Novara is adding a new catcher for the 2017 season in the Italian Baseball League. Luis Alvarez is coming from Tommasin Padua to Novara, following new manager Renny Duarte. Alvarez is a former minor leaguer with the Houston Astros. He led Padua with a .331 batting average during this year’s campaign with 12 runs and 16 RBI in 35 games.