It looks like the Mets will have Francisco Alvarez in the dugout when the playoffs begin, whether he’s on the bench or not.
MLB’s top-ranked prospect finished the regular season on Wednesday by making his first career start at catcher and walking two in four plate appearances as the Mets beat the Washington Nationals, 9- 2. It was a big callback for his first two career hits — including a 439-foot homer — in the second-to-last game.
“I thought he was good and calm,” Showalter said of Alvarez’s first deep work behind the plate. “One of those things when you don’t notice a guy. … I was proud of him. He caught the ball well and presented it well [to the umpire].”
The Mets have until Friday noon to finalize their 26-man playoff roster for the wildcard round against the San Diego Padres. If included, Alvarez, who made his MLB debut last week when the Mets were swept by the Atlanta Braves in a series under pressure, could provide a power bat off the bench. The No. 3 receiver’s insurance also allows for in-game maneuvering and injury protection for Tomas Nido and James McCann.
“He’s being investigated,” Showalter said. “We are lucky to have good options. He is one of them.
As Yankees manager in 1995, Showalter kept top prospect Derek Jeter around the team even though he wasn’t eligible to play so he could soak up the atmosphere of a playoff series. against the Seattle Mariners. It turned out OK. Would Alvarez get the same advantage if he didn’t make the cut?
“He’s a big, strong young man. I’m not going to tell him otherwise,” Showalter said. “I think that’s a possibility, if it’s legal to do so.”
MLB rules allow teams to have a reasonable number of unlisted players in the dugout throughout the playoffs.
“He’s a very serious guy,” Showalter said. “You can tell the players are drawn to him.”
With all the attention on the playoffs, Alvarez’s development sparked a premature thought in Showalter’s head. He doesn’t want Alvarez to miss any part of Mets spring training to join Team Venezuela at the World Baseball Classic in March 2023.
“Who is Venezuela’s wide receiver in the WBC?” says Showalter. “I can tell you who it won’t be. He must be in Saint Lucia.
Before that, Alvarez could have the chance to help the Mets in a big October moment, like so many other late-season calls turned into postseason X-factors during teams’ deep playoffs.
Mets pitcher Trevor Williams said he and Alvarez had a “great first date” pitching the bullpen on Tuesday and were “relatively on the same page” through the six innings of Williams on Wednesday.
“He’s worked behind the scenes to grab a lot of bullpen this year for the guys,” Williams said. “If he has to intervene in a pinch, he will be more than ready. For him to have success with the circuit and the double and get the start for us today was huge.
