Since his return to Triple-A Syracuse, Francisco Alvarez struggled initially, going hitless in his first seven at-bats. However, he broke out of the slump by blasting a three-run homer within two innings, helping lead his team to an 8-0 victory on Saturday.
Alvarez’s home run was a massive 434-foot shot to center field, with an exit velocity of 107.8 mph, showcasing impressive raw power that has been noticeably absent from the major league bats this season. Though it was his only hit in the game (4-for-4), it highlighted his potential impact at the plate.
Defensively, the 23-year-old showed mixed results by throwing out a base stealer but also allowing one. Meanwhile, top prospect Brandon Sprout started the game for Syracuse and delivered a strong performance, pitching six scoreless innings while allowing six hits and three walks, earning his fourth win of the season and lowering his ERA to 5.43.
In the lineup, other promising players such as Louis Sanger Acknya and Drew Gilbert each went 1-for-4. Pablo Reyes, who recently signed a minor league deal, also impressed by hitting a home run and finishing 2-for-2 with three RBIs and a stolen base. Except for David Villa, everyone in the lineup managed at least one hit.
Fan Take: This performance from Alvarez is encouraging for Mets fans who are eager to see his power translated consistently at higher levels. It signals that exciting young talent is rising, which could energize the team and add more thrilling moments for baseball fans in the near future.
