Alvarez Sent to Triple-A Syracuse
In Philadelphia, the 23-year-old catcher Francisco Alvarez was sent down to Triple-A Syracuse, as confirmed by the Mets on Sunday. The forward-looking team believes this move will help him regain his form on both offense and defense before he returns to the big leagues.
Coach Carlos Mendoza expressed confidence in Alvarez’s potential, saying, “He has the chance to be a very special player and we will need him.” Before the Mets’ final game of the series against the Phillies, he emphasized that spending time in Syracuse could provide Alvarez with much-needed playing experience.
Mendoza pointed to the success of fellow catcher Lewis Torrence, who gradually took on more playing time. The thinking was that if Alvarez aimed to improve, he needed more opportunities on the field. With Hayden Senger available as a backup from Syracuse, the team felt secure in making this call.
The Mets’ president, David Stearns, has opted to defer further comments about Alvarez until a scheduled media session on Tuesday at Citifield.
This season, Alvarez has struggled, recording a .236/.319/.333 slash line along with 3 home runs and 11 RBIs in 35 games. He’s been recovering from surgery for a fractured Hamate bone in his left hand that sidelined him at the season’s start.
As Alvarez tries to rework his swing, there’s a sense that he’s missed crucial chances to face major league pitching, which is, I think, tough under these circumstances.
Mendoza voiced concerns about Alvarez’s recent deficiencies, particularly after a play last week against Atlanta where he threw to the wrong base during a critical moment. “I feel like he’s better off distancing himself for now,” he noted, adding that Alvarez needs to show improvement in receiving and blocking the ball.
Shortly after Mendoza conveyed the decision to Alvarez, he noted that the young player was receptive. “He listened very well,” said Mendoza. “He even expressed a desire to make sure he’s playing.”
While Alvarez had a standout rookie season in 2023, hitting 25 home runs, the last couple of years have been rocky for him, particularly after dealing with an injury that kept him out for significant time last season.
As the Mets assess their catching options, it seems they have faith in Senger’s capabilities behind the plate, even if his presence didn’t directly influence the choice to send Alvarez down. Mendoza elaborated on the thought process, explaining, “It was about what’s best for Albie, for the team, and the organization. We have a guy like Senger who has proven he can handle that role.”
Even with recent flashes of capability, like Alvarez’s performance on Saturday where he went 5-for-5 and hit another home run, team leaders suggest this kind of partial success wasn’t a factor in their decision. “We just want to see consistency,” Mendoza clarified, pointing out that Alvarez would benefit from more continuous playtime.
