When the Philadelphia Phillies went up against the Washington Nationals on April 29, the energy of the Phillies Nation echoed through the stands. Sure, it was for the entire Phillies team, who drew the cheers. Much of that fervor centered on their $22 million reliever, José Alvarado—a bullpen stalwart who has quietly become the heartbeat of Philadelphia’s pitching staff. But Tuesday night, it was a young Phillies fan who stole the show.

Long overshadowed by bigger names, Alvarado has recently stepped into the spotlight. Fans have developed a newfound appreciation for him, recognizing his significant contributions in clutch moments. You might be surprised to know that he once held an 8.2-inning scoreless streak spanning from 2022 to 2023. Time and again, he has showcased unmatched dominance throughout the intense matchups. And guess what? This Phillies-Nationals matchup was one of those moments.

Alvarado was at his absolute electrifying the crowd as he struck out three consecutive batters with the bases loaded. It was phenomenal. Meanwhile, during this intense on-field moment, there was a young fan behind the stands who did something so adorable that his clip has taken over the internet.

It all unfolded in the eighth inning when the Phillies’ pitcher Alvarado helped secure a much-needed one-run lead. He surrendered two hits, and that’s when the intensity rose. The bases were loaded as he pitched against Nationals’ pinch hitter Alex Call. The cameras were covering every bit of the game’s intensity. Broadcasters caught a young Phillies fan—an Alvarado superfan, to be precise—perfectly imitating the pitcher’s motions with impressive timing.

While Alvarado’s strikeout was dangerously intense, the kid’s imitation was nothing short of hilarious. It was even more adorable when the kid copied Alvarado’s celebration moves as well. It may just be the best fan moment of Alvarado’s career. You see, this reflects how passionately fans are connected to their favorite player on the team.

Alvarado didn’t lose his momentum and struck out Call. The inning finally came to an end without allowing any runs. The Phillies pulled off a 7-6 win over the Nationals. Alvarado is finally back in top form. And the Phillies plan to plans to make the most of his pitching, as manager Rob Thompson revealed. Alvarado may have been overlooked in the past, but not anymore. If he maintains this energy throughout the season, he’ll continue making headlines and become a household name.

José Alvarado back in true form, and Alec Bohm returns from injury

The 29-year-old Alvarado had a solid 2024 season, recording 13 saves for the Phillies. Fans are eagerly awaiting his 2025 style of play. And as you know, he is already living up to expectations after his recent outing against the Nationals. And that stellar performance came despite his being away from the team for about a week.

His pitching stats this season reflect his resurgence, boasting an impressive ERA of around 2.00 and multiple saves, ranking him among the top relievers in the league. His recent performances, including securing close wins and maintaining scoreless innings, have reassured Phillies fans and management alike.

Adding to the good news, Alec Bohm, who injured his left hand during a recent game and was removed from the lineup, will also soon return. Thompson reportedly told the media that he is doing better than before. It’s still unclear if Bohm is available to pinch-hit, but they expect to know more once his treatment is complete.

Now, with both key players back for good in the Phillies’ lineup, things seem to be falling into place. With Alvarado and Bohm healthy, the team is poised for a strong remainder of the season.