PHILADELPHIA — Francisco Alvarez wanted the chance to work on his recreation and play daily, resulting in the choice finalized by Mets brass Sunday.
The struggling 23-year-old catcher was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, with the hope he can discover his type offensively and defensively earlier than returning to probably assist the Mets within the close to future.
“He’s got a chance to be a pretty special player and we’re going to need him,” supervisor Carlos Mendoza stated earlier than the Mets performed their sequence finale towards the Phillies at Residents Financial institution Park. “We feel like it’s best for him to go down there and get reps.”
Mendoza cited Luis Torrens’ success behind the plate as a major issue. Torrens had regularly elevated enjoying time to the purpose he was beginning nearly half of the time, and the Mets felt Alvarez wanted to play daily if he was going to enhance. The group recalled Hayden Senger from Syracuse to function the backup catcher.
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns deferred on answering questions on Alvarez till his scheduled Tuesday media session at Citi Discipline.
Alvarez produced a .236/.319/.333 slash line with three homers and 11 RBIs in 35 video games after starting the season on the injured checklist following surgical procedure in spring coaching for a damaged hamate bone in his left hand.
Alvarez was engaged on a brand new swing in spring coaching and Mendoza suspects the misplaced alternative to face main league pitchers price him.
“Unfortunately, he went down,” Mendoza stated. “We’re not trying to make excuses for the kid, but that is something we talk about.”
Mendoza stated Alvarez didn’t resist when offered with the choice.
“He listened a lot,” Mendoza stated. “And then there was a follow-up where it’s like, ‘I want to make sure I am playing.’ ”
Alvarez’s finest season with the Mets occurred in 2023 when he hit 25 homers as a rookie. However the final two seasons have been disappointments for him — he missed vital time final 12 months following surgical procedure to restore a torn left thumb ligament.
Behind the plate there have been lapses, most lately in Atlanta final week when Alvarez threw to the mistaken base within the tenth inning, costing the Mets a chance to nail the baserunner who finally grew to become the profitable run.
“I feel like he’s got better with his exchanges and throwing guys out,” Mendoza stated. “But the receiving and blocking are probably areas where we want to see improvement. Obviously, he’s got to play.”
The Mets know what they’ve in Senger, who opened the season on the key league roster with Alvarez rehabbing from surgical procedure. However Mendoza stated the group’s consolation with Senger — who has obtained excessive grades defensively — didn’t issue into the choice to demote Alvarez.
“When we’re making this decision, it’s all about the player,” Mendoza stated, referring to Alvarez. “It was more about what is best for Alvy, what is best for the team and organization when we are looking at the present and the future. But it’s nice to have a guy like Senger who has already shown he can handle that role.”
Likewise, the very fact Alvarez went 2-for-5 on Saturday, with a ninth-inning homer, didn’t carry any weight in group brass’ choice.
“There were stretches where we were like, ‘OK, that is what he is supposed to look like,’ but then he will go a couple of games where he is late with a fastball and then he chases,” Mendoza stated. “We’re just looking for consistency here and if you are playing three or four games a week compared to having the opportunity to play six, that is how you are going to get better.”
