In his first 85 games in what was a statistically disappointing sophomore season for Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez, Alvarez hit six home runs.
Alvarez has won five of his last nine fights.
Alvarez has emerged at the right time as one of baseball's best prospects, transforming into a powerful slugger who hit 25 home runs in his rookie season last year.
Speaking of transformation, Alvarez's attitude and performance have garnered some animalistic praise.
“He's foaming at the mouth trying to get up. [to the plate] “There,” Brandon Nimmo said with a laugh.
“He's a weak pitcher behind the plate,” added Sean Manaea, who pitched well against Alvarez over seven innings.
Alvarez was a beast again Saturday, smashing a home run into the left field stands in the second inning to tie the game and then smashing a two-run double in the seventh to add another run in a 6-3 win over the Phillies at Citi Field.
The 22-year-old catcher underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb in April and missed nearly two months.
He returned before the stroke, and from his return on June 11 through September 10, he batted just .232 with five home runs in 69 games.
He's spent countless hours working with hitting coaches Jeremy Barnes and Eric Chavez, but the fine-tuning has perhaps only become apparent in recent weeks.
“He's a hard-working kid,” Carlos Mendoza said. “It seems like it just happened, but he's been working really hard behind the scenes for months.”
At a time when the Mets especially needed a right-handed pitcher, with J.D. Martinez in a deep slump and the Phillies relying on Pete Alonso, who walked three times and was hit by a pitch in five at-bats, Alvarez delivered.
With the Mets trailing by one in the second inning, Alvarez hit the biggest home run of his career, hitting a 113.8 mph cutter off the bat of Rangers' Suarez.
With two outs in the top of the seventh, Alvarez pitched well for the Mets, giving them a one-run lead.
His hit to left-center field sailed through the outfielders, extending the lead and bringing to life the fifth-largest crowd in Citi Field regular-season history.
In the most crucial moments, Alvarez also seems to be able to take a breather.
“Those moments are what make me a special person,” Alvarez said.
