In surprise move, Mets demote Francisco Alvarez to Triple-A Syracuse: What's next for him?
The Mets' catcher of the future is headed back to the minor leagues to shore things up at the plate.
The team announced Sunday that they have optioned Francisco Alvarez to Triple-A Syracuse and recalled Hayden Senger.
In 35 games this season, Alvarez is batting .236 with three home runs and 11 RBIs. The 23-year-old third-year catcher has a .632 OPS and has struck out 38 times.
The once-top prospect had showcased a penchant for power during his rookie season when he blasted 25 home runs and drove in 63 runs but has not produced in that way this season since returning from a fractured hamate bone in his catching hand during spring training.
"Not an easy decision. Something that we didn't take lightly," Carlos Mendoza told reporters on Sunday. "When we're making these decisions, there's extensive conversations, but at the end, we decided it was best for him to go down to Triple A, play every day, work on, whether it's the offense, the defense, just in general.
"There's a lot of potential there and when he's playing up to his potential, he's got a chance to be a pretty special player, and we're gonna need him. We expect him to be back, but right now, we feel it's best for him to go down and get reps."
Luis Torrens is expected to take the club's starting catching role until Alvarez can use his regular playing time in Syracuse to regain his footing both offensively and defensively. Entering Sunday, Torrens was slashing .232/.309/.344 with one home run, 13 RBI, nine doubles and seven runs in 45 games.
Behind the plate, Torrens' pop time and caught stealing above average are both in the top 5 percent of Major League Baseball.
"I'm going to continue to do my job the way that I've been doing it," Torrens said through an interpreter after Sunday night's loss. "I'm going to continue to prepare as if I'm in the lineup day in and day out and try to help the team win games."
Despite a refined control of curbing opponents' run games, throwing out nine out of 27 base-stealers, Alvarez has made three errors and allowed two passed balls. His framing, once viewed as a strength, has not been as strong.
During Alvarez's absence earlier in the season, Senger had proven to be a capable defender in a backup role.