Prospect Profile: Francisco Alvarez Catcher

Francisco Alvarez, Catcher, is #1 or #2 on just about everyone's Mets Top Prospect List.  

Mack had Francisco Alvarez as his #1 prospect. Tom had him at #2. 

About Francisco Mack said: "In my opinion, no one will have the impact of this guy when he gets his shot around three seasons from now.  Will be our starting catcher for many years to come."

Bats Right, Throws Right, DOB 11/19/2001, Signed by the New York Mets as an International free agent out of Venezuela for $2.9 million on July 2, 2018. 

At the time of the signing, this is what SNY.TV had: “Alvarez is ‘one of the strongest players in the class,’ according to Baseball America. ‘He has a stout, blocky frame, although he moves surprising well underway for his size. Alvarez's swing starts with a small toe tap and he generates big raw power with an aggressive hack.’"

Francisco is projected to be a catcher that can hit and field.  In 2019 as an 18 year, playing for the Gulf Coast and Kingsport Mets, he had 157 At-Bats in 42 games, 7 HR, 26 RBI, .312 BA/ .407 OBP/ .510 SLG.  He can hit.  

Out of the 42 games, he caught in 27 of those (229 innings) catching 9 out of 31 base stealing attempts (29%), 4 errors, 15 pass balls, .983 fielding percentage. 

Last word on Baseball had this quote from an anonymous Appalachian League manager: “That’s what shocked me when I found out he was 17…You don’t see kids that young who can catch that well usually. Tremendous arm strength, and (he) shut down our running game.”

Baseball America recently wrote: Francisco Alvarez Has The Right Hitting Approach. "“For a young kid, he’s always displayed a good command of the strike zone,” [Mets assistant general manager at the time Allard] Baird said. “He’s got a very good approach in terms of it’s, ‘Yes, yes, yes, no, take.’ "He goes in there to hit. He’s not going in there to walk. He’s going in there with a very good, aggressive approach, but has the ability to make early recognition and if he doesn’t get his pitch will accept the walk.”

Enjoy the raw power of 18 year old Francisco Alvarez. 💪 pic.twitter.com/901Lf5Wh0Z

— Mets Farm Report (@MetsFarmReport) October 23, 2020

Francisco Alvarez taking some cuts in the cage at the @Mets Dominican Academy. #Mets #LGM pic.twitter.com/ioxu1Qpmvc

— Mets Farm Report (@MetsFarmReport) November 23, 2020

Francisco recently signed up to play this winter in Australia.  We plan to have updates on his progress throughout the season.     

The Mets' No. 2 prospect according to @MLBPipeline will play for the @SydneyBlueSox this season.

FULL STORY: https://t.co/VIzjMZEWhu #ABL pic.twitter.com/sg8bZQ8tOd

— Australian Baseball League (@ABL) October 1, 2020

Here is Francisco Alvarez’s FANGRAPHS page.

Here is Francisco Alvarez’s Baseball Savant page.