Catcher Francisco Alvarez rejoined the New York Mets on Monday night, July 21, at Citi Field, just one month after being optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. The 23-year-old was recalled ahead of the team’s series opener against the Los Angeles Angels and was inserted into the starting lineup, batting eighth and catching.
In his first Major League game since June 21, Alvarez reached base three times, going 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored. His biggest contribution came in the bottom of the eighth inning, when he hit a deep fly ball to right field that resulted in a double. The Mets, who were trailing earlier in the game, used that momentum to complete a 7-5 comeback win.
Alvarez received a standing ovation from the Citi Field crowd during his first plate appearance. Though he grounded out in that at-bat, he did not record another out for the rest of the night.
- Francisco Alvarez hit 11 home runs in 19 games while playing for Triple-A Syracuse, showing big improvements after being sent down by the Mets.
- In his first game back with the Mets, Alvarez went 1-for-2, walked twice, scored two runs, and hit a double in the eighth inning that helped the Mets take the lead in a 7-5 win over the Angels.
- Fans at Citi Field gave Alvarez a standing ovation, and teammates like Brett Baty and manager Carlos Mendoza said his return meant a lot to the team after weeks of hard work and progress.
Alvarez Was Optioned After a Decline in Performance
Alvarez was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse after struggling both offensively and defensively over his first 35 games of the 2025 season. At the time of his demotion, he was batting .236 with a .319 on-base percentage and a .333 slugging percentage, totaling a .652 OPS. He had hit only three home runs and driven in eleven runs.
Team officials mentioned a drop in his pitch framing and overall receiving behind the plate, with Baseball Savant ranking his framing in the bottom nine percent of the league. A swing adjustment introduced in the offseason to help Alvarez hit to all fields appeared to diminish the power that had defined his early success.
After being sent down, Alvarez did not delay in reporting. He joined Syracuse without using the full 72-hour window typically granted to demoted players. In 19 games with the Triple-A club, he posted a .299 average, an on-base percentage of .397, and a slugging percentage of .836. He hit 11 home runs, drove in 24 runs, and scored 17 times.
From July 11 to July 20 alone, Alvarez hit seven home runs across six games. Team officials closely monitored this stretch, and after he homered four times over the final weekend of that run, they made the decision to bring him back to the Major League roster.
Working with Syracuse bench coach and former MLB catcher J.P. Arencibia, Alvarez made a key adjustment to his catching stance. By digging his back toe into the dirt while squatting from a one-knee position, Alvarez improved his balance and pitch framing. Team officials took note of the mechanical improvement behind the plate in addition to the resurgence in power.
Alvarez described his mindset during the assignment through an interpreter, saying, “I learned how to be patient. I just continued to work hard, continued to do what I needed to do, and just put in the time to eventually get back to the big leagues.”
Eighth-Inning Double Helps Mets Complete Comeback Win
In the eighth inning on Monday night, with the game tied and one out, Brett Baty drew a walk. Alvarez followed with a deep fly ball to right field. Chris Taylor tracked the ball but could not complete the catch near the wall, resulting in a double.
Ronny Mauricio then grounded to third base, where Yoán Moncada fielded the ball cleanly with the infield drawn in. However, Moncada’s throw home was wide, and Baty crossed the plate with the go-ahead run.
Earlier in the game, Baty had also hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning. Juan Soto contributed with a game-tying two-run single in the seventh. Brandon Nimmo added a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to extend the Mets’ lead.
Alvarez reflected on the reception he received from the fans, stating, “It felt really good just because of all the struggles that I had earlier in the season. The way that they’ve kept supporting me and the way they received me today—it felt really special.”
Manager Carlos Mendoza mentioned the emotional effect of Alvarez’s return, “It meant something to him. It meant something for all of us.”
Baty echoed that sentiment, saying, “We all wanted him here. For him to come back and have an impact like that in the game was huge for us.”
Sportsbooks Adjust Betting Lines Following Alvarez’s Return
Francisco Alvarez’s performance and offensive resurgence prompted several sportsbooks to adjust his player prop lines. After he came back, his odds shifted noticeably on multiple betting sites.
His over 0.5 home run prop shortened from +560 to +475. The total bases over 0.5 line settled between -167 and -175, while the hits + runs + RBIs over 1.5 were listed at approximately +105. The corresponding under was offered between -138 and -140. His singles over 0.5 prop was also adjusted to around -165 across sportsbooks.
Alvarez had appeared in 37 Major League games in 2025, posting a .240 batting average, a .329 on-base percentage, and a .364 slugging percentage, with four home runs, 31 hits, and 13 RBIs. His double on Monday came off a 97 mph pitch.
Betting and fantasy coverage from sites like RotoWire and FanDuel pointed out that Alvarez had a big power surge in Triple-A and that he had gotten his power back. During a 19-game stretch in Syracuse, his OPS was 1.129.
Mets Adjust Catcher Rotation, Hope for Continued Progress
To activate Alvarez, the Mets optioned catcher Hayden Senger to Triple-A. During Alvarez’s time in Syracuse, Luis Torrens handled the majority of catching duties. Torrens has thrown out 14 of 34 attempted base stealers this season and combined with Francisco Lindor to cut down Noelvi Marte at second base in Sunday’s game against the Reds.
Offensively, Torrens holds a .606 OPS this season. He contributed an eight-pitch at-bat on Sunday that resulted in an RBI groundout, driving in Juan Soto for the go-ahead run in a 3-2 win over Cincinnati.
Speaking through interpreter Alan Suriel, Torrens said, “I’ve been feeling a lot more comfortable at the plate. I’m putting in a lot of good work. When you put in that work, the results start to eventually come around.”
Alvarez Looks to Maintain Momentum After Fast Return
In 2023, Alvarez hit 25 home runs across 123 games as a 21-year-old rookie, despite finishing with a .209 average. Injuries, including wrist and hand issues as well as spring hamate surgery, contributed to a slow start in 2025.
Earlier this month, Alvarez described his focus on his previous power swing with adjustments made during the offseason. “I’ve been working on putting both together,” he said. “I feel more powerful.”
His eighth-inning double in Monday’s win was his first extra-base hit since returning and came against high velocity.
Alvarez explained his renewed mindset, stating, “It’s like when you stumble on a rock. You don’t want to stumble there again.”
David Stearns, the team’s President of Baseball Operations, commented, “This happened faster than I would have envisioned when we optioned him.”
The Mets entered Monday having lost two straight after the All-Star break but avoided a sweep with a win over the Reds on Sunday. With Alvarez back in the lineup and delivering results, the Mets are watching closely to see if he can provide consistent contributions in the second half of the season.
