Francisco Alvarez Continues to Deliver Timely Moments
Francisco Alvarez has been red hot over the past week, setting Mets’ records and delivering timely moments (Photo by Ross D. Franklin, AP)
The 2023 season has been a disappointment for the Mets. With a 41-46 record, they sit in fourth in the NL East and a ways out of first place. However, despite the down year, the team has had some timely moments from a few pieces, and one has added new notches to his belt this past week.
Catcher Francisco Alvarez is enjoying his first full season in the Major Leagues and is starting to endear himself to Mets fans and players. Although the numbers may not light the world on fire, only batting .227 with a .285 on base percentage, he has a knack for producing in the timely moments.
Although Alvarez may not have the highest average, he has consistently delivered in the big spots (Photo by Brad Penner, USA Today)
Alvarez boasts 16 homers and 33 RBI’s, and a lot of those moments circle back to big situations. Take his breakout stretch in mid-May, where he produced big hit after big hit. In the ninth inning of a game against the MLB’s top team in Tampa Bay, Alvarez knocked a three run homer to tie it with two outs. Additionally, take his heroics against the Cleveland Guardians, as a clutch, two-out single in the 10th innings tied the game and set the stage for Francisco Lindor’s heroics against his old team.
From Sarah Langs of ESPN, Alvarez boasts five home runs to either tie or give the Mets the lead in the sixth inning or later, the most in baseball. He added to his promising track record again this week with strong showings against the Giants and Diamondbacks.
Alvarez tied the Mets’ record for most home runs by a rookie catcher with 13 against the Giants, but he played hero against Arizona. He homered in all three games of the series, but the first two games were timely shots. In game one, he gave the Mets a 6-4 lead in the seventh inning on a two run homer, which paved the way for an 8-5 win, and he bailed the Mets out the next night. Down to the Mets’ final strike in the ninth, Alvarez hit one out the opposite way to tie on a payoff pitch to the game, and Mark Cahna delivered shortly after to finish a 2-1 comeback win.
As Alvarez continues to develop, he has made himself a favorite in the Mets’ locker room as they start to string some wins together (Photo by Wendell Cruz, USA Today)
With Alvarez stepping up in big spots, the Mets have started to find some momentum. They are now winners of five straight and enter a big three game series with the San Diego Padres before the All Star break. Although it’s no guarantee the Mets beat them or make the playoffs, the Mets have a promising piece on their hands in Alvarez, as he has proven to be a force to be reckoned with in big situations.