NEW YORK METS TOP 10 PROSPECTS
1. FRANCISCO ALVAREZ, C
AGE: 20. B-T: R-R. HT: 5-10. WT: 233. SIGNED: Venezuela, 2018. SIGNED BY: Andres Nuñez/Ismael Perez.
TRACK RECORD: When the Mets signed Alvarez for a franchise international amateur record $2.7 million in 2018, they knew they were acquiring a player with a high upside. They just might not have expected him to realize so much of his upside so soon. Alvarez moved quickly to the Rookie-advanced Appalachian League in his 2019 pro debut and put up a .916 OPS as a 17-year-old catcher. He made the most of his time at the Mets’ alternate training site in 2020 during the coronavirus shutdown, wowing scouts and emerging from it as the organization’s clear-cut No. 1 prospect. Alvarez retains that standing following a powerful full-season debut in 2021. In a year spent primarily at High-A Brooklyn, he hit .272/.388/.554 with 24 home runs in 99 games and led all qualified 19-year-olds in full-season ball with a .941 OPS.
Alvarez combines rare hitting attributes at the plate with the tools, personality and motivation to develop into a championship catcher. At the plate, Alvarez has incredible awareness and shows no fear. He has plus offensive upside, both in terms of hitting for average and power. Alvarez makes adjustments within at-bats and has the sort of natural timing and ability to pick up spin to hit breaking pitches. His power is the product of good weight transfer and a short, fast bat path to crush baseballs, especially to right-center field. Alvarez is a motivated defensive catcher who should get to average overall. One reason
