Mets Believe Francisco Alvarez's Defense Has Reached New Heights

The New York Mets believe they have unlocked Francisco Alvarez's defensive potential, positioning him and Luis Torrens as one of Major League Baseball's top catching tandems. This development comes after Alvarez's return from a meniscus tear on June 9, following subtle adjustments to his framing technique.

Before Alvarez's return, Mets catchers ranked 12th in Catcher Framing Runs. Since his return, the team has climbed to third in this metric, trailing only the Blue Jays and Yankees. In terms of Fielding Run Value, another comprehensive measure, the Mets' catching defense has moved from sixth to fourth in the majors. Their 28 percent caught-stealing rate is also third-best in the league this season.

"Our internal numbers," said catching coach J.P. Arencibia, "we're second in throwing in Major League Baseball. We're third in framing. We're third in run value — overall defense. And then the second half, which is what I'm most proud of these guys, as of right now we're 0.2 Run Value away from the Yankees as the top spot in the second half."

The improvements are attributed partly to Torrens, whom Arencibia believes is Gold Glove-worthy, and to the adjustments Alvarez made post-surgery. He now employs a more upright squat, which minimizes head movement during the catch and presentation of the pitch. This stability allows Alvarez's quick hands to be more effective.

"Alvy has some of the quickest hands in baseball," Arencibia explained. "And so once we were able to get to a good posture where his head wouldn't move, essentially all the leverage was going onto the glove — into the movement of the glove — and so that's really what's changed the game for him."

To further refine Alvarez's defensive skills, the Mets altered his pregame routine. He now catches curveballs instead of fastballs, which encourages him to wait longer on pitches and slow down his movements. These changes have helped Alvarez, a player initially seen as a bat-first prospect, become a well-rounded catcher with above-average caught-stealing and pop time, though blocking pitches remains an area for improvement.

Despite the focus on defense, Alvarez does not believe it has negatively impacted his offense. "I don't think so," Alvarez stated. "I think [my] offense is some good, some bad. It's more like this," he added, gesturing his hand in a roller-coaster motion, indicating his performance has been inconsistent.

Alvarez showed flashes of his offensive potential in June and July, hitting eight home runs with an .833 OPS in 38 games. However, from August 1 through early September, his batting average dropped to .176 with a .561 OPS, drawing boos from the home crowd who prioritize his hitting prowess.

Interim manager Andy Green acknowledged Alvarez's offensive struggles but praised his overall talent. "From a catching perspective, there's not a lot of catchers who can do what he can with a bat in his hand," Green said.