Francisco Alvarez has been one of many only a few vibrant spots for the Mets this season. The 21-year-old’s efficiency has given followers a motive to maintain paying consideration.
However, regardless of his age, the Mets are retaining an in depth eye on Alvarez’s workload behind the dish as they navigate by way of the rest of the 2023 season.
“We talk to our guys a lot and understanding [Alvarez’s] output on everything and knowing where a good spot for a catcher is, especially at their age,” supervisor Buck Showalter mentioned after the Mets’ 7-1 win over the Cardinals Friday night time.
“I think sometimes, because someone’s young, they think they can play in every inning and every pitch. You don’t necessarily see things [affect them] physically. You see concentration, you see the mental and emotional part of it. You get mentally and emotionally tired more than you get physically. … He’s in a good place right now and we’re just trying to keep him [there].”
The slugger has performed in 92 video games this season whereas spending 84 of them behind the dish. The rookie’s offensive output has generated probably the most pleasure — .223/.294/.463 with 21 homers and 45 RBI.
With the course of the Mets’ season altering from contenders to builders, getting Alvarez and the remainder of the children within the lineup every single day might be engaging, nevertheless, Showalter mentioned it’s not troublesome to let the catcher take his rests when obligatory, particularly with the perspective he has displayed.
“One of the easier things is managing a kid like [Alvarez],” mentioned Showalter. “He’s on each minute. He was so joyful [Friday] night time about strike three. We had talked about the place you go there in case your forward within the depend and the way you execute it. He put [the sign] down, there was no shake-off, he knew what he was alleged to name in that scenario and he executed and the sport was over.
“I said to him ‘That was fun, right?’ he said ‘oh, that was a lot of fun.”
Alvarez was penciled again into the lineup Saturday night time in opposition to the Cardinals batting sixth because the catcher for Kodai Senga.
ROSTER MOVES
The Amazins chosen LHP Adam Kolarek from Triple-A Syracuse and recalled RHP Vinny Nittoli. Kolarek has appeared in only one recreation in MLB this season and it got here with the Dodgers on June 11 the place he tossed 1.1 scoreless in opposition to the Phillies. Nittoli has tossed 1.2 scoreless frames for the Mets in 2023.
Southpaw Joey Lucchesi was despatched again to Triple-A after tossing 5.2 scoreless innings in opposition to the Cardinals on Friday night time. Right-hander Dennis Santana was designated for project.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com