Adopted: Francisco Alvarez

[Edgy MD]

I would guess that he gets a mid-season promotion, perhaps after the All-Star Break.

Since, like, 1990, only two catchers have stuck after debuting before their 21st birthday, I think. More have failed. It's just hard to establish starting catchers at any age. Easier to come up as a backup, and learn to hit while somebody else plays the heavy.

My first thought when it comes to catchers coming up at 20 is John Gibbons.

Doesn't mean it can't be done, of course.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I just did a Google search on "youngest all-star catcher" and got this:

Ivan Rodriguez was the youngest catcher to start an All-Star Game when he was voted to start in 1993. Pudge was 21 years old at the time (born in November 1971). He had been previously named as an alternate the year before in 1992.

[Benjamin Grimm]

It's just hard to establish starting catchers at any age. Easier to come up as a backup, and learn to hit while somebody else plays the heavy.

Sticking with this, I looked to see how many catchers had enough playing time (and success) in their first season to win the Rookie of the Year award.

There have been nine:

• 1968 Johnny Bench (CIN)
  1970 Thurman Munson (NY)
  1971 Earl Williams (ATL)
  1972 Carlton Fisk (BOS)
  1987 Benito Santiago (SD)
  1990 Sandy Alomar Jr. (CLE)
  1993 Mike Piazza (LA)
  2008 Geovany Soto (CHN)
  2010 Buster Posey (SF)

I don't expect that the Mets will ditch McCann and give the job to Alvarez. I can see a year or two where they overlap, with McCann acting as a mentor, if he's willing.

[Benjamin Grimm]

[Edgy MD]

Alvarez can do more than clobber homers, as he garnered two singles a double on Friday. He left the game in the 10th with what appeared to be an injury.

This appeared to be confirmed on Saturday as he sat out. He nonetheless returned to the lineup in the DH slot yesterday and ... clobbered a three-run homer.

Fortunately for the Rumble Ponies, Francisco's downtime comes while they have rehab patient James McCann with them to help out with the catching.

[MFS62]

He's hitting .285 for the season, but has hit 15 homers for Double-A Binghamton this season; 11 of them have come over his last 21 games. Álvarez leads all Double-A batters in homers, slugging percentage (.852) and OPS (1.276) over 92 plate appearances in that timeframe.
https://www.nj.com/sports/2022/06/mets- ... plate.html
Later

[Frayed Knot]

Headed to Syracuse
Was quoted as saying that this not only means he's closer to the big leagues but that now he'll get to hang with FMan, so it's a Win-Win promotion.

[Edgy MD]

Plus, he lasted long enough in Binghamton to eat on Scherzer's dime.

[Edgy MD]

Francisco 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI so far in his Syracuse debut.

[Edgy MD]

Also notable about that debut is that Alvarez threw out his first would-be base-stealer.

I still don't know what the formula is for developing a starting catcher, but MLB pipeline has named him baseball's second-best prospect.

[MFS62]

According to SNY, on Thursday it will be announced that he's been named to the All-Star futures game.
https://www.sny.tv/articles/mets-franci ... RGpn_q24_s
Later

[Edgy MD]

What seems like an oblique injury to McCannister may offer itself as a pretext to call Francisco's name.

[MFS62]

What seems like an oblique injury to McCannister may offer itself as a pretext to call Francisco's name.

While I'd like to see it, he hasn't adjusted to AAA pitching yet, and has been in a (hopefully) mini-slump since he got there.
If he had ben mashing at Syracuse, a better argument could be made for bringing him up.
With Alvarez, I'll trust the old adage "Good things happen to those who wait".

Later

[Edgy MD]

Yeah, it was just a maybe. Certainly not advocating.

[ashie62]

I believe he gets called up at some point sans a trade for a veteran.

Is Francisco a generational talent? Might be.

[MFS62]

Francisco's first AAA home run is a Grand Slam in today's game.

Later

[MFS62]

Francisco's BA is barely North of the Interstate, but his second home run last night was a walkoff.

Later

[Edgy MD]

[smg58]

He has a criminally low BABIP so far, but everything else is OK so far at AAA. I'm betting he'll be cruising in another week or two.

[Edgy MD]

This is what Francisco Álvarez did last night. What did you do?

What even happened to that ball? Does it even technically exist anymore?

[Benjamin Grimm]

I have to say, I'm glad they didn't trade him.

[smg58]

I know he still has growing pains, but there's no way we ride with the catchers we have in September and October if there's a catcher at AAA who can do THAT.

[Edgy MD]

He came out of his slump with violence last night.

I have to say that I have some pause, worrying about his legs. He not only carries extra weight, but he has that Wilmer Flores way of coming down heavy on his feet, like there's no shock absorption or stored energy down there at all.

I fear he may be a full-time DH by 25.

[MFS62]

Per Andy Martino of SNY, Francisco Álvarez has been experiencing right ankle soreness and will be evaluated in New York this week. There is a possibility he will have to miss time.

Later

[MFS62]

He has a "loose body" in the ankle and will be able to resume baseball duties soon.
https://metsmerizedonline.com/francisco ... ght-ankle/

sigh of relief.
Later