Adopted: Francisco Alvarez

[MFS62]

From Jim Bowden, ranking his top 10 players he saw in the Futures Game:

8. Francisco Álvarez, C, New York Mets

I had never seen Álvarez in person before, and he blew me away in batting practice with his short, compact swing and loud, sweet-spot contact. He carried it over in the game, hitting a bomb. Behind the plate, he looked solid, although I didn’t see him enough to really be able to break him down defensively on the one look. Still, so far it looks like the Mets will have their long-term solution after James McCann.

Later

[MFS62]

Keith Law seems to agree on his midseason top 50.

8. Francisco Álvarez, C, New York Mets

Álvarez’s bat would play anywhere; he’s showing ridiculous power for a 19-year-old, with 10 homers in 56 games and a lot of hard-hit line drives. He wrecked Low-A pitching for two weeks — Low A is not what it used to be, but still, Álvarez hit .417/.567/.646 there — and then moved up to High-A Brooklyn, where he’s still taking good at-bats and showing power. The one weakness in his game right now is throwing; he has arm strength but has thrown out just 17 percent of runners this year between the two levels. As long as he stays behind the plate, he’s a potential MVP.

Later

[MFS62]

Something to keep an eye on (from Amazing Avenue 8/18 minor league report):

Of note, in that ninth, Francisco Alvarez removed himself from the game after returning the ball to Metoyer. As he was throwing the ball, he grimaced in pain and called over his coaches. He was not in agony and remained calm and collected, so whatever he felt in his throwing arm/shoulder hopefully is nothing serious

Later

[Edgy MD]

CBS Sports is under the impression that Francisco Alvarez is Major League Baseball's seventh-best prospect.

Their top prospect — Baltimore's Adley Rutschman — is also a catcher, but Alvey is three and a half years younger than Adley.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Do they have an ETA for him?

[Edgy MD]

They don't, but MRC expects him to open in Binghamton in 2022, which suggests a 2023 arrival date to be reasonable.

[Edgy MD]

Before last night's exhibition game against the Marlins was over, this happened.

[Benjamin Grimm]

James McCann has to be hearing footsteps.

[smg58]

I was just going to say, if McCann doesn't bounce back with the bat we could be seeing Alvarez sooner rather than later.

[MFS62]

He had a nice first game at AA last night, 3-5 with two doubles and a home run.

Later

[MFS62]

Her hit his second home run in his second AA game.
Do we detect a pattern here?
Later

[m8644]

Cannot wait until this kid is up here

[MFS62]

And on the third day ... he was rested.
The manager sat him.
Is it the "day game after night game " thingie?
If it is, sheesh - the kid is 20 and we're talking the third game of the season.
Let's see what the kid can do because he'll have to do it (catch day games after night games) when he reaches the majors.
And if you don't want to have him catch, there's this newfangled rule called the DH that will let him bat.
And everyone who has heard or read about him wants to see him get as many at bats as possible.
Wassup?
Inquiring minds want to know.

Later

[Edgy MD]

I think it'll be OK.

[Edgy MD]

Mets do little against Whatshisname the Nats pitche.r

[MFS62]

I think it'll be OK.

We checked. I believe this was the only scheduled weekend series for Binghamton at Hartford this year.
If it weren't for another family event, I would have driven over an hour to get there, talking to my grandson about Alvarez all the way, only to get there and not seen him.
From past Binghamton visits, I know there are a lot of disappointed Mets fan families who were there today.
I'm pissed now, but I would really have been pissed if we had made the trip and not seen him.

Later

[MFS62]

Three homers in three games.
He went 2-4 in the Binghamton home opener (with 3 RBI), "dropping" his average to .538.
Later

[MFS62]

The kid has cooled off a bit.
He's "down" to .375/.429/1.000 - a 1.429 OPS.
His counting stats include 3 doubles and 4 home runs with 10 RBI in six games (the manager didn't put him in the lineup in two games).

Later

[Edgy MD]

Since his hot start, Alvarez has sort of decended in chumpitude. Coaches are trying to tell him that he's the best hitter in the league and the pitchers are expanding the strike zone to avoid him.

He's got to learn restraint, and if that happens in Bingo rather than Queens, that would be just terrific. His 1-for-5 with two strikeouts this evening dropped his average to .238.

[MFS62]

From today's Amazin Avenue:

https://www.amazinavenue.com/2022/5/31/ ... onnor-grey

Alvarez got off to an incredible start to the season. In his first 13 games, he hit an impressive .292/.375/.667 with 6 doubles, 4 home runs, 6 walks, and 16 strikeouts, all while running a reasonable .345 BABIP. In his next 13 games, he hit .184/.305/.225 with 2 doubles, 0 home runs, 8 walks, and 13 strikeouts, all of which was coupled with a suppressed .243 BABIP. Checking the box scores, there were weak fly outs and ground balls aplenty. In his last 13 games, he is hitting .309/.339/.509 with a slightly inflated .378 BABIP.

Pitchers, seemingly, adjusted to Alvarez. He seemingly started seeing less stuff that he could make solid contact with and drive, which resulted in the backstop drawing a few more walks but expanding the zone and making poor contact. He has since adjusted to the adjustments and is back to his mashing ways for now.

This is a good sign, on Alvarez’ part. He is still just 20-years-old. He is still just in his second full season of professional baseball. Even Barry Bonds and Mike Trout and Barry Bonds had cold spells. What makes those two players all-time greats (among other reasons) was and is their ability to regroup and return to their elite ways. That Alvarez seemingly has been able to fight out of the slump he was in bodes well for his future.

Later

[MFS62]

Francisco seems to have made adjustments to the adjustments the pitchers made for him after his blazing start and has rebounded nicely.
His numbers are now .274/.342/.514 with 12 2B and 10 HR with 28 RBI in 45 games.

Later

[MFS62]

This writer calls Alvarez "the best player in the minors".
https://sny.tv/articles/prospect-expert ... QM2vmljRyY

Later

[Edgy MD]

You can call Francisco "Lionel Richie," because he can't slow down.

Hit homer #13 in the first for Bingo today. Jordal Yamamoto picked up the win with two innings in relief.

[Benjamin Grimm]

He may not be ready for Flushing, but is it too early to ask if he's ready for Syracuse?

[smg58]

I was thinking the same thing. Catcher is the weak spot in our lineup even when McCann comes back, and while I wouldn't bring Alvarez to Queens tomorrow, seeing how he handles AAA at this point seems reasonable.