Whether he was once in the bullpen, dugout or batter’s field, Francisco Alvarez were given a view this weekend that no longer many 20-year-olds get: That of a Major League Baseball playoff collection.
It was once no longer what the No. 1 prospect in baseball anticipated when he was once using from Syracuse to Miami in overdue September after the finish of the minor league season. But Alvarez was once advised to re-route and sign up for the Mets in Atlanta, made his big-league debut, after which was once added to the roster for the Wild Card Series.
It’s been a wild trip for Alvarez, who become the youngest Met to seem in the postseason when he struck out as a pinch hitter for the ultimate out of a 7-1 loss to Game 1.
Alvarez was once again on the bench for Sunday night time’s deciding Game 3, hoping to assist the group in a pinch if wanted.
“Being here in the playoffs, being in this environment with a team where everyone’s pushing for the same goal in front of all these people, even though I’m not playing, has been an incredible experience,” Alvarez mentioned thru an interpreter in the house dugout prior to Game 3. “It’s definitely a learning experience and something I’m never going to forget.”
Tomas Nido began all 3 Wild Card Series video games at the back of the plate over $40-million guy James McCann. The Mets may just glance to transport McCann and the two years and $24.3 million he has left on his contract in the offseason to make room for Alvarez.
Or they may use Alvarez’s prodigious energy bat – he hit 27 homers in the minors this season – as a chosen hitter and coffee catcher.
Either method, Alvarez’s long run seems to be vibrant. He completed his regular-season cameo in the bigs by means of going 2-for-12 with a homer and double after beginning out 0-for-8.
Mets enthusiasts was hoping Alvarez would get the nod to begin at DH in Saturday’s Game 2 in opposition to lefthander Blake Snell, however supervisor Buck Showalter went with veteran Darin Ruf as a substitute. Ruf went 0-for-1 with a stroll and successful by means of pitch (and was once booed when he struck out in his first at-bat) prior to being got rid of for a pinch runner in the Mets’ season-saving 7-3 victory.
Alvarez, requested if he had expected being in the lineup for Game 2, mentioned: “I always prepare myself (to start) whether it’s with a righty or lefty. It doesn’t really matter to me. And if I’m not in the lineup, then that’s fine, too. I’ll take it in stride. I’ll go out there. I’ll still be ready and I’ll cheer on my teammates.”
Alvarez mentioned prior to the season that his plan was once the make the majors in 2022. Pretty daring communicate for a 20-year-old who had by no means performed above Single-A, however he became out to be proper.
“I think in order to be a great baseball player, to be good baseball player, someone has to have a great personality, and also great confidence,” he mentioned. “And that’s kind of the person that I’ve always been. I’ve always had that. So in order to be that, you have to have that confidence in yourself in order to see the vision and see the goals.”
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, in addition to the NFL, NBA and NHL, for the sports activities division. He has labored at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his present place since July 5, 2004.