YOKOHAMA (Japan) -- Eddy Alvarez was scolded after his first silver medal.Alvarez stated, "My coach had the responsibility to bring us together" and "make us snap out of it." "He shouted at us. ... He basically said, "You know, you are silver medalists." That's when it hit me.The speedskater-turned-second baseman needed no such pep talk for silver No. 2.Alvarez and the U.S. Baseball team accepted their Olympic Silver medals. The championship game was 2-0 against Japan on Saturday night. This caps a remarkable run by the 31-year old Miami Marlins minor-leaguer.Eddy Alvarez was joined by Eddie Eagen (boxing, bobsled, 1932) and Lauryn Wils (track and field, 2004 and 2012) as the Americans with the most medals from the Summer and Winter Games. Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY SportsAlvarez was a silver medalist at Sochi 2014 as part of the U.S. short track speedskating team. He later turned to baseball, which eventually led to another silver medal."Feels like dj vu," Alvarez said. It's as heavy as the previous one. It's the same color but with a slightly different design. But it's an amazing journey and an unforgettable experience.When the Americans defeated South Korea in Thursday's semifinals, the leadoff hitter for the United States was awarded his second medal. He became the sixth Olympian to have medals from both the Winter Games and Summer Games.Alvarez was joined by Eddie Eagen (boxing, bobsled, 1932) and Lauryn Wils (track and field, 2004 and 2012) as the Americans with the most medals from the Summer and Winter Games.Other notables include Norway's Jacob Tullin Thams, who is known for his ski jumping and yachting skills in 1936, East Germany/Germany's Christa Lüding-Rothenburger, who speedskate in 1984, 1988 and 1992, and sprint cycling in 1988, and Clara Hughes, from Canada, who cycles in 1996 and speed skates in 2002 and 2006.Alvarez stated, "It's difficult to describe because it's bittersweet, but at same time it's an incredible feeling.""I didn't know this was where I would end up." Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would be able to return to the Olympics after I had retired from skating.Alvarez played seven seasons in the minors before finally getting a glimpse at the majors. After a COVID-19 epidemic decimated the Marlins' roster in 2020, Alvarez made his debut on Aug. 5, 2020 and reached.189 in 12 games.This Triple-A infielder from Triple-A has been an anonymous figure at the Olympics. At the opening ceremony, he carried the American flag with Sue Bird, a basketball player. He claims that other athletes have called him "the flag bearer guy" in the village.Once the games started, he backed up the hype. He hit.350 in the gold medal game with three RBI and then had one of the six American hits in the final. That night, they couldn't overcome a team of Japanese professional baseball players.Alvarez was the U.S.'s first player to be awarded his medal. Eric Filia, his teammate wrapped it around his neck. After the ceremony, Alvarez remained on the field as Team Japan took in the moment."A little nostalgia," Alvarez said. I know the feeling. It's not a pleasant feeling to watch someone celebrate a victory like that.It's hard to accept when you are so close to winning, and then you fail. It's one thing that I know I will eventually feel the impact of, how amazing and blessed I am to have been a part of this."
