Philadelphia Phillies pitcher José Alvarado has released a statement expressing remorse for his usage of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), as he approaches the end of his 80-game suspension. In the statement provided to reporters, Alvarado acknowledged his mistakes and conveyed his deepest apologies to the Phillies organization, their fans, and the city of Philadelphia.

Major League Baseball (MLB) announced Alvarado's suspension without pay on May 18, after he tested positive for exogenous testosterone, which is a violation of the league's policy on PED usage. According to league regulations, a player suspended for PED usage during the season is ineligible to participate in the postseason if their team qualifies. Alvarado's first day back with the Phillies since the suspension is marked by his eligibility to begin a rehabilitation assignment, aimed at preparing him for activation on August 19, though he remains unable to appear in games as of now.

Prior to his suspension, Alvarado showcased impressive performance on the mound, recording a 2.70 ERA, 25 strikeouts, and seven saves over 20 appearances. Following his absence, the Phillies adopted a closer-by-committee strategy, with Jordan Romano facing difficulties early in June; this led to Matt Strahm stepping into the ninth-inning role. Over the first four months of the regular season, eight different players earned at least one save. The situation has stabilized since the acquisition of Jhoan Durán from the Minnesota Twins on July 30, who will assume the closer role, allowing manager Rob Thomson to deftly manage his bullpen as the team navigates the final stretch of the regular season. With the Phillies currently leading the New York Mets by 1.5 games in the NL East, Alvarado's return is anticipated to enhance the bullpen's effectiveness in what promises to be a competitive finish, highlighted by seven remaining matchups between the two teams, starting with a three-game series at Citi Field from August 25-27.