PORT ST. LUCIE — Francisco Alvarez’s odds of sticking with the Mets for Opening Day were slim before spring training started, and Wednesday that reality was realized.
The 21-year-old catcher — who is regarded as the organization’s top prospect — was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, after he received an extended look this spring due to Omar Narvaez’s absence for the World Baseball Classic.
Alvarez’s mission was to improve his receiving skills.
By all accounts he succeeded on that front, but with Narvaez and Tomas Nido locked into spots, it might have taken a significant injury for Alvarez to receive serious consideration for the Opening Day roster.
“The first thing that came to mind [Wednesday] was I need to go back down there and work hard and prove myself so they can call me back up eventually,” Alvarez said through an interpreter.
Alvarez’s quiet bat this spring hardly stated his case: He went 3-for-28 (.107) in the Grapefruit League without a homer.
“I know I didn’t hit here in spring training, but at the same time, I am really focusing on improving my defense, and I know that my bat is eventually going to come along during the season,” Alvarez said.
Buck Showalter said he liked Alvarez’s rapport with the Mets pitchers and saw improvement from Alvarez as camp progressed.
Last season Alvarez had a brief stint with the team at the end of the regular season — he was also added to the NL wild-card roster — to give the Mets another right-handed bat.
After the season Alvarez underwent surgery to remove a loose body from his right ankle. Alvarez said the ankle wasn’t a factor this spring.
“Defensively and catching he was real impressive,” Showalter said. “He’s grown and shown us that he’s going to be able to do that. I really like watching the interaction between innings and in the bullpen and understanding some of the [pitch-calling] and being able to follow a scouting report.”
Showalter said in an ideal world Alvarez will spend the season at Syracuse to further develop, but if the opportunity arises he could get a chance with the Mets as the everyday catcher.
The team last winter signed Narvaez to a two-year contract worth $15 million to pair him with Nido, giving the Mets a lefty/righty platoon behind the plate until Alvarez develops.
“[Alvarez] came in ready to work, and I think he took a huge step forward on the catching side,” Nido said. “I think that was the goal in general was to make it known for him to take pride in the catching, and I think he did a great job.
“The little things they wanted him to work on, I think he did it. I am excited for him. I think it’s going to be a great year, and we’ll see how it develops.”
Alvarez last season owned a .260/.374/.511 slash line in 112 games split between Double-A Binghamton and Syracuse.
At the latter stop, Alvarez batted just .234 — Showalter noted the Mets would like to see better numbers from him at Triple-A.
Nido said Alvarez’s emphasis on defense and receiving this spring likely played a role in the lack of offensive thunder.
“It’s hard,” Nido said. “Catching is a big load in terms of the information, so that could be part of it. But it’s also spring training and it doesn’t really dictate how the season is going to go.
“But I think ultimately he is going to be in a good spot, and, most importantly, he worked on the catching side of it, and we all know the hitting is there, so I don’t think it’s a worry at all.”