Mets’ spring training isn’t lacking any star power but a certain 21-year-old catcher has drawn particular interest from fans and high praise from teammates.
Francisco Alvarez, the Mets’ top organizational prospect, is battling to make the big league roster but it might be an uphill battle considering the Mets are comfortable with their catching tandem of Omar Narvaez and Tomas Nido.
“He made it up to the big leagues for a short stint and fought through some injuries,” manager Buck Showalter said Friday at Clover Field. “He’s earning more stripes on his arm. At some point, he’ll get an opportunity.”
That opportunity may come later in the season.
Alvarez is billed as a power-hitting catcher but his bat has developed quicker than his defense. The club shuffled around some personnel in part to be able to have Glenn Sherlock working with him behind the plate, but the Mets’ position on Alvarez during the first week of camp seems to be the same as it was all winter: His defense matters as much as his offense.
However, Alvarez is putting in the work to improve his skills behind the plate and his relationship with pitchers. His Venezuelan countrymate, Narvaez, said he’s been asking questions and putting the information he receives from veteran catchers and Sherlock to good use. Narvaez has been impressed with his eagerness to learn and his framing.
“I think the framing is coming pretty good, at least Francisco’s,” Narvaez said. “He likes to listen. I’m giving him everything I got and he’s doing well.”
Alvarez will be behind the plate plenty once Grapefruit League play begins next weekend, but Showalter also wants to get him some at-bats as a DH. Is there a chance that he hits his way into the Major Leagues? Maybe, but it sounds like the Mets are content to let him develop confidence in Triple-A to start the season before reevaluating his development.
“You always want players to make you think about what if?” Showalter said. “Not everybody in camp can make the club, that’s just how it is. But we know Nido and Omar are going to be our catchers and we’ll see where Francisco fits in that mix.”
RIVERA RETIRES
Former Mets catcher Rene Rivera announced his retirement on social media Friday. The 39-year-old Puerto Rican played for the Mets twice, the first stint from 2016-17 and the second from 2019-2020. He was best known as Noah Syndergaard’s personal catcher, and while there was some controversy surrounding the designation, ultimately the battery worked well together.
Rivera helped Syndergaard go 14-9 with a 2.60 ERA in 2016. Syndergaard’s problems holding runners on base were well documented and Rivera helped alleviate the problem.
SPECIAL DAY FOR SPECIAL OLYMPIANS
The Mets hosted 75 athletes from Special Olympics Florida on Friday afternoon, with a large group of coaches and players conducting drills and activities.
Special Olympians will also be on hand Saturday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony in nearby Fort Pierce with co-owner Alex Cohen, the president of the Amazin’ Mets foundation. The foundation helped fund the construction and purchase of equipment for the first fully ADA-accessible playground in the area.