Mets to recall Francisco Alvarez from Triple-A Syracuse, source says
Francisco Alvarez of the Mets prepares for a game against the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field on May 10. Credit: Jim McIsaac
After nearly a month away from the Mets, Francisco Alvarez is returning to Queens.
The righthanded-hitting catcher, who was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on June 22, will be called up on Monday, according to a source.
Alvarez, 23, has hit 11 homers in 19 games since being sent to the minors, including seven in his last six games.
He has slashed .270/.372/.757 in 21 games with Syracuse this season, which includes the two games from his April rehab assignment after fracturing the hamate bone in his left hand.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was asked about Alvarez before Saturday’s game against the Reds, and his answer was optimistic.
“I’m not going to put a timeline [on it], but he continues to be in the conversation,” he said. “He’s doing everything we’re asking him to do. So again, it could happen at any moment. But the big thing for us is that he continues to work on and continues to improve in the things that we’re asking him to do.”
That includes behind the plate.
“We’ve seen the power, obviously, with the way he’s been driving the baseball to all fields,” Mendoza said. “But the defense, the reports that we’re continuing to get are pretty impressive. The receiving, the blocking, everything that we’re asking him to do, he continues to make improvement on it.”
In 35 games with the Mets this season, Alvarez has a .236/.319/.333 slash line with three homers and 11 RBIs.
Luis Torrens assumed the catching duties in Alvarez’s absence, with Hayden Senger as his backup.
Newsday's David Lennon contributed to this story.
Ben Dickson is Newsday Sports' general assignment reporter. He joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
