After win and long home run, Mets surprisingly demote young slugger in wake-up call

The truth is, Francisco Alvarez has not looked like the New York Mets’ up-and-coming slugger and former top prospect since his rookie season in 2023.

Now, the young catcher will attempt to rebuild that potential in a less pressurized environment.

On Sunday, the Mets demoted Alvarez, 23, to Triple-A Syracuse, they announced. It’s a move meant to provide a reset and resurrect Alvarez’s confidence. After a 452-foot home run and 2-for-5 showing in Saturday’s win, Alvarez is only batting .236/.319/.333 (89 OPS+) with three home runs and 11 RBIs this season in 138 plate appearances.

After a rookie season in which he flashed franchise cornerstone upside with a .209/.284/.437 line, 25 home runs and 63 RBIs, Alvarez has looked mostly lost at the plate, struggling to find a consistent swing and tap into his obvious power in 2024 and 2025. (He has top 5% max exit velocity, 115 mph, but he has too often not gotten out in front of pitches and looked to go the other way, which seemingly goes against his strength, which is power.)

Over 480 plate appearances in 135 games from 2024-25, Alvarez is batting .237/.310/.383 with 14 home runs and a 99 OPS+

While lauded for his ability as a young catcher to lead a pitching staff, Alvarez’s bat has not progressed and his defense has suffered this season (three errors in 35 games).

Luis Torrens will be the Mets’ starting catcher with Hayden Senger, recalled Sunday, the new backup. Torrens is batting .232/.309/.344 with a home run and 13 RBIs in 139 plate appearances.

Via The Athletic: “The Mets are comfortable with their catching tandem, people familiar with the situation said, and league sources do not anticipate them jumping into the catcher market at this time.”

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