In Philadelphia, the Mets have decided on Francisco Alvarez as their regular catcher. The team feels the 23-year-old needs to refine his daily performance, particularly given that other top prospects haven’t quite lived up to expectations.
Alongside Alvarez, they’ve also picked Louis Torrens.
Interestingly, Torrens, who was previously regarded as one of the better backup catchers, is stepping into a more prominent role. Many believe Alvarez officially took over after being sent to Triple-A Syracuse.
Torrens has a compelling background. As a Rule 5 draft pick, he had limited major league action with the Padres during the 2017 season, even before playing in Double-A.
Now, with Hayden Senger slightly trailing behind him, Torrens is facing greater responsibilities.
“I’ll keep working as if I’m the one in charge,” he mentioned through interpreter Alan Sriel after a recent 7-1 loss to the Phillies at Civic Bank Park.
Torrens’ playing time had already been adjusted due to his impressive performance last season, especially after helping him transition away from the Yankees’ Triple-A setup. His solid defensive work and capability at bat have certainly caught people’s attention.
With his fast arm and quick pop time, Torrens has proven to be a tough catcher for base runners, having thrown out nine of 21 would-be stealers this season.
He’s also recognized for his pitch framing, with Mets pitchers reporting a favorable experience throwing to him. His current catcher ERA stands at 2.79.
“I’ve worked hard on my defense since last offseason,” Torrens said, reflecting on his progress. “It feels rewarding to showcase that in real games.”
On the other hand, Alvarez has been sent down to Triple-A, possibly as a measure to give him some time for development.
“Looking at things realistically,” coach Carlos Mendoza noted regarding Alvarez’s situation, “Torrens is earning the opportunity to play more.”
Torrens’ offensive stats are noteworthy. Although he currently has a batting average of just .227, his expected average was around .312, indicating he’s had some bad luck recently and made solid contact consistently.
He now has the chance to accumulate more statistics to determine whether his advanced metrics align with his traditional performance.
When Torrens was asked if consistent play would benefit his hitting, he simply smiled and replied in Spanish, “Of course.”
