hard-throwing left-hander, sidelined since May 18 after testing positive for exogenous testosterone, addressed the matter on Instagram, saying he did not intentionally take a prohibited substance and is “fully aware that using prohibited substances is wrong.”
“I made a mistake and therefore, I have faced the consequences set forth by MLB,” Alvarado wrote. “Going forward, my focus is on working hard to help the team win.”
According to Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, Alvarado’s positive test stemmed from a weight-loss supplement he took during the offseason. The 30-year-old accepted the league’s suspension without appeal.
“It’s not something he did knowingly,” Dombrowski said in May. “I believe that, the way he talked to me.”
As part of the penalty, Alvarado is ineligible for postseason play. He can return to the active roster on August 19, when the Phillies begin a series against the Seattle Mariners. Under MLB rules, he is allowed to go on a minor-league rehab assignment beforehand. On Tuesday, he was back at Citizens Bank Park for the first time since his suspension, throwing a bullpen session and long toss.
“There is always a lesson to be learned in every mistake,” he wrote in his Tuesday post.
Speaking through an interpreter, Alvarado told reporters he remained active during his time away in Venezuela, continuing to throw bullpens, play catch, and face hitters.
Before his suspension, Alvarado had a 2.70 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 20 innings, with his sinker averaging 99.3 mph—up from 97.8 mph the previous season. However, the Phillies’ bullpen has changed significantly during his absence.
At the trade deadline, the team acquired Jhoan Duran from the Minnesota Twins, who is now set as the closer. Veteran David Robertson was also signed last month and is working his way back from Triple-A. In addition, Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm have emerged as the primary setup men.
“What it does is it moves everybody up an inning, that’s all,” manager Rob Thomson explained. “You still have Kerkering and Strahm as your two main setup guys and then you have a combination of [Max] Lazar and [Tanner] Banks and [Jordan] Romano and those guys in front of them. It just makes the bullpen a little lengthier. It gives us more depth.”
It remains to be seen how Alvarado will perform upon return, but if he resembles his previous form, the Phillies could gain a valuable bullpen weapon as they push for a fourth consecutive playoff appearance. As of now, they hold a 1.5-game lead over the Mets in the NL East.
“It’s been a long 80 days without him,” Thomson said. “Not only is he talented, but he brings so much energy to the field and the clubhouse. It’s just really good to have him around. I think he helps, but I think they’ve done pretty well without him, to tell you the truth. We’ve won a lot of games without him, but he’s certainly going to bring more energy and he’s going to bring another really, really good arm.”
Below is Alvarado’s full statement from Tuesday:
“May 18th was a very difficult day for me. That day, MLB announced the positive result of a doping test conducted in March 2025.
I am fully aware that using prohibited substances is wrong and I would never intend to do so because I have always had great respect for the game, my organization, my teammates and the fans, all of whom I want to offer my sincere apologies.
I made a mistake and therefore, I have faced the consequences set forth by MLB.
Going forward, my focus is on working hard to help the team win.
Once again, I offer my deepest apologies to the Phillies organization, my teammates, my family, my country Venezuela, the City of Philadelphia and the fans who have always supported me, especially the children and young people.
There is always a lesson to be learned in every mistake.
I thank God for giving me the strength to overcome this situation. I am glad to be back and ready to support the team.”
