Mar 3, 2023; Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (50) during a game against the Washington Nationals at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: Spring Training-Washington Nationals at New York Mets
(New York, NY) — The wait comes to an end just six games into the season; Francisco Alvarez time has arrived.
The organization’s top prospect is being recalled from Triple-A Syracuse before Friday’s home opener, after the team announced that Omar Narvaez will be placed on the injured list with a high grade left calf strain. The typical timetable for the aforementioned injury is 8-9 weeks.
The Mets catcher left Wednesday’s 7-6 loss against the Brewers after eight innings after feeling tightness in his left calf. Alvarez was already headed to New York after the team notified him on Wednesday that he was need in case Narvaez needed an IL stint.
“He felt something in his mid-calf there coming out of the box,” manager Buck Showalter said following the 7-6 loss at American Family Field. “We’ll evaluate and see where we are.”
Alvarez was off to a hot start at Triple-A Syracuse, slugging two home runs in four games.
The Mets top prospect figures to get pushed into a significant role between catching and the DH spot. While his defense still a work in progress, there’s no denying his abilities at the plate. The 21-year-old figures to platoon with Tomas Nido.
Narvaez joins a growing list of injuries that includes Justin Verlander, José Quintana, Edwin Díaz and Tommy Hunter. The 31-year-old, formerly of the Brewer’s, joined the Mets over the winter on a one-year deal.
The Mets open a three game set with the Marlins on Friday after the opener was postponed due to expected thunderstorms.
