Report: Dodgers minor leaguer went AWOL before start

Los Angeles Dodgers minor league prospect Yadier Alvarez deserted the team before his scheduled start on Sunday, according to reports.

Alvarez was supposed to start for his Double-A Tulsa Drillers on Sunday, but he left the team and was “unreachable”, according to NBC LA’s Michael J. Duarte. Duarte reports that Alvarez packed up his locker and took an Uber ride from Springfield, Mo. to Tulsa.

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Alvarez reportedly packed up his locker and took an UBER from Springfield, MO to Tulsa, OK. A 3-hour ride traveling over 180 miles. He's been unreachable today (the day he was supposed to start).

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) September 2, 2018

Both Duarte and Jacob Rudner say that Duarte was upset with management after a disagreement in the clubhouse on Sunday. Duarte believes the issue is Alvarez wanted to pitch in the team’s playoff game this week rather than start in a “meaningless” game on Sunday.

Some troubling news: Dodgers’ prosper Yadier Alvarez has reportedly left the team. There was some sort of disagreement in the clubhouse yesterday with him and the management and he left. Gathered all of his belongings as well.

— Jacob Rudner (@Jacob_Rudner) September 2, 2018

Alvarez, a 22-year-old from Cuba, is 9-11 with a 3.84 ERA over three career years in the minor leagues. He has struck out 240 batters in 206 innings.